Towards clarity in Sabbath-Sacredness Part 2
Koot van Wyk (Dlitt et Phil; ThD) Visiting Professor, Kyungpook National University, Sangju Campus, South Korea, Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia
SookYoung Kim (Phd) Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College Australia
It is not keeping Sabbath to eye weekend emergency schedules to increase the family budget
George W. Reid, “Sabbath Observance Guidelines – Part 2 - Final” Elders’ Digest (July/September 2009): 20-23
. Arranging for regular weekend work requiring the use of the Sabbath hours for
gainful emergency employment or accepting work only on
weekends in emergency occupations to augment the family
budget is out of harmony with Sabbathkeeping principles
given by Christ.
Comments
The fireman or doctor that prompt that he be placed on a weekend schedule to increase his income is not keeping the Sabbath.
Any emergency work that the Adventist is hoping to be on standby is contrary to the spirit of Sabbath.
There is the issue of smoking or drinking practices of people in close range.
Do not purchase Goods or Services on Sabbath like eating out at Restaurants
George W. Reid, “Sabbath Observance Guidelines – Part 2 - Final” Elders’ Digest (July/September 2009): 20-23
Purchase of Goods and Services on the Sabbath
.
1. The Sabbath is designed to provide spiritual freedom
and joy for every person (Ex. 20:8-11). As Christians we must
be supportive of this basic human right granted to each individual
by the Creator. As a general rule, the purchasing
of goods, eating out in restaurants, and paying for services
to be provided by others ought to be avoided because they
are out of harmony with the principle and practice of Sabbathkeeping.
2. Furthermore, the above-mentioned commercial activities
will turn the mind away from the sacredness of the
Sabbath (see Neh. 10:31; 13:15ff.). With proper planning,
adequate provisions can be made in advance for foreseeable
Sabbath needs.
Comments
There are a number of problems eating out in restaurants besides the issue of buying services.
There is the issue of the menu that are complicated to control in the light of the proper Adventist lifestyle for avoiding eating biblical taboo items.
Sabbath attendance of academic professional meetings should be avoided
George W. Reid, “Sabbath Observance Guidelines – Part 2 - Final” Elders’ Digest (July/September 2009): 20-23
Sabbath Travel. While Sabbath travel may be necessary
for engaging in Sabbath activities, one should not allow
Sabbath travel to become a secular function; therefore,
preparation should be made in advance. Automobile fuel
and other needs should be cared for before the Sabbath
begins. Travel on commercial carriers for personal or business
reasons should be avoided.
Comments
The purchase of gasoline for the car on Sabbath is not in keeping with the sacredness of the Sabbath.
The travel on commercial carriers for personal and business reasons is not in keeping with the sacredness of the Sabbath.
Our plans, appointments and transactions should be on other days than Sabbath.
Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly (regular edition), No. 309, July-September, 1972
Pacific Press Publishing Association
Remembering the Sabbath projects its spirit into the other
days of the week. The Sabbath must be remembered in our
plans, appointments, and transactions, so that nothing will
conflict with the proper keeping of God's holy day when it
comes to us. Thus it is designed to keep the will of .the Creator
and Redeemer prominent in our life. It helps us to set the
Lord always before us as did the psalmist. Psalm 16:8.
Comments
In our plans, appointments and transactions one should postpone those things for days other than the Sabbath.
Sabbath must not be a day for travel or flying
Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly (regular edition), No. 309 (July-September, 1972), 56.
Pacific Press Publishing Association
" 'Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on
the Sabbath day,' Christ said. He who made the Sabbath did
not abolish it, nailing it to His cross. The Sabbath was not
rendered null and void by His death. Forty years after His
crucifixion it was still to be held sacred. For forty years the
disciples were to pray that their flight might not be on the
Sabbath day."—The Desire of Ages, page 630.
Do not bargain with God to expect Him to compromise with you to secure your own petty, temporal interests
Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly (regular edition), No. 309 (July-September, 1972), 52.
Pacific Press Publishing Association
"It is the grossest presumption for
mortal man to venture upon a compromise
with the Almighty in order to
secure his own petty, temporal interests.
It is as ruthless a violation of the law
to occasionally use the Sabbath for
secular business as to entirely reject
it; for it is making the Lord's commandments
a matter of convenience."—Testimonies, Vol. 4, p. 249.
Comments
It is not right to do now and then secular business on Sabbath.
What about a church building committee or church remodeling committee to meet on Sabbath? These actions involve secular decisions regarding pricing and gaining and competitive options through virtual shopping coming to an acceptable agreement. This business or economic research is not fit for the Sabbath. It should be done during the six days.
Sabbath must reflect God and His character otherwise something is wrong with the meeting
Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly (regular edition), No. 309 (July-September, 1972), 64.
Pacific Press Publishing Association
"Christ, during His earthly ministry,
emphasized the binding claims of the
Sabbath; in all His teaching He showed
reverence for the institution He Himself
had given. In His days the Sabbath had
become so perverted that its observance
reflected the character of selfish
and arbitrary men rather than the character
of God. Christ set aside the false
teaching by which those who claimed to
know God had misrepresented Him.
."—Prophets and Kings, page 183.
Sabbath observance starts earlier than Sabbath so tuning in spiritually should also be before the Sabbath
Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly (regular edition), No. 309 (July-September, 1972), 71.
What did Nehemiah, as governor of Jerusalem, do
to protect the edges of the Sabbath? Neh. 13:19.
THINK IT THROUGH
Those who wait until Saturday morning to begin their
observance of the Sabbath have only a partial Sabbath, which
really is not right. No one can keep the Sabbath unless he
begins its observance when it commences at sunset. If he begins
its observance one or two hours after sunset, he is lagging
behind the Lord's schedule. Those who go through the gates
into the New Jerusalem at the end will not lag behind His
schedule.
To be continued . . . .