Do you go out to eat...

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

on the Sabbath? I know of quite a few people who regularly go out for lunch at restaurants or to Starbucks after church on Sabbath.

For me, this would feel very wrong. But then I don't feel it's wrong to drive my car to church on Sabbath, but my brother says he feels it's wrong to travel on a plane on the Sabbath. I don't know what I think about that. It's sort of like you can wade in water on the Sabbath, but woe be unto thee if thou swimmeth on the Sabbath.

Some people won't drive to church on the Sabbath if they forgot to fill their car the day before with gasoline. I once went with a family up to Mt St Helens on Sabbath, and we had to stop and fill up the car, otherwise we couldn't have gotten home.

And here's something that just happened at my church. Last week the head elder didn't show up for church. Yesterday he was there and rather sheepishly admitted that he had thought Sunday was Sabbath and had gotten all dressed up for church and drove down, only to find a member doing some yardwork out in front. So on Sabbath, this elder had been doing work out in his yard, and going about his routine weekday work, all the while thinking it was Friday.

[Dottie]

We don't go out to eat on Sabbath. We usually have the same meal every week: spaghetti and bagged salad and bread. We started that when my daughter was diagnosed with diabetes, so that it didn't take long and was simple clean-up.

My parents went to church one week, and no one was there. They sat for a long time in the parking lot, wondering why no one was coming. Finally, they turned on the radio, and found that it was Friday! But they had an excuse; Dad had senile dementia, and Mom had Alzheimer's (which I didn't know at the time).

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Oh, I agree about filling the car with gasoline. I didn't mean to imply I thought that was wrong. The only thing I thought FOR MYSELF would be wrong, would be to go out to eat on the Sabbath (unless we were traveling, as you did).

What would you think of someone who lived on a ranch and the fence needed repairing for several months, and your son came a fair distance and repaired it for you on the Sabbath? I was asked by that son if I thought he was breaking the Sabbath. I said it was a question he had to figure out for himself. BTW, the son was a pastor.

[wayfinder]

Matthew 12:1,2 NAS

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat.

But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath."

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Matthew 12:1,2 NAS

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat.

But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath."

Yes, I know about that text. But Jesus and His disciples didn't pay for what they took, did they?

[wayfinder]

No, they stole it and harvested it on the Sabbath. :)

[Gail]

No, they didn't steal it at all. This was one of the provisions in the Mosaic law for the poor and needy.

If a person was visiting, as a stranger, or poor, or just plain hungry, they were given the right to pick what they needed for their hunger from any farm or field.

[Gail]

Myself, I will go to a drive-through if my hubby takes me. He is from the school of folks that eat out on Sabbath. Otherwise I am happy to eat at home, unless we are travelling.

I try to judge as to what is most merciful to the situation. That is what the "donkey in the ditch" guideline applies to.

I don't like when the principle comes down to specific guidelines, but sometimes they are needed. I imagine that the Hebrews coming out of Egypt really didn't have a clue anymore on how to keep a Sabbath restfully and joyfully, so God taught them. When I first became a Christian I didn't have a clue, either.

[oldsailor29]

not replying to anyone. Just think Sabbath-keeping is a good thing, but not more important than doing that which needs to be done. The Sabbath was made for mankind, not the other way around. But I do not criticize anyone who is strict about not working, with only one exception. When the Lord gives us a job to do, it is to His glory if we do it on Sabbath. And it does not matter if it is doctors, nurses, pastors, evangelists, cooks, waitresses, farmers, construction workers, factory workers, cops, lawyers, pro sportsmen, or whatever. When we refuse to work on Sabbath, we are not following where the Lord is trying lead us.

[TWNolan]

In general, Many thing could and SHOULD be avoided (even tho i have troubles doing this since I am new to the faith). Filling gas on Sabbath, unless you are going a far distance (which one should try to avoid) one should have filled it on Friday. I made the mistake on forgetting to do that and I ran out of gas going to church. Luckily my dad was near by. I still did not fill the car up or repay my dad until Sabbath was over.

not replying to anyone. Just think Sabbath-keeping is a good thing, but not more important than doing that which needs to be done. The Sabbath was made for mankind, not the other way around. But I do not criticize anyone who is strict about not working, with only one exception. When the Lord gives us a job to do, it is to His glory if we do it on Sabbath. And it does not matter if it is doctors, nurses, pastors, evangelists, cooks, waitresses, farmers, construction workers, factory workers, cops, lawyers, pro sportsmen, or whatever. When we refuse to work on Sabbath, we are not following where the Lord is trying lead us.

Sorry oldsailor29 but i have to disagree, a lot of those profession you mentioned has absolutely NOTHING to do with Christ, His Church or even HELPING others. Doctors, nurses, cops, pastors, & evangelists help, protect, or heal man, these i say do what NEEDS to be done. Cooks (unless at a homeless shelter or like), waitresses, construction workers, factory workers, lawyers, & pro sportsmen have NOTHING to do that LEADS man to Christ. They have NOTHING to do that PROTECTS man. They have NOTHING to do that HEALS man.

[Gerr]

on the Sabbath? I know of quite a few people who regularly go out for lunch at restaurants or to Starbucks after church on Sabbath.

There was a time when we were going to a particular church where a number of the members including the pastor ate out fairly frequently on Sabbath. We went along and did that a number of times. But somehow there was an inner conviction/voice telling us that that was not the way to celebrate the Sabbath and were never comfortable doing it, so we stopped. The only way we would eat out on Sabbath now is if we are traveling and the church we are visiting does not have a potluck or if not invited for dinner.

As for Sabbath travel, the only traveling we do on Sabbath now is to go to church or going out to see nature. Sometimes though, when traveling long distances, you may find yourself encroaching on the Sabbath. When we went to CA in Nov, we left early Fri a.m when we returned to NC. We didn't get home until something like 10 pm. But as a matter of practice, we try not to travel on business or personal pursuits on Sabbath.

Quote:

And here's something that just happened at my church. Last week the head elder didn't show up for church. Yesterday he was there and rather sheepishly admitted that he had thought Sunday was Sabbath and had gotten all dressed up for church and drove down, only to find a member doing some yardwork out in front. So on Sabbath, this elder had been doing work out in his yard, and going about his routine weekday work, all the while thinking it was Friday.

That's why the command starts with, "Remember."

[abelisle]

What is the Biblical principle that is being used to make these decisions? Is it "Thou shalt not do any work"? Is it "keeping it holy"? or is it "not having your pleasure"? or "doing thy pleasure on my holy day"?

I think the interpretation is up to us and as it says in Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Alex

[Woody]

Sabbath needs to be both a pleasure .... a delight .... AND a Holy Day. It is all the above.

[oldsailor29]

OLDSAILOR29

WE have been over this before the bible says to

rest on the sabbath and to work the 6 other days

yes there are certain occupations that have

to work on sabbath but that is to help people

not just any person with any job is to work

on the sabbath

dgrimm60

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

When I was a child my mom was Adventist, and my dad wasn't....he cleaned our house and did the laundry while my mom, my brother and I went to church. My mom never said a word to him about it, and I never thought anything about it....other than my mom was getting a good deal by not having to do any housework. (I found out later that my dad would put on my Oak Ridge Boys albums of praise music while he did the housework!)

In the afternoons after church, my dad would take us out for rides over to the coast or turn on the TV. Again, I never thought anything about watching movies on the Sabbath or not swimming, or going out to eat. My dad had an extremely bad encounter with an SDA pastor who really soured him for a long time on Adventists. SDA's can be very rude to non-SDA's. It's really a wonder that he allowed my brother and me to attend SDA schools....especially when we were dirt poor at the time.

[Woody]

yes

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Dottie, I'm sorry, too, to hear about the dementia and Alzheimer's with your parents. When my Dad died he was in the first stages of dementia where he KNEW he used to be able to do things, but he couldn't remember *how* they were done. I felt so badly for him. He tried to put up a towel rack in my bathroom. It's on the wall now, crooked, and the painting around the mountings is bad, but I remember to myself that it was done by my Dad out of his love for me.

[GreatLakesGramma]

I don't eat out anyway, but if I did, I would not eat out on the Sabbath unless it was unavoidable.

One Friday afternoon in December, many years ago, I was at Toys R Us with my three then young children, returning a defective Christmas gift. When we tried to leave to go home, my transmission had failed. I went into the store & called my husband to ask what he wanted me to do. Then I called the towing service near our home to come and take us to my brother's, where my husband does his automotive work. After husband got off work, he would go to my brother's, pick us all up, and take us home.

Unfortunately, there was a very long wait for the tow truck, something like 3 or 4 hours. We were not prepared to be in town so long, so we had no food, and we were getting quite hungry. It was after sunset when we went back into the store yet again, and bought whatever I could find that was as low in sugar as possible, animal crackers and something else, I no longer remember. It wasn't healthful, but it did take care of the hunger. We were there for a very long time.

After that, I always carried food and water in the car for such emergencies, though in the last couple of years since I'm now allergic to most of the things I used to carry, I haven't gotten around to find something else to stock my vehicle with. But I haven't gotten stuck anywhere like that either.

I feel the same about filling the car, unnecessary travel, etc. God blessed the day, and made it holy for our benefit, to spend in fellowship with Him and fellow believers, as well as to give us necessary rest from our work week. But I don't believe it's a violation of the Sabbath to take care of unexpected situations that can't wait until after the sun sets.

[phkrause]

on the Sabbath? I know of quite a few people who regularly go out for lunch at restaurants or to Starbucks after church on Sabbath.

For me, this would feel very wrong. But then I don't feel it's wrong to drive my car to church on Sabbath, but my brother says he feels it's wrong to travel on a plane on the Sabbath. I don't know what I think about that. It's sort of like you can wade in water on the Sabbath, but woe be unto thee if thou swimmeth on the Sabbath.

Some people won't drive to church on the Sabbath if they forgot to fill their car the day before with gasoline. I once went with a family up to Mt St Helens on Sabbath, and we had to stop and fill up the car, otherwise we couldn't have gotten home.

And here's something that just happened at my church. Last week the head elder didn't show up for church. Yesterday he was there and rather sheepishly admitted that he had thought Sunday was Sabbath and had gotten all dressed up for church and drove down, only to find a member doing some yardwork out in front. So on Sabbath, this elder had been doing work out in his yard, and going about his routine weekday work, all the while thinking it was Friday.

A very thought provoking subject Pam. I try to get things done so as not to have to do them on the Sabbath. But if I can't and I need to do them on Sabbath than I do what needs to be done. Such as gassing up the car if needed. If I needed to go shopping and that didn't get done than that stayed undone but for a item or so be it could not be helped to purchase. especially if traveling somewhere. I try not to do laundry at all unless there is an emergency that requires laundry to be done.

pk

[phkrause]

RUDYWOOFS

just wonderinf why the fence was broken so long???

was the owner not able to repair it???

but like you said it was between him and GOD

dgrimm60

I agree if a fence is broken that long, than one more day wont hurt unless you've got to be going that next day and you know for a fact that it wont get done if you don't do it.

pk

[phkrause]

No, they stole it and harvested it on the Sabbath.

I don't think so wayfinder, Jesus would never have justified that. I have to agree with Gail on this.

pk

[phkrause]

not replying to anyone. Just think Sabbath-keeping is a good thing, but not more important than doing that which needs to be done. The Sabbath was made for mankind, not the other way around. But I do not criticize anyone who is strict about not working, with only one exception. When the Lord gives us a job to do, it is to His glory if we do it on Sabbath. And it does not matter if it is doctors, nurses, pastors, evangelists, cooks, waitresses, farmers, construction workers, factory workers, cops, lawyers, pro sportsmen, or whatever. When we refuse to work on Sabbath, we are not following where the Lord is trying lead us.

I have to agree with others on this one oldsailor, I can't see doing your normal plumbing, electrical, office job, etc. on the sabbath. I can see doing plumbing for someone in an emergency situation and for free if you can afford it. I do remember a friend who was moving to California needed some repair on his car, I think he needed a new drive shaft. The parts came friday afternoon, and I knew I could not start this than and get it done after I got home from my job, before the sun went down. He needed to leave Sunday early in the morning, so I got home from church on Sabbath, and me and my brother replaced the shaft for him. He wanted to pay us, I told him we did this for him because we wanted to and not for money. Told him to keep it and buy himself food on his way to SF. I felt very good about helping him out. I know Jesus didn't go around fixing ox carts, but he did heal on the Sabbath. He gave us an example of helping our fellow man on the Sabbath, this I believe.

pk

pk

[olger]

Indeed not

g

[Liz]

Just answering the original question:

Not normally, but there are times when we have relatives drop by from out of town, and then we will eat out. Or if we are on vacation, we will eat out, or any other extenuating circumstances that can't be planned on.

When I was a nurse, there were times when I would work during Sabbath--and didn't feel bad about it at all. Before I was a nurse I worked at Wal-Mart and would go round and round with my managers because I absolutely wouldn't work on Sabbath, and they would schedule me just to see how strong willed I was. I sure don't condemn those that do, I figure they are just at a different point in their spiritual walk, and I probably do things that make them cringe.

For instance, I don't have a problem with paying to get into a zoo or a national park on the Sabbath.

[doug yowell]

..."Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them,'What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day'?... Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy!" Neh.13:15-22