Tag: Sunday

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The End of Many Books

The Christian Sabbath

by R.L. Dabney

I’d been reading Dabney on preaching sermons, so I picked this up when I wanted more about understanding the Sabbath. It was much better than Chantry’s Call the Sabbath a Delight, mostly because Dabney at least offered some arguments for Sunday as Christian Sabbath rather than just assuming it. He started with reasons rather than jumping straight to rebuke.

That said, I was still unconvinced.

My purpose in this review is to express my thanks for the resource, even to recommend it for the pro-Sunday-as-Sabbath side. Shouldn’t we be able to read and appreciate arguments and even learn stuff?

There are no new points. He takes the reference to the seven-day-week of creation in the Fourth Commandment as proof that the Sabbath is a creational ordinance, so affirmed by but not limited to the Mosaic Law. He also assumes that #4 must continue after Jesus, and because we have some history of the early-centuries Christians meeting on Sundays, they must have transferred the day-of-meeting. I’d see both of those as sabbath principles but not Mosaic Covenant Sabbath proper. (Here’s the sermon where I tried to explain that more.)

Anyway, I’m glad I read it.

4 of 5 stars

Categories
Rightly Dividing

QTCs on the Lord’s Day

By QTC I mean Questions to Consider.

I recently worked through how the Lord’s Day should spin the entire week and yet also why the Lord’s Day is not the Sabbath proper. Those messages provided some of the principles, but what of the practices? Can we say more about the good, better, and bests of Sunday activity? Here are some questions to consider, and comments are open if you’d add (or ask) more.

Should I work on Sunday?

  • Not if you can avoid it.

Should our kids play team sports on Sunday?

  • Probably not, and definitely not if the priority is assembling for the game rather than assembling for worship.

Should I do chores on Sunday?

  • Is that how you are prioritizing the principle?

Should we count the Lord’s Day from sundown to sundown?

  • Well, you could, and, that is not how we really do it these days.

Should I travel on Sunday?

  • Well, why? For what? Is it to maximize vacation days due to placing the real priority on your work schedule?

Should I attend a church in person if on vacation on Sunday?

  • You certainly would get a lot from it, one way or another. That said, our church’s livestream would allow you a partial connection with the home body.

Should I watch sports/movies on Sunday? Or am I only allowed to read the Bible and theology books? (What about the Super Bowl parties Christians have?)

  • Depends, doesn’t it? On one hand, diversions not only distract us from our responsibilities, but even from divine realities. On the other hand, can you give thanks to God, not be put out if you miss a play, receive the rest and/or fellowship as a blessing?

Should I shop on Sunday? How about eating out? (How about buying donuts for church)?

  • Again, is there a need? Is there an emergency? Could preparations be made otherwise? Are there opportunities that are good, even if might be ideal for all (or almost all) stores to be closed?

Should I tell my neighbor what to do on Sunday?

  • Of your neighbor is your kids, duh, show them the way. If your neighbor is actually your brother in Christ or lives next door, you have the opportunity to exhort and encourage just as you do for many issues. Remember Romans 14:4-5.

Should I start getting ready on Saturday for Sunday?

  • The more little kids you have, for sure. Limiting pre-service stress can only make the service, and day itself, more sweet.
Categories
Lord's Day Liturgy

Our Week Doesn’t Start on Friday

The whole reason for first day assembling is because Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday. Every Lord’s Day is resurrection day, even if we do have a Resurrection Day proper once a year.

If there was motivation to assemble some other day than the seventh, why didn’t Christians go back one, to the sixth, to the day of Jesus’ crucifixion? We preach Christ and Him crucified. It is the word of the cross that is the power of God to salvation. It shouldn’t be difficult to imagine our weeks revolving around every Good Friday.

And while the death of Jesus is explicitly mentioned as what we “proclaim” at the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:26), and the cross is the place where the Lord Jesus bore our iniquities, He is not on the cross, nor is He ever going back. The cross is empty. The grave is empty. The Lamb stands as having been slain.

We aren’t, we can’t, we won’t forget the Lamb’s sacrifice. The day of His death is necessary and glorious. But if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain. And Christ is risen, which means the Father accepted His substitution and has no reason to keep believers in suspense. “There is therefore now no condemnation.” Justified by faith, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We have been reconciled. The first day is the day of His life.

It is why weekly communion of the He-is-risen kind, is not a burden or boring, but a blessing that feeds our faith and hope and love.

Categories
A Shot of Encouragement

Sunday Well Spent

Last August while in the UK I saw this sign on a sandwich board on the sidewalk outside a restaurant.

First, Scoff & Banter is a perfect name.

Second, “a Sunday well spent” involves more than a good pot roast. Get with God’s people and worship Him.