Okay, my goal was never to be a pagan worshiper. Nothing, absolutely nothing could be further from the truth. So, I almost fainted, died, then fainted again when I found out some of the "traditions" I had been celebrating as part of my religious beliefs and expression were in fact - pagan worship!
I will cover the one that was the most revealing, most stunning, and caused my heart the most pain - the celebration of the Easter holiday. I had always been taught we celebrated Easter in honor of Christ rising on the third day. Easter has been celebrated in every religious denomination I have ever encountered. I remember being absolutely offended when people would be going about selling chocolate bunnies (although I remember eating them, loving them, and even looking forward to receiving them as a child). I remember not really understanding that the egg thing was about - but gladly went about finding eggs, taking my kids to find eggs, and even hosting eggs hunts at my home.
I saw over the past few years some churches move from calling the holiday "Easter" to calling it "Resurrection Sunday". I thought - oh good, we are taking back "our" holiday! Well, imagine my surprise when I found out that calling Easter "Resurrection Sunday" still wasn't "taking it back" or making it Christian - it was still very much in line with the pagan worship that was involved in celebrating Easter - even before the time of Christ.
While most of my research has been on the internet - secular and religious websites all agree on the history of the Easter holiday and how it became a part of Christian religious tradition. I will share what I learned. Most of this outline comes from the page titled "Pagan Origin of Easter" from www.lastrumpetministries.org. However, this timeline is consistent with four other religious and secular websites and is not disputed on any Christian website.
Ham, the son of Noah, had a son name Cush. Cush married a woman named Semiramis and they had a son named Nimrod. After Cush died, Nimrod married his mother (Semiramis) and became a powerful king. The Bible speakd of Nimrod in Genesis 10:8-10. Nimrod became a "god-man" to the people and with wife/mother became Queen of ancient Babylon. Nimrod was killed by an enemy and his body was cut into pieces and sent away. Semiramis gathered all the parts except one - his reproductive organ. Semiramis said that Nimrod could not come back to life without it and told the people of Babylon that Nimrod ascended to the sun and was now to be called "Baal", the sun god.
Semiramis called she was the result of immaculate conception and that the moon was her mother. She claimed that she came down from the moon in a giant - Egg! Semiramis became known as "Ishtar" which is pronounce "Easter" and her moon egg became known as "Ishtar's egg". Get it - "Easter's egg".
Isthar had a son Tammuz and she claimed it was Baal who impregnated her. Tammuz liked hare's (or rabbits) and they became sacred in the ancient religion because Tammuz was believed to be the son of the sun-god Baal. Tammuz was killed by a wild boar (pig). Ishtar claimed some of Tammuz's blood fell on a stump of an evergreen tree and the stump grew into a full new tree overnight. Isthar told the people Tammuz has now "ascended" to his father the "sun-god" Baal. They were to celebrate this occassion every year on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Ishtar's Sunday was celebrated with rabbits and eggs. It was always about a "resurrection". The word "Easter" appears in the King James Bible in Acts chapter 12:4 - but it was Herod that was about to celebrate Easter! Herod was a pagan and he was waiting until after celebrating his pagan holiday to kill Peter.
So, how did this pagan holiday get into the Christian church? Christians and Jews used to worship in the same temple and celebrate the same holidays. They would normally be celebrating passover. However, as tensions rose between Christians and Jews there was a separation. More and more "gentiles" - which means a pagan worshiper, began to join the congregation of believers. However, instead of instructing them to leave their pagan worship and worship as God alone instructed, it is believed they allowed them to continue with their former pagan worship and simply make it "Christian". This is similar to the golden calf situation that happened after God lead the Isralites out of Egypt. They wanted to offer a golden calf to God. Golden calves were a large part of pagan worship and God wanted none of it. He never authorized pagan holidays to be simply "turned into" Christian holidays. We are to leave the old man and embrace our new identity. Celebrating a pagan holiday, in a completely pagan way, and simply changing the name. They were doing what God never said do, doing what Jesus never said do; they decided to bring their pagan religion into the church and force God to accept it by claiming Tammuz now represented Jesus and Baal represented God.
I am beginning to see much more clearly why God was so specific in His commands and also why He told us to put off the "old man". It is at least time for me to listen to God and do what He said. We were commanded to not add to His law nor take away. So, I will still be worshiping - just observing the things God instructed. So - Happy Passover!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Christians and the Sabbath - Part 3
So, should Christians honor the Sabbath? This is only my opinion from the research that I have done. I believe Christians, should in fact, honor the Sabbath. The Sabbath honors something that wasn't simply Jewish Law, it honors something that happened before there was a such thing a Jews - it honors God as the Creator of the universe. In fact, I am actually perplexed that many Christians find the concept of the Sabbath so offensive. To me, the Sabbath represents the realization that all Power is in the hands of God and what will happen in our lives will be the will of the Father. We cannot toil long enough, hard enough, or good enough - we are living under the grace and mercy of a Loving God and has all power in His hands.
Now, when should one celebrate the Sabbath? Well, on the Sabbath! The Sabbath was about rest, not about church. The Sabbath was designed before the church on a pattern that took place before the church began. There is nothing stopping a Christian from honoring the Sabbath on the Sabbath and worshiping in church with other believers on the Lord's Day - on Sunday. I think the debate on this is a bit ill conceived, one can do both. I am not okay with man thinking he can change the Commandments on God to suit his own needs or correlate with man made tradition. Many people worshiped in the temple on more than one day - not just the Sabbath. So, going to church on Sunday is also not a violation of God's Law. There is nothing that says one should only get involved in corporate worship on day a week or one particular day a week. The Sabbath isn't a "church day", it is a rest day.
How should a Christian celebrate the Sabbath? I believe this is personal. We have traditional Jewish and Adventist practices as a model. However, the stipulation that God gave was simply that one should cease from their labor. Labor was a way in which people earned their living and provided for their home. What is labor to me may not be labor to you. For instance, a woodworker earns their living from working with wood - they should probably not do work for profit on the Sabbath. However, a family may enjoy woodworking as a family activity - I don't think they should be forbidden from having family time doing wood crafts. However, if the focus of the craft is finishing a "honey do" list - then it probably shouldn't be done. For some women, cooking is their labor. They don't really enjoy it, but do it simply because it must be done. They should probably put on a crock pot, buy a meal, or fix something that doesn't involve cooking so they can have a Sabbath rest. For others, it may be they enjoy cooking and spend time together as a family preparing a meal together. The consistent thing from all Sabbath traditions is being with ones family and being reminded of "why" they are resting. Not because they are tired, not because God was tired. They should remind themselves that on the seventh day God rested because what He had set in motion was completed for all eternity - we should be reminded of this each and every Sabbath.
Some people don't go to parties or do anything out of the house on the Sabbath. That is fine for them and I don't think it is bad. However, if there is a party that wouldn't be "work" that the entire family could enjoy - I would think it would be fair game. Again, honoring the Sabbath isn't about what you "can't do", its about being reminded in our entire being as to what God DID, and finished (meaning the end of days was completed, it is all in the Hands of God). Let's keep the Sabbath what is was intended for, a time for man to cease from laboring and striving for what God has already determined, provided, and accomplished.
However, lets not get into legalism (yes, I said it - LOL). Yes, going to the hospital and praying for someone might be work, and hard work - that doesn't mean you say "no, its the Sabbath". Your neighbor needing a hand, someone getting a flat tire in front of your house, the boy down the street losing his dog and seeking someone to help him find it, and even your child attending a birthday party for someone that doesn't have a lot of friends and has been feeling depressed, sad, and unloved - do it. Remember, Jesus said the highest Commandment was to love God with all your heart and the second was to love our neighbor - show love, even if it means doing some work on the Sabbath!
How my family plans to celebrate the Sabbath is to be together as a family. No mommy grading papers, no daddy putting up shutters on the house. The kids love cutting the grass with daddy - so you might see everyone outside cutting the grass. For us, that isn't work (okay, for my husband and kids - I am not a big nature girl!) This Sabbath, my husband will be taking my eldest to watch a robotics competition. Yes, I said we do things as a family; however, there is life involved. Even in biblical times women with babies were not expected to participate in some things. We also know that a baby was considered a child 5 and under. My twins are 4, they are still babies. This means some things we need to be exempted from so that I can tend to my babies. My babies (thankfully) still nap daily (God is SO GOOD). They need a nap for their health as babies need more sleep than others. If, in trying to be a Sabbath family - I neglected my duties as parent, that wouldn't be showing love nor honoring God. So, we will not all be together for part of the day. However, I think we are still honoring the Sabbath as I will allow the twins to take their nap in my bed while I read a book. I LOVE reading - it is restful! They love sleeping in our bed. My husband and my eldest love robots - its works. However, once my twins have passed the baby stage, everything will be entire family based for the day.
I look at the Sabbath as a wonderful gift from God. Its beautiful and lovely - and so needed in this time where is seems we are all going a million miles a minute!To have a day when we can just stop! Stop striving, stop climbing, stop trying to navigate our way and remind ourselves that God is in control - how wonderful! A day when I don't have to be superwoman - yippee! Yes, superwoman homeschooling the kids, teaching college courses, cooking, cleaning, etc., etc., etc. It's exhausting! Being able to say - thank you Lord, I can sit down. I can't sit down because "I" am finished, but because "He" is finished. It reminds me that if I don't get to that math lesson - its okay, God will make sure my children learn it in due time - whether it be from me or School House Rock it will get done.
Of course, there is preparation for the Sabbath! Remember when the children of Israel were in the wilderness - God had them gather a double portion of manna on the six day. This was to ensure they could rest on the Sabbath. That means I probably need to do an extra load of laundry on my six day, or get those papers graded NOW, or get the roast defrosted and in the oven pronto! So, another thing the Sabbath does is keep us from procrastinating! Isn't God so smart! I don't get to say "hey, I didn't get that done and since its the Sabbath you have to wait!" That isn't right and it isn't showing love to the people I promised I would get things to. It means I need to get moving to honor my commitments. It also means I should NOT over commit! We are working seven days a week because we are committing all of our time and being too busy. I need to be cognizant of the time I am allowed to give others - six days. I need to make sure I am not committing to seven, not promising seven, and I shouldn't even try to sneak seven days of work into six days. In neglecting the Sabbath we have been exhausting ourselves and this was never the plan of God. This isn't legalism, its sanity! How many Christians today have illness because they are tired and overworked? How many are so stressed it is taking a toll on their marriage? How many so tired from laboring they are taking it out on their kids? Even children today are busy seven days a week - enough already. Lets get back into God's plan by first reminding ourselves whom is really in control - God!
Now, when should one celebrate the Sabbath? Well, on the Sabbath! The Sabbath was about rest, not about church. The Sabbath was designed before the church on a pattern that took place before the church began. There is nothing stopping a Christian from honoring the Sabbath on the Sabbath and worshiping in church with other believers on the Lord's Day - on Sunday. I think the debate on this is a bit ill conceived, one can do both. I am not okay with man thinking he can change the Commandments on God to suit his own needs or correlate with man made tradition. Many people worshiped in the temple on more than one day - not just the Sabbath. So, going to church on Sunday is also not a violation of God's Law. There is nothing that says one should only get involved in corporate worship on day a week or one particular day a week. The Sabbath isn't a "church day", it is a rest day.
How should a Christian celebrate the Sabbath? I believe this is personal. We have traditional Jewish and Adventist practices as a model. However, the stipulation that God gave was simply that one should cease from their labor. Labor was a way in which people earned their living and provided for their home. What is labor to me may not be labor to you. For instance, a woodworker earns their living from working with wood - they should probably not do work for profit on the Sabbath. However, a family may enjoy woodworking as a family activity - I don't think they should be forbidden from having family time doing wood crafts. However, if the focus of the craft is finishing a "honey do" list - then it probably shouldn't be done. For some women, cooking is their labor. They don't really enjoy it, but do it simply because it must be done. They should probably put on a crock pot, buy a meal, or fix something that doesn't involve cooking so they can have a Sabbath rest. For others, it may be they enjoy cooking and spend time together as a family preparing a meal together. The consistent thing from all Sabbath traditions is being with ones family and being reminded of "why" they are resting. Not because they are tired, not because God was tired. They should remind themselves that on the seventh day God rested because what He had set in motion was completed for all eternity - we should be reminded of this each and every Sabbath.
Some people don't go to parties or do anything out of the house on the Sabbath. That is fine for them and I don't think it is bad. However, if there is a party that wouldn't be "work" that the entire family could enjoy - I would think it would be fair game. Again, honoring the Sabbath isn't about what you "can't do", its about being reminded in our entire being as to what God DID, and finished (meaning the end of days was completed, it is all in the Hands of God). Let's keep the Sabbath what is was intended for, a time for man to cease from laboring and striving for what God has already determined, provided, and accomplished.
However, lets not get into legalism (yes, I said it - LOL). Yes, going to the hospital and praying for someone might be work, and hard work - that doesn't mean you say "no, its the Sabbath". Your neighbor needing a hand, someone getting a flat tire in front of your house, the boy down the street losing his dog and seeking someone to help him find it, and even your child attending a birthday party for someone that doesn't have a lot of friends and has been feeling depressed, sad, and unloved - do it. Remember, Jesus said the highest Commandment was to love God with all your heart and the second was to love our neighbor - show love, even if it means doing some work on the Sabbath!
How my family plans to celebrate the Sabbath is to be together as a family. No mommy grading papers, no daddy putting up shutters on the house. The kids love cutting the grass with daddy - so you might see everyone outside cutting the grass. For us, that isn't work (okay, for my husband and kids - I am not a big nature girl!) This Sabbath, my husband will be taking my eldest to watch a robotics competition. Yes, I said we do things as a family; however, there is life involved. Even in biblical times women with babies were not expected to participate in some things. We also know that a baby was considered a child 5 and under. My twins are 4, they are still babies. This means some things we need to be exempted from so that I can tend to my babies. My babies (thankfully) still nap daily (God is SO GOOD). They need a nap for their health as babies need more sleep than others. If, in trying to be a Sabbath family - I neglected my duties as parent, that wouldn't be showing love nor honoring God. So, we will not all be together for part of the day. However, I think we are still honoring the Sabbath as I will allow the twins to take their nap in my bed while I read a book. I LOVE reading - it is restful! They love sleeping in our bed. My husband and my eldest love robots - its works. However, once my twins have passed the baby stage, everything will be entire family based for the day.
I look at the Sabbath as a wonderful gift from God. Its beautiful and lovely - and so needed in this time where is seems we are all going a million miles a minute!To have a day when we can just stop! Stop striving, stop climbing, stop trying to navigate our way and remind ourselves that God is in control - how wonderful! A day when I don't have to be superwoman - yippee! Yes, superwoman homeschooling the kids, teaching college courses, cooking, cleaning, etc., etc., etc. It's exhausting! Being able to say - thank you Lord, I can sit down. I can't sit down because "I" am finished, but because "He" is finished. It reminds me that if I don't get to that math lesson - its okay, God will make sure my children learn it in due time - whether it be from me or School House Rock it will get done.
Of course, there is preparation for the Sabbath! Remember when the children of Israel were in the wilderness - God had them gather a double portion of manna on the six day. This was to ensure they could rest on the Sabbath. That means I probably need to do an extra load of laundry on my six day, or get those papers graded NOW, or get the roast defrosted and in the oven pronto! So, another thing the Sabbath does is keep us from procrastinating! Isn't God so smart! I don't get to say "hey, I didn't get that done and since its the Sabbath you have to wait!" That isn't right and it isn't showing love to the people I promised I would get things to. It means I need to get moving to honor my commitments. It also means I should NOT over commit! We are working seven days a week because we are committing all of our time and being too busy. I need to be cognizant of the time I am allowed to give others - six days. I need to make sure I am not committing to seven, not promising seven, and I shouldn't even try to sneak seven days of work into six days. In neglecting the Sabbath we have been exhausting ourselves and this was never the plan of God. This isn't legalism, its sanity! How many Christians today have illness because they are tired and overworked? How many are so stressed it is taking a toll on their marriage? How many so tired from laboring they are taking it out on their kids? Even children today are busy seven days a week - enough already. Lets get back into God's plan by first reminding ourselves whom is really in control - God!
Christians and the Sabbath, Part 2
So what is the Sabbath?
It is well documented and universally understood that the Sabbath is from sundown on Friday night to sundown on Saturday. In Genesis the Bible says that "the evening and the morning were the first day" and so on. Its interesting the note that first century Christians, who were mostly Jewish Christians (known today as Messianic Jews) worshiped in the same temples as non-Christian Jews. Gentiles that came to know Christ also worshiped in the same temples. In fact, many of the discords found in the Bible, and many scriptures that are confused today (like dietary laws) are often a result of non-Christian Jews setting up additional requirements before a Gentile would be considered "clean" enough to enter the temple. Christian Jews understood it was Jesus that cleansed both the Jews and the Gentiles and anyone that wanted could enter the temple. However, this didn't mean one no longer needed to follow the Commandments of God! It was just that following those Commandments didn't lead to salvation. The question is - can a murderer get to heaven? Yes, they can. However, that doesn't mean Christians (Gentile or Jewish) should go around murdering people! Paul clearly dealt with this fallacy! We are not to offend the Law purposely or not due to our "get out of hell free card". We must still work to keep the Law (all the Law) while we acknowledge even being perfect in this regard is not enough - only Jesus can cleanse us. In fact, keeping of the Law for Christians isn't about cleansing, its about being obedient to one True and Living God and acknowledging that we realize we belong to God - its He that made us and we no longer belong to ourselves. In keeping of the Law I would be saying to myself, my family, my God, and showing the world that I am a child of God. If asked why I keep the Law my answer is to be simply - because God said so. Its not about sacrifice, its about obedience. Its not about cleansing or holiness or self-righteousness - again it is simply about being obedient to my Father.
So, if Christian and Non-Christian Jews, as well as Christian Gentiles were all worshiping together in the temple, honoring the Sabbath together - what changed? Why did Christians stop worshiping on Sunday. It took searching, but I finally found the answer. The answer is consistent in both Jewish, Christian, and Secular accounts. From 66 - 73 there was a revolt against Rome by a Non-Christian Jewish sect. Although at first successful in driving Rome from Jerusalem, the revolt was brutally crushed by Rome with men, women, and children being slaughtered. Not wanting to be wrongly identified as being a part of this revolt, Christians (Jewish and Gentile) tried to distinguish themselves from those Jews that has revolted against Rome. With the Sabbath had traditionally been the Christian day of worship, it was decided that Jewish and non-Jewish Christians would worship on Sunday. Why Sunday? Sunday was already a "holy" day in Rome. It was known as "the Lord's Day". However, the "Lord" they were referring to was actually the Emperor! Christians felt they could begin to worship on the "the Lord's Day", but actually be worshiping the true Lord, and not the false god of Nero and later Vespasian. Of course, this was the first time there was a distinguishing between Christians and Jews in terms of worship. They had always been worshiping the same God.
After the revolt was crushed and the temple destroyed - Jews and Christians were dispersed throughout Rome. The temple had always been "home base" until that time. After this dispersment did such strong distinctions come between Jews and Christians, not just about Jesus Messiah - but even in the interpretation of scripture. This led to quite a bit of, for lack of a better word - antisemitism in the Christian Church. The Christian Church, now centered in the heart of Rome (due in large part to Roman Emperor Constantine) began to advise strongly against "jewdising" of Christianity. It was from this point forward that Christians have looked not to Jerusalem for the foundations of their faith, the interpretation of scripture, and the promises of the Bible - but to Rome. This was the time in which Christian interpretation became not the joining in with the chosen people of God in the abundant blessings of God - but in the usurping of and taking away. It actually reminds me of the old testament story of Jacob and Esau. It is how I more fully understand why there is a fraction between Messianic Jews (or Christian Jews) and other Christians.
I am in no way saying Christians should become Jews. I am saying the Bible was set in a time even before there was a people called "Jews", it is a Hebraic history. We must look to accurately divide the Word of God, basing it not upon Rome or Israel - but upon the roots for which is stands. I am not disparaging my Catholic brothers and sisters, just as I am not disparaging my Jewish brothers and sisters. I am saying our God is not Catholic or Jewish (although our Savior was indeed raised as a Jew and lived as Jew, died as a Jew, and rose as a Jew) - He is before time and He put the words in the Bible that He wanted to be there. The Bible also allows for debating of scriptures (the men used to set upon the city walls a debate all the time), but our debates must be grounded in God and His word.
Back to the Sabbath - LOL! I hope I have given a good (though not perfect and not nearly enough references, so please do your own searching) history on why Christians stopped honoring the Sabbath and how Sunday became the standard day of worship for Christians. My last post will be if Christians should indeed honor the Sabbath, and what that actually means.
It is well documented and universally understood that the Sabbath is from sundown on Friday night to sundown on Saturday. In Genesis the Bible says that "the evening and the morning were the first day" and so on. Its interesting the note that first century Christians, who were mostly Jewish Christians (known today as Messianic Jews) worshiped in the same temples as non-Christian Jews. Gentiles that came to know Christ also worshiped in the same temples. In fact, many of the discords found in the Bible, and many scriptures that are confused today (like dietary laws) are often a result of non-Christian Jews setting up additional requirements before a Gentile would be considered "clean" enough to enter the temple. Christian Jews understood it was Jesus that cleansed both the Jews and the Gentiles and anyone that wanted could enter the temple. However, this didn't mean one no longer needed to follow the Commandments of God! It was just that following those Commandments didn't lead to salvation. The question is - can a murderer get to heaven? Yes, they can. However, that doesn't mean Christians (Gentile or Jewish) should go around murdering people! Paul clearly dealt with this fallacy! We are not to offend the Law purposely or not due to our "get out of hell free card". We must still work to keep the Law (all the Law) while we acknowledge even being perfect in this regard is not enough - only Jesus can cleanse us. In fact, keeping of the Law for Christians isn't about cleansing, its about being obedient to one True and Living God and acknowledging that we realize we belong to God - its He that made us and we no longer belong to ourselves. In keeping of the Law I would be saying to myself, my family, my God, and showing the world that I am a child of God. If asked why I keep the Law my answer is to be simply - because God said so. Its not about sacrifice, its about obedience. Its not about cleansing or holiness or self-righteousness - again it is simply about being obedient to my Father.
So, if Christian and Non-Christian Jews, as well as Christian Gentiles were all worshiping together in the temple, honoring the Sabbath together - what changed? Why did Christians stop worshiping on Sunday. It took searching, but I finally found the answer. The answer is consistent in both Jewish, Christian, and Secular accounts. From 66 - 73 there was a revolt against Rome by a Non-Christian Jewish sect. Although at first successful in driving Rome from Jerusalem, the revolt was brutally crushed by Rome with men, women, and children being slaughtered. Not wanting to be wrongly identified as being a part of this revolt, Christians (Jewish and Gentile) tried to distinguish themselves from those Jews that has revolted against Rome. With the Sabbath had traditionally been the Christian day of worship, it was decided that Jewish and non-Jewish Christians would worship on Sunday. Why Sunday? Sunday was already a "holy" day in Rome. It was known as "the Lord's Day". However, the "Lord" they were referring to was actually the Emperor! Christians felt they could begin to worship on the "the Lord's Day", but actually be worshiping the true Lord, and not the false god of Nero and later Vespasian. Of course, this was the first time there was a distinguishing between Christians and Jews in terms of worship. They had always been worshiping the same God.
After the revolt was crushed and the temple destroyed - Jews and Christians were dispersed throughout Rome. The temple had always been "home base" until that time. After this dispersment did such strong distinctions come between Jews and Christians, not just about Jesus Messiah - but even in the interpretation of scripture. This led to quite a bit of, for lack of a better word - antisemitism in the Christian Church. The Christian Church, now centered in the heart of Rome (due in large part to Roman Emperor Constantine) began to advise strongly against "jewdising" of Christianity. It was from this point forward that Christians have looked not to Jerusalem for the foundations of their faith, the interpretation of scripture, and the promises of the Bible - but to Rome. This was the time in which Christian interpretation became not the joining in with the chosen people of God in the abundant blessings of God - but in the usurping of and taking away. It actually reminds me of the old testament story of Jacob and Esau. It is how I more fully understand why there is a fraction between Messianic Jews (or Christian Jews) and other Christians.
I am in no way saying Christians should become Jews. I am saying the Bible was set in a time even before there was a people called "Jews", it is a Hebraic history. We must look to accurately divide the Word of God, basing it not upon Rome or Israel - but upon the roots for which is stands. I am not disparaging my Catholic brothers and sisters, just as I am not disparaging my Jewish brothers and sisters. I am saying our God is not Catholic or Jewish (although our Savior was indeed raised as a Jew and lived as Jew, died as a Jew, and rose as a Jew) - He is before time and He put the words in the Bible that He wanted to be there. The Bible also allows for debating of scriptures (the men used to set upon the city walls a debate all the time), but our debates must be grounded in God and His word.
Back to the Sabbath - LOL! I hope I have given a good (though not perfect and not nearly enough references, so please do your own searching) history on why Christians stopped honoring the Sabbath and how Sunday became the standard day of worship for Christians. My last post will be if Christians should indeed honor the Sabbath, and what that actually means.
Christians and the Sabbath Part 1
I have found the Fourth Commandment (Remember the Sabbath day, keep it holy) to be one of the most divisive and emotionally charged issues one can face in Christian circles (at least in the United States) today. I grew up in a Missionary Baptist Church, spent my late teens and early twenties in a non-denominational church, then returned to the Baptist Church in my thirties (first Southern Baptist, then Primitive Baptist). We also attend a Methodist Church once a month. This traveling amongst denominations wasn't "searching" in a sense, most changes were due to geographic moves (although we have left a couple of churches based on scriptural differences). We always chose a church based on if the Word of God was preached. However, in all my years as a Christian I have yet to hear one sermon on the keeping of the Fourth Commandment.
When we moved to Alabama, we didn't realize we were moving to the "Seventh Day Adventist Capital of the World". For those unaware, Seventh Day Adventist take honoring the Sabbath as one of the primary foundations of their faith - they are very serious about this commandment. While finding such good friends who were practicing Adventist didn't lead me to want to abandon my faith, it did lead me to ask questions of why this Commandment was so ignored in larger Christian circles. I also began a journey of exploring the basic foundations of my Christian faith. Never questioning my Lord the Christ, but questioning what I believed about the Bible, about being a Christian, about what salvation meant. Most of this was in an effort to teach my children our faith (how can one teach what one doesn't intimately understand!) and also because I felt I wasn't walking a strong Christian life - mainly because I didn't really know what that meant.
Now, I have heard and read the contemporary reasons for why many Christians in America don't honor the Sabbath. Some of the most commons things I heard were:
1. Jesus was our Sabbath, our rest, so every day is the Sabbath
2. Honoring the Sabbath is legalism and should be avoided
3. After the death of Jesus we were no longer bound by the "law", thus we didn't need to honor the Sabbath anymore
4. Are you trying to be a Jew or something? Make sure you don't get into error!
The first thing I did was examined each of these answers. Dealing with answer number one I looked to see if Jesus really was considered our Sabbath. What I found was Jesus is our Savior. He is the ultimate sacrifice that allows us to get back into right relationship with God the Father. We could never on our own be good enough to stand before God. Animal sacrifices were good for a time, but always limited. They could only last for a time. Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice was enough for all humanity for all of our time on earth before His return. While we are to cast our cares upon the Lord because He cares for us, this really has nothing to do with the Sabbath. This answer just didn't bear up scrutiny.
The second answer always made me laugh - avoid legalism. Legalism is thinking that one is made right and whole by performing certain tasks, including following the Ten Commandments. A person can follow Commandments 2 - 10 with perfection, but even through works one can never follow the First without first looking to Jesus Christ. He is the only way to God. However, saying Commandment Four leads to legalism is as silly as saying Commandment Nine or Ten does! While any Christian act of obedience can lead one to "legalism", that doesn't mean we wallow in disobedience! Can you imagine standing before God saying "well Father, I know you said not to steal; I chose to life life as a bank robber so I wouldn't get into legalism!" Again, this argument doesn't stand up!
Answer Three I call the mixing up of scripture answer. Yes, Jesus came to fulfill the law, but that doesn't mean we get to disobey the Commandments of God. Those Christians that tell me we no longer need to honor the Sabbath will also tell me that my kids should Obey me because of the Commandments and that we shouldn't murder or commit adultery. Oh really, I thought the Law was fulfilled and we didn't have to Honor it?
The Fourth answer actually lead me to the true reason why many Christians don't honor the Sabbath! The first thing we should deal with is that the first time the Commandment of Honoring the Sabbath was given - it wasn't to the Jews! It was to Adam in the Garden of Eden. This isn't a Commandment about religion, it is a Commandment acknowledging God as the Creator of the universe! As I heard a preacher say (funny, not talking about us Honoring the Sabbath, but the magnificence of God) God didn't rest because He was tired, He rested because He was finished! We are to rest on the Seventh day as a constant reminder of who our Creator is, what our Creator did, and that God is always in charge and never man.
When we moved to Alabama, we didn't realize we were moving to the "Seventh Day Adventist Capital of the World". For those unaware, Seventh Day Adventist take honoring the Sabbath as one of the primary foundations of their faith - they are very serious about this commandment. While finding such good friends who were practicing Adventist didn't lead me to want to abandon my faith, it did lead me to ask questions of why this Commandment was so ignored in larger Christian circles. I also began a journey of exploring the basic foundations of my Christian faith. Never questioning my Lord the Christ, but questioning what I believed about the Bible, about being a Christian, about what salvation meant. Most of this was in an effort to teach my children our faith (how can one teach what one doesn't intimately understand!) and also because I felt I wasn't walking a strong Christian life - mainly because I didn't really know what that meant.
Now, I have heard and read the contemporary reasons for why many Christians in America don't honor the Sabbath. Some of the most commons things I heard were:
1. Jesus was our Sabbath, our rest, so every day is the Sabbath
2. Honoring the Sabbath is legalism and should be avoided
3. After the death of Jesus we were no longer bound by the "law", thus we didn't need to honor the Sabbath anymore
4. Are you trying to be a Jew or something? Make sure you don't get into error!
The first thing I did was examined each of these answers. Dealing with answer number one I looked to see if Jesus really was considered our Sabbath. What I found was Jesus is our Savior. He is the ultimate sacrifice that allows us to get back into right relationship with God the Father. We could never on our own be good enough to stand before God. Animal sacrifices were good for a time, but always limited. They could only last for a time. Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice was enough for all humanity for all of our time on earth before His return. While we are to cast our cares upon the Lord because He cares for us, this really has nothing to do with the Sabbath. This answer just didn't bear up scrutiny.
The second answer always made me laugh - avoid legalism. Legalism is thinking that one is made right and whole by performing certain tasks, including following the Ten Commandments. A person can follow Commandments 2 - 10 with perfection, but even through works one can never follow the First without first looking to Jesus Christ. He is the only way to God. However, saying Commandment Four leads to legalism is as silly as saying Commandment Nine or Ten does! While any Christian act of obedience can lead one to "legalism", that doesn't mean we wallow in disobedience! Can you imagine standing before God saying "well Father, I know you said not to steal; I chose to life life as a bank robber so I wouldn't get into legalism!" Again, this argument doesn't stand up!
Answer Three I call the mixing up of scripture answer. Yes, Jesus came to fulfill the law, but that doesn't mean we get to disobey the Commandments of God. Those Christians that tell me we no longer need to honor the Sabbath will also tell me that my kids should Obey me because of the Commandments and that we shouldn't murder or commit adultery. Oh really, I thought the Law was fulfilled and we didn't have to Honor it?
The Fourth answer actually lead me to the true reason why many Christians don't honor the Sabbath! The first thing we should deal with is that the first time the Commandment of Honoring the Sabbath was given - it wasn't to the Jews! It was to Adam in the Garden of Eden. This isn't a Commandment about religion, it is a Commandment acknowledging God as the Creator of the universe! As I heard a preacher say (funny, not talking about us Honoring the Sabbath, but the magnificence of God) God didn't rest because He was tired, He rested because He was finished! We are to rest on the Seventh day as a constant reminder of who our Creator is, what our Creator did, and that God is always in charge and never man.
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