Non-Sabbath Keepers - Why?

[StevieG]

While a general sense of anti-nomianism is often the case, a good friend of mine would cite Colossians 2:16 as justification:

Colossians 2:16 NKJV
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths

 

[Theoretical]

It is just culturally strange and is not always clearly taught from the pulpit even in confessional churches.

The weirdness is really a key point here. What used to be a practice of varying strictness across the Reformed world (including the CoE in that), but nonetheless, an expectation, is now arguably and tragically more alien to our fellow Christians than to the nonbelievers in our sphere in many cases.

I think one of the last cruel tricks of a de-Christianizing society is that one of its last acts is to immunize large numbers of genuine believers to something like the Sabbath in this case. The attitudes of older generations that still disapprove of premarital sex between couples that do eventually get married that you saw in more "traditionalist" mainline circles is similar (and probably that's more or less the standard approach many evangelicals take now). Basically, "it's not ideal and they shouldn't be doing it, but they eventually got married so it's all fine in the end." In the process, it immunizes those individuals against robust X commandment morality and callings beyond their personal and individual ethics.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

The weirdness is really a key point here. What used to be a practice of varying strictness across the Reformed world (including the CoE in that), but nonetheless, an expectation, is now arguably and tragically more alien to our fellow Christians than to the nonbelievers in our sphere in many cases.

Reformed world is in sad shape. From the largest: The PCA is effectively antisabbatarian; to the most wonkish reformed, I was told by a minister in the OPC that if observance of the Lord's Day was a priority for me, the OPC would not be a good fit. Only the smaller denominations (FCC, etc.) place a priority on it.

 

[TheBoringBaptist]

Would anyone know where to look for JC Ryle on the Sabbath? I’d be interested to read it thanks brethren.

'I ask the attention of all professing Christians' – J. C. Ryle on Keeping the Sabbath Holy

The following constitutes chapter 14 (pages 333–362) in J. C. Ryle’s Knots Untied: Being Plain Statements on Disputed Points in Religion, From the Standpoint of an Evangelical Churchman Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.—Exod. 20:8. THERE is a subject in the present day which demands...

banneroftruth.org

Here you go

 

[Knight]

Reformed world is in sad shape. From the largest: The PCA is effectively antisabbatarian; to the most wonkish reformed, I was told by a minister in the OPC that if observance of the Lord's Day was a priority for me, the OPC would not be a good fit. Only the smaller denominations (FCC, etc.) place a priority on it.

Regarding the OPC, that may depend on presbytery or session level.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

Regarding the OPC, that may depend on presbytery or session level.

I don't recall but he may have speaking in the context of the presbytery which covers Texas.

 

[J.L. Allen]

See here, for example (and other posts you can find by searching "Kline Sabbath").

His mistake on the Sabbath dovetails with his mistaken Radical Two Kingdoms view.

Thanks for the link. That was enlightening. I would strongly disagree with Kline on this (and other positions).

 

[Theoretical]

I don't recall but he may have speaking in the context of the presbytery which covers Texas.

From my time in the OP in Texas, I'd concur.

That said, my church's Lord's Day practice tended to be generally fairly conservative, with most of the leadership and many laity not doing commercial activity, resting and hospitality, regularly attending the evening bible study (we rented the facility so an evening study was the 2nd fellowship time), and so on. I was grateful to get invitations not to eat out but instead to come over.

 

[Andres]

From my time in the OP in Texas, I'd concur.

That said, my church's Lord's Day practice tended to be generally fairly conservative, with most of the leadership and many laity not doing commercial activity, resting and hospitality, regularly attending the evening bible study (we rented the facility so an evening study was the 2nd fellowship time), and so on. I was grateful to get invitations not to eat out but instead to come over.

Second this from my time in a Texas OPC -biblical sabbatarianism was not encouraged. I came to the conviction through the Spirit's working through this very board!

 

[Theoretical]

Second this from my time in a Texas OPC -biblical sabbatarianism was not encouraged. I came to the conviction through the Spirit's working through this very board!

Having been in environments that discourage it outright, there's a vast difference between "neutral" or "not encouraged" and "actively discouraged." This church was firmly in the former camp, at least for me. I sure hope it wasn't an active discourager type for you, Andres.

I've been in far more hostile church environments or communities within the Presbyterian world.

 

[pilgrimmum]

There shouldn't be any AntiSabbatarians on the PB.

What do you think of Reformed Christians who keep the Sabbath on the 7th Day (Saturday)?

 

[Sam Jer]

What do you think of Reformed Christians who keep the Sabbath on the 7th Day (Saturday)?

I am not NaphtaliPress but I don't think such would be allowed on the PB. I would either way be surprised if there are many who assert seventh day without being dispensationalists

 

[NaphtaliPress]

I don't see how anyone could be really Reformed who kept seventh day as the Sabbath. It shows key rejections or misunderstandings. As far as the board goes, it is too fundamental an error/exception to the Reformed confessions to be a member. As John Murray said, Westminster's Sabbath Ethic is part of the system of doctrine taught in Scripture.

What do you think of Reformed Christians who keep the Sabbath on the 7th Day (Saturday)?

I am not NaphtaliPress but I don't think such would be allowed on the PB. I would either way be surprised if there are many who assert seventh day without being dispensationalists

 

[Andres]

Having been in environments that discourage it outright, there's a vast difference between "neutral" or "not encouraged" and "actively discouraged." This church was firmly in the former camp, at least for me. I sure hope it wasn't an active discourager type for you, Andres.

I've been in far more hostile church environments or communities within the Presbyterian world.

No, thankfully there were no active discouragements from Sabbath-keeping. They just held a very loose view. Many members would have no issues eating at a restaurant on the Lord's Day and one man (a deacon at that!) was a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys and would watch ball games on the Lord's Day. I attempted some reforming by God's grace, while I was there, and the minister was very gracious and always respectful of my convictions, noting they were historical and held by many in the church. When we had newer people join, the pastor would always ask me to explain my convictions to them so I was thankful for that.