Well, actually, I have lots of questions to ask, but I'm going to risk it with only one for now. And when I say risk it, I am well aware of the story of Aristotle.
For those of you who may not remember Aristotle and his dilemma let me recap. He was a wise guy (I mean that he possessed wisdom, although his neighbors may have labeled him just as this sounds). And with that wisdom he began to question many of the traditions and habits of his fellow citizens.
This made the people mad.
They didn't like so many questions, especially if those questions caused some people to...uh, also ask questions.
The questions Aristotle asked touched upon many of the basic assumptions about their core values as a society. No one wanted to even consider that their way of life, its structure, or its leaders were not sacrosanct and above reproach.
In some sense it would be like someone today questioning the Scriptural validity of Christmas or Easter. Imagine that!
In the end, poor Aristotle had to be quietened. He was an irritation to the ruling powers so they had him killed.
Now you see why asking questions can put you in a precarious position. In this case I'm the one who's risking being flamed, blocked, virus attacked, or deleted from the entire internet world - or worse, labeled a heretic. But I must ask it nonetheless.
If you will, allow me a few more moments to build up to the question.
Many of you know the Scriptures plainly states
"...six days you shall work and on the seventh day you shall rest."
You may also know I have waited for a decade for anyone to show me even one verse where that was changed by YHWH (G-d) to the first day - and I'm still waiting.
Anyway, whether the Sabbath is on the seventh day or the first day is not the issue this time, so put that out of your mind.
It's a little more fundamental - if that's possible.
I want everyone reading this to assume for the moment that the Pope really has the authority to change the Sabbath to the first day of the week - Sunday. That means, I want to bypass the discussion of when the Sabbath occurs.
So I'm willing to frame this as though the Sabbath really is on Sunday.
To get to my question, let's look first at what YHWH (G-d) says in the Scripture regarding the qualities of the Sabbath.
Genesis 2:2
And on the seventh day G-d ended His work which He had made. And He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.
Genesis 2:3
And G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He had rested from all His work which G-d created to make.
And on the seventh day G-d ended His work which He had made. And He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.
Genesis 2:3
And G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He had rested from all His work which G-d created to make.
OK, the points to notice here are:
- It was the seventh day (but ignore this for the moment)
- YHWH rested and did no work
- YHWH blessed it and sanctified the day
Not long after the Ten Commandments He speaks about the Sabbath again,
Exodus 31:16
Therefore the sons of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant.
Exodus 31:17
It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever.
The things we should notice here are that:
- This is a command to the sons of Israel
- It is an everlasting covenant
- It is a sign between believers and YHWH forever.
Yet believers -whether Gentile or not- are of the seed of Abraham (a descendant) thereby an Israelite in Christ
Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.
So the Scripture applies to us today. After all, unless you have different sense of time than I do, forever hasn't passed yet.
One final item I want to point out before I ask the question. After the end-time judgment has come upon this earth and a new heaven and a new earth is established, we read in Isaiah 66:23 that the Sabbath shall still be kept.
Isa 66:23 And it will be, from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before Me, says Jehovah.
Quickly now, let me recap what YHWH has said about the Sabbath...
- It is a day of rest
- It is a day we should not work
- It is a blessed and holy day (very special)
- It is a covenant that lasts forever
- It is a sign between the Almighty and true believers
- It will still be observed in the coming Kingdom
Today, I know I can go to almost any merchant and find professing believers working on the day they claim to be the Sabbath. Churches themselves are not exempt, as I know from first hand experience they buy and sell on their Sabbath - often times within their own buildings.
OK, then may I ask the churches and professing believers at large this question...
Is there any day in the entire year you consider important enough - or that you consider YHWH put enough emphasis upon - to actually cease from work and set that day aside as holy?
In other words, what will it take to get you to keep the Sabbath?
