Christians don't recognize the sabbath?

Newbie Joined: Feb 14, 2008 Posts: 14

In a casual conversation over dinner a Christian said to me that Christians don’t observe the sabbath. I tried not to respond and a few moments elapsed, but I couldn’t let that one go, it just sounded to strange and out of left field. So I pushed the issue by pointing out that the ten commandments tell you to observe the sabbath, then I was told I was being too literal as the conversation was quickly switched to a non religious topic.
I intend to follow up on this topic though, this is a family member with whom I regularly debate. I intend to write them a lengthy email over the next few days and hopefully this will begin an email debate.
I am posting here to ask for some advice or support in the endeavor.
For one thing I have never come across the idea that Christians don't observe the sabbath, is anyone else familiar with this idea and can you expound upon it a bit?
The thing that really blew me away was that when I brought up the ten commandments I was told, rather dismissively, as if I should know better, that I was being too literal. The best I can figure is that the ten commandments are now figurative? Like its only figuratively wrong to murder people? But not literally wrong?
Thank you for your time.

Graduate Thinker Joined: Mar 26, 2008 Posts: 515

That is definately new to me. As a former Christian, I never knew what exactly was supposed to happen on the sabbath except morning services. I did see this bible passage where the hypocrites scoff at Jesus for working on the sabbath and he tells them that they still water their mules on the sabbath, so they still work anyway. Apparently observing the sabbath is a Jewish thing. Most Christians don't give a crap about the old testement anyway.

Newbie Joined: Feb 14, 2008 Posts: 14

but its in god's top 10. the same top 10 that christians hold as the basis of all morality.

I'd also like to point out that the sabbath is saturday, sunday is the day of worship because jesus was reanimated on sunday.

Graduate Thinker Joined: Mar 26, 2008 Posts: 515

Oh yeah, that's right. But it says "remember the sabbath and keep it holy". I have NO idea what that's supposed to mean. It might say in the bible, but that thing is like a thousand page sleeping pill.

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:01 am

The term literally means to "cease". In Christianity it usually refers to the day of rest. Unfortunately the 7th day has come to be synonymous with Sunday and in fact the 7th day is Saturday (Sunday being the first calendar day).

It can mean a few different things depending on the context of the speaker. Usually from "the day of rest" to "the Lord's day" or something along those lines.

Christians who keep the sabbath as the 10 Commandments say have a very Puritan view of the Sabbath and are sometimes called Sabbatarians.

Quote:

Most Christians don't give a crap about the old testement anyway.

Yeah, unfortunately you're right...but it serves as the basis and foundation for all of the New Testament and should be regarded as such.

Newbie First Class Joined: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 28

The way I always understood it, the Jewish Sabbath was/is Saturday.

It was Paul in the New Testament that instead called for the Christians to gather on 'The Lord's Day', which was the day that Jesus popped up from the dead.
Sunday then, became 'The Lord's Day' when believers should gather together and put money in the plate, but Saturday is still the Sabbath Day (i.e. the day of rest).

The Learned Joined: May 21, 2008 Posts: 128

^^ yep.

Plus the Sabbath was a part of Levitical tabernacle/temple law established at Sinai. Prior to that, a day of rest was known/recognized but not within the same context as when it was handed down in the commandments. Jewish law was also exactly that: Jewish Law for the Nation of Israel. One of God's intentions was for Israel to be separate and differentiated from the rest of the world.

Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 2:17 am

Then why do christians think they're supposed to go to church on sunday?

Quote:

Jewish law was also exactly that: Jewish Law for the Nation of Israel.

Again...it's one of the 10 commandments. I guess "thou shalt not kill" is also just for jews...

sheesh

Graduate Thinker Joined: Mar 26, 2008 Posts: 515

Sunday service was established by the Catholic Church. The called it 'Sunday' because of some pagan god they were trying to appeal to. The tradition kind of sank in.

The Learned Joined: May 21, 2008 Posts: 128

Cygnus wrote:

Sunday service was established by the Catholic Church. The called it 'Sunday' because of some pagan god they were trying to appeal to. The tradition kind of sank in.

Actually, "first day" worship began long before there was any Catholic church. It had nothing to do with pagan gods or traditions as you've implied. That's more Enlightenment propaganda.

Acts 20:7 (KJV)
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

The Learned Joined: May 21, 2008 Posts: 128

kmisho wrote:

Then why do christians think they're supposed to go to church on sunday?

Quote:

Jewish law was also exactly that: Jewish Law for the Nation of Israel.

Again...it's one of the 10 commandments. I guess "thou shalt not kill" is also just for jews...

sheesh

The primary laws predate Moses and Israel and are referred to as the Seven Laws of Noah: SEE LINK-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Laws_of_Noah
http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/noahide.html

These are predated by the Six Laws given to Adam:
http://www.davidreidlowell.org/workbook/29.html

There were many commandments given at Mt. Sinai, not just ten. Those commandments which were intended for Tabernacle or Temple worship were fulfilled in the Messiah. As a result, we are no longer held to Hebrew temple laws, rituals, feasts, or ceremonies. We worship the Lamb of God who arose on the first day.

Mark 2:27-28 (KJV)
27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Murder is a societal law. However, at issue is of one who asserts themselves as judge and jury over life itself which is within God's authority alone to determine. A person who murders sets themselves above God and in contention with His authority over life.

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:47 am

It's a shame Jesus never qualified it the way you did, Missionary.

He said (according to the gospel writers), "I have not come to destroy the Law ... but to fulfill it"

Paul let believers off the hook when he wrote, "You are under grace, not under law" and "Where there is no law, there is no transgression"

No distinction is made between ceremonial/dietary laws and the 10 commandments (for example).

It seems the Bible authors couldn't make up their minds.


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