In Today's Culture, What Does It Mean to Keep the Sabbath Holy?
A. Shabbat candles, braided challah bread, prayer, family time. In Jewish communities, Sabbaths are truly set apart from the rest of the week. (Indeed, the Hebrew word for "holy"—as in, "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy"—means, literally, "set apart.") When I practiced Judaism, I would begin my Sabbath with a relaxed Friday night dinner, followed by a day of worship, rest, and celebration. During the Sabbath day, I didn't think about my schoolwork, spend any money, ride in a car, or watch television.
Then I became a Christian. Although I went to church on Sunday mornings, the day never seemed quite as holy. As often as not, I wound up at the shopping mall on Sunday afternoon.
Of course, Christians aren't bound by Old-Testament Sabbath directives. Twice in his epistles, the apostle Paul made it clear that Sabbath observance, like other external signs of piety, is insufficient for salvation. As he wrote to the Colossians, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you … with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ" (Colossians 2:16-17). And Jesus, when rebuked by the Pharisees for plucking grain from a field on the Sabbath, criticized those who made a fetish of Sabbath observance, insisting, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).
But Jesus never said to forget the Sabbath completely. Keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments, after all! And through the ages Christians have seen the wisdom of devoting one full day to rest and praise. There's an old Puritan saying, "Good Sabbaths make good Christians."
Still, honoring the Sabbath was easier in Puritan New England, where almost everyone took the Sabbath seriously. Shops weren't open on Sundays, businesses closed their doors, and everyone headed to church. Sabbaths are much more difficult in contemporary America. In fact, in a society that values busyness and productivity, observing the Sabbath is downright countercultural.
That's not to say contemporary society doesn't encourage us to relax. To the contrary, most secular women's magazines and television talk shows (not to mention Calgon ads) instruct us to indulge ourselves. While there's nothing wrong with the occasional bubble bath, Calgon days aren't quite the same thing as Sabbath. The key to the Sabbath isn't merely rest. Rather, it's that in our rest we turn our attention to God, whose rest our Sabbath mirrors.
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Fred Neal
Why is this such a big deal to people who keep saturday as the Sabbath? Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, Romans 10:4. Ye ( Christians ) are NOT under the law Romans 6:4. ye also are become dead to the law Romans 7:4. Ye are not under the law Galations 5:18. ye are delivered from the law Romans 7:6. that which is done away ( the law) 2 Colossians 3:11. I could go on and on.
Huh?
The Sabbath is also mentioned in Colossians 2:16-17. The Law is obsolete now ... not just ceremony ... not just dietary ... Judaism is not the answer ... Christ is. The Jews crucified the Messiah ... they continue to live in disobedience to the Law. Now some seem to be Torah pushers here. The Law is just a shadow of what came in Christ. The principles of the Law will remain but the Law standing alone is to be set aside to demonstrate that we cannot keep it without Christ.
CECELIA FORD
I wanted to comment on Col 2:16,17 all first day church teach that we don't have to keep God's law after the ressurection but it doesn't say that anywhere in the bible. Jesus didn't change anything. The change came from the catholic teaching came from constantine the great in that area the catholic church admits they changed the law around AD 321 the sabbath has always stood because God made it from the beginning. If that's the case I can do as I please in killing stealing take your husband or wife. We in this nations are surpose to live my the law. The Sabbath doesn't belong to jew's or Gentiles but God. People study your bibical history God never changed anything. It was man who changed the sabbath. It was blessed by God. Sunday is the first day of the week according to the bible alot of pastors know this but they choose to worship how they want.