No one can avoid the Sabbath – Another perspective

Deutsch

Whether to observe or disregard the Sabbath. In principle, there is no difference when it comes to presence or absence. For no one can evade or avoid the time and space sanctified by God.

Sabbath clearly and distinctly

The Sabbath, the 7th day of the week (“Saturday”), is considered a special day for Jewish communities and a day for “exotic” people. In short, only a minority of Christians observe the 7th-day Sabbath established by God. Not to mention non-Christians. The explanations, or rather, justifications, for not having to observe the Sabbath are more diverse and colorful than the rainbow has different colors.

Just a few clues should actually suffice to recognize that the Sabbath has never been changed or abolished, because these are absolute statements.

Sabbath is binding

• Genesis 2:2-3:
  “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 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.”
  The institution of the Sabbath at the end and as a component of creation. There were neither Israelites nor Judeans. Thus, there was no rule for a specific group.
• Exodus 20:8-11:
  “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. […] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
  Call to keep the Sabbath, linked to God’s creation.
• Exodus 23:12:
  “Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.”
  Not only the people of Israel, but also strangers should keep the Sabbath.
• Deuteronomy 5:12-15:
  “Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. […] And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.”
  The call to keep the Sabbath is linked to God leading man out of sin.
• Mark 2:27:
  “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:”
  Jesus makes it clear that the Sabbath was not created only for Israel or the Judeans, but for (all) people (Info).
• Luke 6:5:
  “And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.”
  Jesus Christ is the Creator and Lord of the Sabbath. One day, one Lord, equals “The Lord’s Day” (not Sunday – Info)

Change Sabbath does not appear in the Bible

There is no passage in the Bible that indicates the abolition or relocation of the Sabbath, one of God’s Ten Commandments. While the pro-Sabbath statements are absolute, opponents of the Sabbath engage in interpretation. They also ignore the fact that the Church of Rome loudly defends the arbitrary relocation of the Sabbath to Sunday (Info).

A slightly different perspective on the Sabbath

The Sabbath established by God can certainly be viewed in a different light. As the Bible attests up to Genesis 2:2-3, God did not first declare a place, a building, or a person holy, but rather a period of time. Not geometric space, but a “time-space.”

This time-space begins after the end of the 6th day, i.e., after sunset, and ends at sunset on the 7th day. According to the usual calendar, this is the period from Friday evening after sunset to Saturday evening after sunset (Info).

Now, it’s natural for most Christians to dress neatly when attending church on Sundays, to behave appropriately within the building, and to refrain from chattering, laughing loudly, or engaging in mischief. After all, Christians are aware of the special place of the church, seek the closeness of God there, and do so in the belief that He is also present. But what about the Sabbath, the “time-space” established by God?

No one can avoid the Sabbath

The major difference between a physical church and the time-space Sabbath is that every Christian can decide for themselves whether they want to enter the church or stay away. However, this doesn’t work with the Sabbath. This “space of time” comes, stops, and goes again, whether the person wants it or not. Nor is the Sabbath, the time-space established by God, simply annulled just because most people don’t accept it.

Thus, every person, Christians and non-Christians alike, automatically enters this time-space. This cannot be avoided. The Sabbath was established to rest from a period of six days of work, to seek rest, and, most importantly, to participate in the presence of God. The Sabbath was also created to reflect on the Creator and His creation, as well as the magnificent plan of salvation that leads from sin and saves.

Just as one enters and behaves within a physical church, it would seem natural to behave in the same way within the time-space of the Sabbath.

“Rioter” was the best fit

What image could one compare it to if (even) Christians simply disregarded the time-space established by God, the Sabbath, even though avoiding the time period that would surely arrive is impossible? It would be as if a group of people entered the church, spread out, fooled around, played music, danced, had parties, worked, set up stalls, played soccer, and drank strong drinks behind the reeds.

Who but rioters would do this in a church? They then sought out a church space, even though God is not present there. After all, the living God and Creator designated the first building in which to commune with His people. That (time-)space where communion with God was completely suppressed by noise and commotion. This is the ultimate disregard for God’s authority.

Instead, after their noisy march through the sacred space, those who attend choose another space, one not designated by God, but by self-elevated, authoritarian clerics according to their own discretion and perpetuated tradition. These “churchgoers” can expect the same thing in the wrong space, or specifically on the wrong day. The living God and Creator will not be present to enter into communal rest with humanity. For His “appointment,” fixed for all and forever, always takes place the day before.

What authority?

Whose rules are observed, whose authority is also recognized. The Church of Rome claims, with a pointed index finger, that it has the authority over Sunday observance and, moreover, rightly points out that even the (formerly) Protestant churches, by observing Sunday, continue the tradition of the Roman Church and thus automatically recognize the papacy as their authority. Finally, Revelation 13:2 describes who is behind this “whole story.”

Just follow the lamb

It’s already becoming apparent that “simple rioting” in the time and space established by God will not be enough. Anyone who wants to stay in the space prepared by God will be harassed by those who simply want to roar through it.

A siege of the entrance gate will follow, with clubs, leather straps, and pitchforks in hand, to prevent people from entering the time-space sanctified by God. If necessary, even with tangible consequences.

Jesus Christ is Lord even over the Sabbath. The motto is to follow Him wherever Jesus goes. This also applies to following Him to enter His time-space, the Sabbath. Those who follow Him will also be counted as the firstfruits of God and the Lamb.

“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“, as in Isaiah 66:23, about the unchanged maintenance of the Sabbath also in the new earth.

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)