If Worship on Sunday is wrong, then why do SDA rent their churches to Traditional Christian?

[hobie]

Interesting question came up in one of the forums from a Sunday worshiping poster, "If Worship on Sunday is wrong, then why do SDA parishes rent their churches to Traditional Christians?

On this forum Sunday-worshipping Christians are relentlessly criticized by some Adventist members, but meanwhile a great many SDA churches rent their premises out to Orthodox, Anglican and other traditional churches for use in Sunday worship.

If worship on the First Day is, as has been argued, ?the mark of the beast? or some act of eschatological disloyalty or defiance to God, then how is it ethical for SDA congregations to charge rent and make money off of Christians worshipping in such a manner?

Indeed I attended a church that worshipped in an Adventist church this morning; I won?t say which church I attended or which Adventist church they worshipped in to preclude harassment, but it is quite common. The Adventists even made their social hall available, and a very friendly Adventist was present to assist the traditional denomination I visited in accessing the facilities, and he did so without commenting on their faith.

Also it was interesting to note that the main sanctuary featured a pipe organ, paraments and other fittings and was basically identical to any Presbyterian, Methodist or Baptist or low church Anglican parish from the mid 20th century; indeed its appearance strongly reminded me of the USAF Academy in Colorado Springs (albeit without the particularly lovely architecture of Skdmore Owings and Merrill, but the overall layout of the primary and secondary worship spaces was very much in keeping with it)."

What would you answer to such a question?

[Gustave]

A great question Hobbie!

Another point to add is that:

There are more Catholics who attend Mass on Saturday than there are Seventh-day Adventists. If worshipping Christ as God on Sunday is a sin, is a worse sin than repudiating the Trinity Doctrine? 

[Hanseng]

Orthodox Jews who are careful Sabbath observers will sell a 1/7 interest in their business to a Goy. If the Goy chooses to open on Sabbath, it doesn't concern the Sabbath keeper. He doesn't own the business on that day.

[Hanseng]

Since the local congregation doesn't actually own the building, who profits from the arrangement? Does the local congregation who, in theory, paid for the building keep the money, or is it paid to  the denomination?

The denomination allows congregants to attend services in a building they own, even though congregants paid for the building. My guess is that if the administration wanted to rent out the church to a homosexual advocacy group for "pride" meetings, the local congregation could find themselves locked out if they oppose it. This might sound impossible but at least one church member found herself banished from a couple  of pro-gay SDA churches, one of which she had attended for years prior to “inclusion.”  Just as they compelled congregations to accept female pastors, admin could install gay clergy. If you give your money to an organization like SDA, you shouldn't be surprised if  homosexuals, female pastors, and Sunday keepers  are “shoved down your throat." Nothing you can do about it. Normally, "Who pays the fiddler calls the tune." Not in Adventism. Pay your tithe and protest homosexuality, you could be banished. Suppose a gay congregation wants to rent an SDA building, see your donations at work?

 

[Gregory Matthews]

There are 7 days in a week.  God may be worshiped on any/all of those 7  days.  

*  SDA pastors hold worship services on Saturday and Sunday evenings.  Take your pick.  One of those is the Biblical first day of the week.

*  SDA pastors serving in chaplaincy positions hold worship services on Sunday mornings.  In my service as a Federal chaplain, I have held  more worship services on Sunday morning than I have held on Saturday as a a pastor of a SDA Chruch.

* My service as a Fderal Chaplalin was endorsed by the General Conference who was fully awaare that I  held Sunday w orship services.  NOTE,  IF the General Conference had not approved of wah tI did, they could have removed me from my federal position.  Federal Chqaplains only serve with the permission of tlheir denominaiton.

*  The Sabbath is much more than a worswhip service, It is a 24 hour day devoted to God.   In all of my life I have kept Saturday, the 7th day, as a Sabbth.  I have never kept Sunday as a Sabbath.

* If you think that mere worship on a day makes it a Sabbath, you lneed to review the Biblical and SDA teaching, as youy clearly donot understand them.

 

 

 

[Gregory Matthews]

NOTE:  As a congregational SDA pastor, I have had situations whereone of the partners was a SDA and the other was a member of another denomination.  I have always urged the sDA member to attend services on sunday with their partner.  I havde we lcomed their partner to attend my servicces on Saturday.

As a Feceral chaplain I have attended many Catholic services on sunday morning.  I considerd such to be part of my duties.  The Priest always welcomed me, but never considered me to be a convert.

The Biblical Sabbath is muchmore than a worship service.