Questions about the Sabbath!?

[JeshuaB]

Hello everyone I am a relatively new Seventh Day Adventist. I was baptized in 2009, I am 17 years old. I have been trying to understand how to observe the Sabbath and this question always ponders me... Should Seventh day adventist catch vans or buses on a Sabbath? I say this because I realise that these people are working and providing a service on the Sabbath. Some people do not have there own vehicles and instead catch the buses and pay them on the sabbath to get to there various destinations. This church teaches that we should not buy on the sabbath (aren't we buying a service when we pay vans, and buses on the sabbath) plus aren't they working? why do we rest from our work while still using the services of those who are working on the sabbath?...I'm just curious as I'm trying to understand the Sabbath and God's will for my life.

[Gail]

What a bright question! Thank you so much for asking and I do hope that you stick around some more! Good to meet you

I have seen both done, some people arranging for rides to church and some taking the bus because they have no other ride.

Take it to the Lord! He knows the burden of your heart and you just might be surprised at how He works it out for you.

The rule I usually live concerning these matters is, Does this constitute "doing good" or what is merciful on this day? Your circumstances might change so that there is no hard and fast rule.

Let's see what others offer :)

[phkrause]

First let me say "welcome" JeshuaB, good to see you. When my Mom first started going to church, many years ago, with her to little kids, my brother and me, we had to take 2 buses and a train to go.

[John317]

Good question, JoshuaB. There have been others on this Forum who asked the same question before.

The Bible doesn't require that all society come to a screeching halt on the Sabbath. There are some necessary jobs that must be done, such as water and electricity and phone service, the police, hospitals, and yes, the bus and airplanes.

I've known some who objected even to the use of a light switch because they said that turning on lights depended on people to break the Sabbath.

I think the reason the Gospels contain so much information about the Sabbath is that God wants us to see how Jesus kept the Sabbath. Jesus is the One who made the Sabbath, and we can be quite sure that the Sabbath's Designer knows what He made it for and how He wants us to keep it.

Does Jesus teach anything in the NT that indicates He would want the doctors to stop treating the sick, and toilets to stop flushing, etc.? Or did Jesus' actions show that He wants us to use the day to be a blessing to others and to gather together for worship of God?

[SivartM]

Hey, JeshuaB! It's nice to meet another teenager here; I'm 18.

I think that public transportation is one of the things that, like medical care and electricity, is so essential that it needs to be provided on Sabbath. As you said, there are a lot of people, especially in cities, who don't have their own vehicles, and still need to go places.

Besides, these services would be running anyway, so technically you're not making someone do extra work. It's not like making your servants and animals work in the fields, like people would have done in Bible times.

[Glen]

Don't you think that the same God holds the universe in place by the laws of physics, He can keep things in tact so that his cretures can be obidient to his command to keep the sabbath holy and rest from all thy work?

[Haldog]

Welcome!

I would worry less about how the SDA church says to keep the sabbath and look more at what the bible says how the Christian should keep the Sabbath. Lots of info in Hebrews and Galations. A study of the Sabbath and how it is a type or shadow of our rest in Jesus Christ will be very well rewarded.

[John317]

... Lots of info in Hebrews and Galations. A study of the Sabbath and how it is a type or shadow of our rest in Jesus Christ will be very well rewarded.

What are some of the things you've learned about the Sabbath from your study of those two books?

[pindoc]

Welcome to AC and the church!

If public transportation is your modus operandi, I would consider using this on Sabbath more like driving a car. I do that every time I go to church. Not that my doing it makes it right. I do believe that driving to church is quite right, though. Given that, it might be neat if you get get rides with other church members.

But consider what a wonderful witness you could be when your bus driver learns that you're going to church. It could be that if you never take the bus on Sabbath, other people would miss out learning about Jesus and the Sabbath.