The Sabbath

This morning I had a friend ask a question. It is a question I have recently wrestled with myself. I figured I'd post my answer here in hopes that others will also share their prayerful thoughts and beliefs.

For any who might not know, Saturday is the biblical "Sabbath". The Christian church generally observes Sunday as "The Lord's Day" in it's stead. We are commanded to observe the Sabbath. There is no biblical justification for substituting.

"As followers of Christ, what are we to do about God's
commands to observe the Sabbath?"

Here was my answer, for you to pick apart:

You are asking two distinct questions:

Q: "Are we condemned for changing something so important?"
No.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."
- Romans 8:1-4

Q: "The bible says and Pastor said we should never take anything out of the bible nor shall we add anything. So why did christians feel they have the right to change the Sabbath Day from Saturday to Sunday?"

I did a relatively in-depth study on this topic about a month ago. I can find no biblical basis, nor reasonable arguments, for using "The Lord's Day" rather than the Sabbath. In the early days of the Church the outside world viewed Christianity as being a sect within Judaism. Christians and Jews, however, viewed each other as being irreconcilably distinct. The Jews were persecuting the Christians and the Christian leaders were very intent on distinguishing themselves from Judaism.

I remember once reading the manipulations and calculations that the early church used in setting the date for the Easter holiday. They wanted to avoid having Easter coincide with Passover so that the celebrations would be distinct in peoples' minds. Although this process sometimes lapsed into anti-semitism, the real original intention was not to "punish those who killed Christ" but instead to reinforce the Gospel message and clarify and emphasize the difference from Judaism.

As the most ardent advocates of observing the Sabbath, I took a hard look athe Seventh Day Adventist doctrines due to their position on this issue and found a mixed bag. Like Walter Martin, I believe there is ample reason to consider the SDA doctrines "Christian", but, depending on the doctrinal stance of the individual congregation, there is a lot of screwy stuff within that church.

And, although I have been looking at the Sabbath versus Sunday issue, there is also an equal injunction not to forsake the gathering of the believers, so Sunday Church must also remain in the equation.

Richard [a Pastor friend] and I spoke on this topic and he pointed out Romans 14:5-8 which speaks to this topic:

"One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."
Romans 14:5-8

I think that is pretty clear on the topic. I continue to consider observing a Sabbath, but I do so because I long to commune more closely with God. I currently see no reason to question the provision of Christ's blood to resolve any guilt that may result from erring on this issue.

Given Christ's emphasis that we NOT teach others error, I'm not confient in saying that I have this issue nailed down.

“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."
- Matthew 18:5-6

“And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck."
- Mark 9:42

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves."
- Luke 17:1-3

I think He meant it, so please be wary of my conclusions on this issue.