Uncommonಮಾದರಿ

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8 ESV

Before I became a full-time pastor, I worked at an electrical company. One Sunday after church, I invited our friends to dinner at Red Lobster. My friend’s wife quickly said, “No, thank you. We don’t go out to eat on Sundays.” I thought her reasoning was because it was a school night, or maybe they have a Sunday family tradition. You can imagine my surprise when she shared her belief that eating on the Sabbath was immoral because it forced other people to work on a day of rest. Immediately annoyed with this woman’s stuck-up attitude, I told her, “Well, a few of my buddies at the electrical company are working today. To stay consistent with your beliefs, I’ll be more than happy to call them and tell them to turn your power off and go home because it’s the Sabbath.”

Now you may be thinking, “Wow, this guy is a jerk!” and I will confess I can be. I was aggravated with this woman due to her presumption of interpreting scripture a certain way. I wholeheartedly believe in the Sabbath, but when does it have to be on a Sunday? Who made that a rule? What about service men and women, like my daughter and son-in-law, who must work on Sundays? What about my other daughter and son-in-law, who do full-time ministry? They are required to work on Sundays, as am I. When did we get so off on what scripture said and make up our rules?

Now, to be clear, I believe you should have a day you give unto the Lord - Sabbath. But how you rest and what day you rest is between you and the Lord.

The assumptions of scripture aren’t just a Sabbath problem; it’s the Bible as a whole. Many Jesus followers, including myself, will take it upon themselves to create rules in addition to what scripture says. Rather than going back to the basics of scripture, we assume, “I can’t do this, I can’t do that because the Bible said so.” But where did the Bible say so?

When we know Jesus and the motivation of hearts, the commandments of God, like the Sabbath, sexuality, money, parenting, etc., become more evident. Rather than asking what I can and can’t do, we should ask, what is the heart behind what God has asked me to do or not do?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Why is Sabbath uncommon in our culture today?
2. Is Sabbath something you and your family prioritize? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think God COMMANDS us to Sabbath?
4. What changes could you and your family make in your schedule to ensure a day of rest & reconnecting with Jesus?