14 January 2007
A day of rest?
The Sabbath, a day set apart for God. A day modeled by God when he created the world. A day we do not observe. Or do we? I have often wondered on the Sabbath, or should I say wondered about the Sabbath? What does it really mean to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy? Some of the most thought provoking conversation on the topic happened in a college Sunday School class in College. Our teacher really helped us to struggle with this topic. He is a farmer. He does not do normal farm work on Sunday. And yet he really struggled with what was the best for Sunday. Should he regularly go boating on Sundays and do all kinds of other sport on the Sabbath? Is it totally permissible? Yesteryear, so many of our forebears would have thought it complete apostasy. Is it? Did they have a point, or do we have a point? Is it simply a matter of food and drink and nothing more? I am sure that it is not the law ridden Sabbath that it became by the time of Jesus. But is it more than food and drink? Or to put it another way, is it more than usual church and than whatever we find for our hands to do; as it is here and now? Christ said that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Thus, it surely frees us from the rigid law. And yet I often wonder if there isn't something more than what it has become...... What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I don't have the answer for you Jonathan, but thanks for provoking more thought on the subject :) I also truly appreciated that college sunday school class and all of the conversations that we had. Take care!
ReplyDeleteDave VL
hi...i got here through joel's blog...met you and your wife last easter.
ReplyDeleteanyhoo, i read a really good article on the sabbath in discipleship journal a few years ago that talked about resting on the Sabbath by turning off the phone and t.v. and taking time to reflect that i thought was pretty good.
the weird part is, it's one of the ten commandments, but it's a forgotten art - the art of taking time to rest and appreciate God.
there's a chapter in the book "mudhouse sabbath" that is about a woman who grew up Jewish and converted to Christianity but held on to some of the traditions because of what was behind them. it was a great read because it explained the meaning behind sabbath and how the Jews celebrate it. i would recommend it for further reading.
okay, i know this is already long, but...what do i do on my sabbath? well, i usualy take it on saturdays and i will read and/or take a long walk, play guitar, write, or hang out with good friends.
have a great day!
Dave and Sherry,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. Dave, that SS class was the bomb. I am thankful that once again I am in a SS class that is really thought provoking.
S- It is hard to know. Sometimes I feel as if I wasted the day, and other times it is a wonderful rest. And sometimes I wonder if I am missing the whole point. But then, maybe I am glorifying Him as He would have me, Maybe that is just part of living everyday in worship to Christ.