Sabbath vs. Sunday

[Gregory Matthews]

 

Spectrum has posted an article related to a SDA pastor who has departed SDA ministry over doctrinal issues that have included Sunday worship.   You may read that article at:

https://spectrummagazine.org/news/adventist-pastor-resigns-over-seal-of-god-mark-of-beast-interpretations/

In responding to that article, I have posted the following:

Contrary to what many SDAs believe, our doctrinal position does not prohibit worship services on Sunday. In the quote below, Ellen White clearly approves of such. SDA clergy serving as Federal (US) chaplains typically conduct worship services on Sundays. As a SDA pastor in the Potomac Conference, I sometimes spoke on Sundays in other churches. In addition, we had a pastor who preached on Sunday in a congregation that was searching for a new pastor. The SDA position is in support of the Sabbath on what is generally called Saturday in the English-speaking world. In addition, the Sabbath, as SDAs understand it, is much more than three hours of worship services. It is 24-hours of spiritual refreshment and communion with God. In short, SDA clergy are expected to support the Sabbath. They are not required to never worship on Sunday. While I did conduct worship services on Sundays, in the past, I was always in a SDA congregation on a Sabbath which I considered to consist of 24-hours. In addition, I used the Sunday services that I conducted to inform the congregation as to why SDAs advocte for the Biblical Sabbath. After one such service, one of the members said to me: “Well chaplain, you have certainly given us something to think about today.”

Quote

Sunday can be used for carrying forward various lines of work that will accomplish much for the Lord. On this day open-air meetings and cottage meetings can be held. House-to-house work can be done. Those who write can devote this day to writing their articles. Whenever it is possible, let religious services be held on Sunday. Make these meetings intensely interesting. Sing genuine revival hymns, and speak with power and assurance of the Saviour’s love. Speak on temperance and on true religious experience.—Testimonies for the Church 9:233. { ChS 164.2}

Let the teachers in our schools devote Sunday to missionary effort. I was instructed that they would thus be able to defeat the purposes of the enemy. Let the teachers take the students with them to hold meetings for those who know not the truth. Thus they will accomplish much more that they could in any other way.—Testimonies for the Church 9:233. { ChS 164.3}

 

[Gustave]

It's my understanding that the Apostolic Church (at least the Apostles) continued to attend the Temple and Synagogues on the 7th day of the week and also assembled "as Christians" on the 1st day of the week. 

Hebrews 10, 23: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

My understanding is that this is where the weekly "obligation" in Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy comes from - it's the Apostolic command for Christians to assemble "themselves" together as a group of Christians and that this assembly can take place on either Saturday or Sunday. Failure to assemble is classified as a sin. The last time I went to Church on Saturday and it was about as full as it is on the 2nd Sunday Mass. Attending Mass on Saturday fulfills the weekly Obligation (in my Faith tradition)

Christians couldn't assemble themselves together at the Temple or a Synagogue, and, it was (and still is) forbidden for Jews to carry money on Shabbat. 

"Just before women and girls light candles on Friday afternoon to usher in the Shabbat, it is customary to give charity. Since no charity can be given on Shabbat day (when money is not handled), an extra sum is given beforehand". What Is Tzedakah? - 15 Facts About Charity Every Jew Should Know - Chabad.org