The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum The Sabbath

Linda,<br><br>Doubtless, it is very easy to fall into extremes when it comes to the issue of "how to" observe the Sabbath. Some, which you are surely aware, say that the Lord's Day isn't a special day at all and there is no need to get "legalistic" about some issue that died out when Christ came, etc. Then on the other hand there are those who believe you should follow a strict set of rules and regulations; i.e., what is appropriate behaviour, but in most cases these rules and regulations don't tell you what you can or should do, but rather they are lists of what is forbidden. The Pharisees were masters of the latter approach and of course, the world owns the former view. The writers of the Westminster Confession, I believe have the right approach, but the document itself doesn't set forth any details that expound upon their general statements. Even their general statements can and have been used to create a list of "Do not's", e.g., it is a violation to: read the newspaper or any other non-Christian literature, cook meals, wash dishes, talk about anything other than God, etc., etc.. ad nauseam. So, with that said, here's what the WCF says on this matter of the Sabbath:<blockquote><center>[color:blue]The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XXI</font color=blue><br>Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day</center><br><br>VII. As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him:[34] which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week,[35] and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which, in Scripture, is called the Lord's day,[36] and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.[37]<br><br>34. Exod. 20:8-11; Isa. 56:2- 7<br>35. Gen. 2:2-3; I Cor. 16:1-2; Acts 20:7<br>36. Rev. 1:10<br>37. Matt. 5:17-18; Mark 2:27-28; Rom. 13:8-10; James 2:8-12<br><br>VIII. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations,[38] but also are taken up, the whole time, in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.[39]<br><br>38. Exod. 16:23, 25-26, 29-30; 20:8; 31:15-17; Isa. 58:13-14; Neh. 13:15-22<br>39. Isa. 58:13-14; Luke 4:16; Matt. 12:1-13; Mark 3:1-5</blockquote>Van Reenen is quite good in his exposition of what it means to keep the Sabbath, IMHO (his entire series on the Ten Commandments is marvelous). You can read his exposition by clicking here: The Fourth Commandment<br><br>In His Grace,