The sanctification of Sundays in (very) most Christian churches seems to be taken for granted. “It was always like that,” it might say. But it was, is and will remain what it is. An arbitrary change of God’s commandment out of sheer arbitrariness.
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There is no biblical reference to Sabbath abolition
Anyone who reads the Bible and thinks about the statements it contains will probably have come across the 10 Commandments in Exodus Chapter 20. Beginning with verse 8, these contain the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy. In contrast to the explanations of the “official” churches, which propagate “the holiday” or even explicitly “the Sunday”. But the Sabbath stands for Saturday. This day is generally discredited as the “Jewish Sabbath”. Is that particular day really just “Jewish”? Then there should also be concrete evidence in the Bible that describes the transfer of the day to be hurried from Saturday (7th day) to Sunday (1st day) in accordance with “Christian style”.
In short: There is not a single reference to such a shifting of the Sabbath to Sunday according to God’s command. This Sunday observance is based solely on a tradition introduced by the Roman-Catholic Church. Rome also openly admits this step with a “note of protest” against the Protestants. Now, however, everyone would have to question whether this arbitrary change of the Sabbath is actually legitimate.
The Bible statements about the Sabbath are clear
The references to the Sabbath (Saturday) to be observed as the day to be sanctified can be found several times in the Bible. The 7th day of the week as a day to be sanctified was already fixed by God at creation.
Genesis 2:3:
“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”
Ezekiel 20:12:
“Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.”
After the exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt, the commandment of the Sabbath was even given in writing. Manna could only be found on 6 days because nothing could be gathered on the Sabbath. Exodus 16:26:
“Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.”
Exodus 20:8 (4. Gebot):
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
Jesus and His disciples kept the Sabbath. Jesus is Lord also over this day. Matthew 12:8:
“For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”
Paul also kept the Sabbath in his wanderings and evangelisms. So also in Corinth. Acts 18:4:
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.”
Even in the future, after the restoration of the earth, the Sabbath (alongside the new moon festival) will be in effect. Isaiah 66:23:
“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.”
“It was self-evident”
The Vatican, or rather the Pope, claims to be the “Vicar of Christ” (Vicarius Christi), or even the “Vicar of the Son of God” in the successorship of Peter. With this, the papacy established the (supposed) authority to move the sanctification from the 7th day to the 1st day and also to declare this as the “Day of the Lord”. The explanation that Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday may be correct, but does this justify changing one of God’s commandments? The transfer was therefore arbitrary due to excessive self-aggrandizement.
This is reminiscent of the prophecy of Daniel. He had already had the characteristics of the earthly adversary until the end of time (the “little horn”). Daniel 7:25: “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”.
The shift from Saturday to Sunday began as early as the 4th century AD. The Roman Emperor Constantine declared in March 321 AD. Sunday as a quasi-statutory holiday, in “cooperation” with the Bishop of Rome and Pope Silvester I.. At that time, the Roman emperor was still superior to the bishop of Rome, until this role, and with it the say, was reversed in the “Holy Roman Empire” that followed.
In the letter “QVAEST. L. DE DISPENSATIONE – TERTII PRAECEPTI” from the year 1582, the extent of the Pope’s claim to power is clearly recorded. This apparently happened as a “reminder” for all the flock because of the Reformation that had already begun.
The following 6 points regarding the pope’s powers to grant dispensation (decrees, permits) suggest that the pope had inherent authority to overrule God’s written Sabbath commandment in the Bible, and therefore it can change in any way however they should dictate. Regarding the shifting of the Sabbath to Sunday, point 2 and the conclusion are very interesting.
“Primo, Utrum Papa possit dispensare, quòd dies Sabbati servetur secundum sensum spiritualem, non litteralem”
(First, whether the Pope can grant permission that the Sabbath should be observed in a spiritual rather than a literal sense)
“Secundo, Utrum Papa possit dispensare, quòd dies Sabbati in diem Dominicam sit mutata”
(Second, whether the Pope can grant an edict by changing the Sabbath to the Lord’s Day)
“Tertio, Utrum Papa possit dispensare, quòd dies Dominica fiant servilia opera”
(Third, whether the Pope can grant a permit permitting service work on the Lord’s Day.)
“Quarto, Utrum Papa debeat prohibere strictius opera servillia fieri in die Dominica, quàm fuerint prohibita in die Sabbati”
(Fourth, whether the Pope may strictly forbid ministerial work on the Lord’s Day, as was forbidden on the Sabbath)
“Quinto, Utrum Papa possit dispensare, quòd in dies Dominica fiat forum rerum emptionis, & venditionis”
(Fifth, whether the Pope can grant a permit allowing the market to buy and sell on the Lord’s Day)
“Sexto, Utrum Papa possit dispensare, quòd in dies Dominica committatur bellum”
(Sixth, whether the Pope can grant permission for war to be waged on the Lord’s Day)
“Resolvito: Dies Sabbati, in Diem Dominicam iure à Papa mutata est, propter significatorum preeminentiam, factorum excellentiam, temporumque convenientiam”
(Conclusion: The Sabbath law was changed by the pope to the Lord’s day, because of the primacy of the things designated and the eminent factors, in accordance with the time and circumstances.)
The Catholic Church makes no secret of having moved Saturday to Sunday (“Sun Day”) and admits it with a “proud chest”. Following on the subject of shifting Sabbath observance to Sunday by the Catholic Church:
“Of course, the Catholic Church claims this change as its action, and this action is a sign of its ecclesiastical power”
“The Faith of our fathers”, James Cardinal Gibbons
“MYou can read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and you will not find a single line authorizing Sunday observance. Scripture enforces religious observance of Saturday, a day we never sanctify”
“The Faith of our Fathers”, Seite 97, James Cardinal Gibbons
The believer in Christ, who engages with the Bible beyond the “lukewarm” principles of the institutional Evangelical churches, recognizes in principle two choices. Either the teachings and laws of the Bible and thus the specifications of God, or the teachings and laws of the Catholic Church. Church and the guidelines of its catechism. God explained the Sabbath as His sign of communion with Him and His people.
The church declared Sunday as its sign of authority. The choice shouldn’t be difficult.
