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The Lord's Day

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by evangelist6589, Apr 15, 2011.

  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    There are many christians in our day that compromise the day of rest by working. Not saying that working at a hospital, a church, or something like that is bad, there are simply too many that choose to pay off debts by working on the Lord's Day. Paying off debts is a good thing, but not when it comes before serving the Lord. I have had a hard time finding a good practical book on this subject other than David Jeremiah's "Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World" and Mark Hughes "Disciplines of a Godly Man" which have some depth, but not a whole lot. Every other book I have looked at go too much into a theological debate, rather than giving practical insight and encouragement for those that follow the Lord and taking the day of rest. I am not interested in a theological debate on whether the day of rest is saturday or sunday, but a practical book.

    Does anyone know of any other good writings that can balance out the theological with the practical? Thanks..


    John
     
  2. HAMel

    HAMel Well-Known Member
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    I really doubt you will be able to find a good book on the subject. One author will be hard core far left and the next, hard core far right.

    The best guidance on the matter should come from the Bible and what's best for the individual.

    The Lord does the convicting.
     
  3. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    First move would be a thorough study of the oldest English Baptist position on the issue. This is the London Baptist Confession of Faith 1644, revised 1677, and our church has found great blessing in this study of what the church has always believed on the matter.

    CHAPTER 22; OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP AND THE SABBATH DAY

    Paragraph 1. The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and does good to all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might.1 But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself,2 and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.3
    1 Jer. 10:7; Mark 12:33
    2 Deut. 12:32
    3 Exod. 20:4-6

    Paragraph 2. Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him alone;4 not to angels, saints, or any other creatures;5 and since the fall, not without a mediator,6 nor in the mediation of any other but Christ alone.7
    4 Matt. 4:9,10; John 6:23; Matt. 28:19
    5 Rom. 1:25; Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10
    6 John 14:6
    7 1 Tim. 2:5

    Paragraph 3. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men.8 But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the Son,9 by the help of the Spirit,10 according to his will;11 with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known tongue.12
    8 Ps. 95:1-7, 65:2
    9 John 14:13,14
    10 Rom. 8:26
    11 1 John 5:14
    12 1 Cor. 14:16,17

    Paragraph 4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter;13 but not for the dead,14 nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.15
    13 1 Tim. 2:1,2; 2 Sam. 7:29
    14 2 Sam. 12:21-23
    15 1 John 5:16

    Paragraph 5. The reading of the Scriptures,16 preaching, and hearing the Word of God,17 teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord;18 as also the administration of baptism,19 and the Lord’s supper,20 are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings,21 and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.22
    16 1 Tim. 4:13
    17 2 Tim. 4:2; Luke 8:18
    18 Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19
    19 Matt. 28:19,20
    20 1 Cor. 11:26
    21 Esther 4:16; Joel 2:12
    22 Exod. 15:1-19, Ps. 107

    Paragraph 6. Neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the gospel, tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth;23 as in private families24 daily,25 and in secret each one by himself;26 so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God by his word or providence calls thereunto.27
    23 John 4:21; Mal. 1:11; 1 Tim. 2:8
    24 Acts 10:2
    25 Matt. 6:11; Ps. 55:17
    26 Matt. 6:6
    27 Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:42

    Paragraph 7. As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God’s appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he has particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him,28 which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord’s Day:29 and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.
    28 Exod. 20:8
    29 1 Cor. 16:1,2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10

    Paragraph 8. The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe a holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations,30 but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.31
    30 Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15-22
    31 Matt. 12:1-13
     
  4. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    This was a helpful post. I agree I should not work on a sunday on a regular basis. There are exceptions, but to work on a sunday regularly would be a bad idea. I wont pay my debts off faster, but who cares? If I place such a value above the Lord and following his word, I am in the wrong.
     
  5. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    I fail to see how working on Sunday violates the Sabbath, since it's not the Sabbath.

    I also fail to see how working violates the Lord's Day.

    I think that first-century believers probably met early in the morning of the Lord's Day, then went to their jobs.

    I don't see how we can impose the Sabbath requirements on Sunday.
     
  6. stilllearning

    stilllearning Active Member

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    Thanks for the post Bob.
    Would you happen to have a link, where I could get a complete copy of the "London Baptist Confession of Faith 1644/77"..
     
  7. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Since our church subscribes to the confession as the basis of cooperation for missions, etc, it is on our church site

    http://sovereigngracechurch.com/?page_id=12

    Also have a catechism there
     
  8. Iconoclast

    Iconoclast Well-Known Member
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    http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/call-the-sabbath-a-delight


    http://www.amazon.com/dp/0851515886/?tag=baptis04-20

    here are some resources

     
  9. Tater77

    Tater77 New Member

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    I can remember working on Sunday. But I wasn't given a choice by my job. I was told to work what was scheduled or go home.
     
  10. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Unless you are an undue hardship they cant force you to work sundays.
     
  11. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    Of course they can.
     
  12. Allan

    Allan Active Member

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    Especially since gentiles are not subject to the Jewish law.

    What did Counsel of Jerusalem tell the apostle Paul that the gentiles need to do?

    I don't recall any mandate in the NT to keep the sabbath but I DO note in the NT that Paul states:
     
  13. michael-acts17:11

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    It is tradition, not Bible, to meet on Sunday in recognition of His resurrection. Saturday is the Biblical Sabbath. While i agree that we should recognize the day of rest, it is not because we are under the Jewish Law, but because our bodies & minds need the rest from our labors. God did not set aside Sunday as HIS day. That is man's tradition. God says all days are now alike, man says one day is to be esteemed above the others. I'll stick with God's Word over man's law any day.
     
    #13 michael-acts17:11, Apr 24, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 24, 2011
  14. HeDied4U

    HeDied4U Well-Known Member
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    I must work when I'm scheduled. I suppose I could choose not to come in on a Sunday. However, if I did, I'm sure that by the next Sunday it would no longer be an issue. I'd be out of my current job and looking for a new one.
     
  15. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    The scripture that Allan quoted is adequate to refute any argument put forth by those who would have yield to a yoke of slavery.
     
  16. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Please check with a Lawyer. He will tell you the same as I have said, since you are not believing the letter of the law.
     
  17. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    What type of job? Would you be an undue hardship? How many people work at your company?
     
  18. Allan

    Allan Active Member

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    Sir, apparently do not realize there are a great many states which allow for the firing of employees, at any point in time, for whatever reason (with the exception of race or gender) they so deem. It is called "At-Will Employment".

    At-will employment is a doctrine of American law that defines an employment relationship in which either party can break the relationship with no liability, provided there was no express contract for a definite term governing the employment relationship and that the employer does not belong to a collective bargaining group (i.e., has not recognized a union). Under this legal doctrine:
    There are various small addendums in certain states but most rest heavily upon the employee discharged to prove, and in most of those, it is not easy.
     
  19. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    This is false. If they need you and you refuse, you are creating an undue hardship. Since the Sabbath by definition is Saturday, you cannot claim Sunday is it, nor has it been redefined as Sunday anywhere in the NT.
     
  20. AresMan

    AresMan Active Member
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    There is nothing in the Scriptures to equate The Lord's Day with The Sabbath. In fact, there are many indications in the NT that Christians are not subject to the legal Sabbath. We have entered into His rest and Christ has fulfilled the Law.

    For practical reasons, I would advise people to try to take at least one day off from hard work during the week for their own health and sanity. Sunday is as good a day as any. However, we are not subject to the Sabbath day as defined in the Mosaic Law. We do not face the wrath of God if we pick up sticks on Saturday (or Sunday for that matter).
     
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