Freshly Sabbatarian - Adjusting

[Corey Powell]

I was permitted to join the PB provisionally considering I became convinced of the enduring character of the 4th Commandment. I'm glad to say in reviewing some previous threads and listening to various sermons, I have come to the conviction.

However, I come here to confess and seek encouragement. I'm slightly terrified and don't know where to start. My family has never been Sabbatarian and I don't know anyone here in the land of Progressive Covenantalism (Louisville) that is either.

My difficulty primarily is this: I work full time and am a full-time seminary student and a pastoral intern, and I consider having him with my family a priority and am intent to not neglect them in the name of ministry. But what I have been doing, with almost no time to do homework during the week, is split basically all of it between Saturday and Sunday, and I have a very heavy load this semester with learning Hebrew. But if I have to do all of my homework on Saturday, it will take the entire day with no time to spend with my family. And on the Lord's Day I understand it would not be appropriate to take my family to the zoo, out to eat, etc, which we often do on Saturday. Could we go to a public park that doesn't have staff? So while I understand the rest it brings, right now it feels more like a burden, but there isn't anything I can reasonably drop without quitting seminary.

some I've listened to have said that to begin, don't start what you can't do but what you get to do. And I get that. But also I've been very discouraged by some old threads here that discuss positions on the sabbath that to me sound akin to disallowing picking grain to eat on the sabbath: can I use electricity, can I play with my children, etc.. Even if these are questions that do need to be asked, I don't think it's good or right to start there.

I'm not sure what my question is. Maybe I want to know what the change looked like for you? or some wisdom about the transition. I just needed to say these things somewhere that could be potentially helpful.

Thanks

 

[Theoretical]

I highly, highly recommend this book for you: https://www.wtsbooks.com/products/w...-sabbath-9781943017638?variant=43832851857608. If money's tight PM me, and I'll gladly send you a copy - print, audio or both. It's small and thoughtful.

I'll post more later but it's really focused on the positive side (what we get to do) rather than the negative side, which I think is really important especially early in one's approach to this commandment with family.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

I'm biased for older books and would say pick up a copy of Nicholas Bownd's True Doctrine of the Sabbath. It is the granddad of all puritan works on the sabbath, and perhaps not as heavy polemically or theologically as later works, it is to a great degree a pastoral work, based on lectures given circa 1585, published in 1595 and expanded in a 1606 second edition. It largely laid out the main arguments repeated in all subsequent works. This point always sticks with me:

Lastly, though no man can perfectly keep this commandment, either in thought, word or deed, no more than he can any other; yet this is that perfection that we must aim at; and wherein, if we fail, we must repent us, and crave pardon for Christ’s sake. For as the whole law is our schoolmaster to lead us to Christ (Gal. 3:24); so is every particular commandment, and namely this of the Sabbath. And therefore we are not to measure the length and breadth of it by the over-scant rule of our own inability, but by the perfect reed of the Temple (Ezek. 40:3); that is, by the absolute righteousness of God himself, which only can give us the full measure of it.

 

[cthorn14]

It can be alarming to come to the Sabbatarian position, since it forces one to admit that spending an entire day with God is not something which comes naturally. This should cause us to seek the Lord for help in how to manage our time, which is itself a great blessing.

In my case, Sabbath observance has forced me to slow down in general. I have found this to be another blessing.

In terms of spending time with family, the Sabbath is great for it. Discussing the sermons, attending public worship, praying, Bible reading, and singing psalms together are all precious times, but this can take some getting used to.

Most likely, the biggest help would be to join a reformed congregation that sanctifies the day.

 

[LanceJ]

For a relatively short work but none the less replete with thoroughly Biblical argumentation for a Sabbatarian viewpoint, you may find Joseph Pipa's offering to be very accessible and pastoral. Highly recommended for getting your feet wet.

Amazon.com

 

[iainduguid]

Just one very concise thought: if your Sabbath is miserable for your family, you are doing it wrong. It is supposed to be a heavenly day, not a hellish one. That may take some working out in practice, but it is an important principle to keep in mind, especially as someone new to the principle. If anything has to give as a seminary student, it should be your studies, not family time. There's no point graduating summa cum lauda and then receiving your divorce papers alongside your diploma. But observing the Sabbath is not anti-family in any way.

 

[paranymph]

My family has never been Sabbatarian and I don't know anyone here in the land of Progressive Covenantalism (Louisville) that is either.

Have you ever talked to anyone at the Reformed Baptist Church of Louisville? If I remember correctly, you are heading to a Presbyterian church, but it might be worth seeing how they do things at RBC.

 

[Zach]

Just one very concise thought: if your Sabbath is miserable for your family, you are doing it wrong. It is supposed to be a heavenly day, not a hellish one. That may take some working out in practice, but it is an important principle to keep in mind, especially as someone new to the principle. If anything has to give as a seminary student, it should be your studies, not family time. There's no point graduating summa cum lauda and then receiving your divorce papers alongside your diploma. But observing the Sabbath is not anti-family in any way.

I cannot echo this advice to let your studies be of secondary importance to your family time more heartily. I'm reminded of the words of Libbie Groves at the start of her Hebrew classes at Westminster, who would remind students that because of their varying responsibilities, "Some of you will be sinning if you don't get an A in my class. Some you will be sinning if you do get an A in my class." Put your family first, even if that means having to eliminate, adjust, or slow down with other responsibilities.

 

[Theoretical]

sabbath – nuakh

Posts about sabbath written by T. M. Suffield

nuakh.uk

hospitality – nuakh

Posts about hospitality written by T. M. Suffield

nuakh.uk

rest – nuakh

Posts about rest written by T. M. Suffield

nuakh.uk

The author's a UK Evangelical who's written some very thought provoking and positive things on these issues from the perspective as someone who didn't start with sabbath convictions. A lot of the focus is rightly on hospitality and slowing down.

I heartily disagree with his charismatic views, but I think he's got a good perspective on this topic.

----

Non-Sabbatarians have sometimes mocked someone like Joseph Pipa for suggesting something like special toys for the kids on the Sabbath, but I think he's very onto something as a principle. Similar things come to mind with something like dessert on Sundays, a nice walk in the park or regular picnic if you're blessed to not have an Oven for a climate. Singing is really, really wonderful to do together.

----

The thing that made me a convinced Sabbatarian more than anything else was spending a few evenings over at a pastor's house after their morning and evening services years ago. The kids would make a simple dinner for the family (quesadillas), fellow church members, and visitors who came over and it'd be served with a nice bottle of red wine.

Another couple from a previous church, who perhaps had a looser view but still avoided commercial activity out of conviction, had me over periodically for nachos and a board game, sometimes after AM services before the evening bible study and sometimes after the evening bible study or if the study was cancelled for that night.

The other week, I went over to one of my elders' homes and got to enjoy a nice breakfast for dinner with them, their son, and his girlfriend, and we had a lovely conversation late into the evening.

I've been able to bless others with Lord's Day meals we share around my table in similar ways, I hope.

If you haven't noticed a pattern here, hospitality after or between worship is something that really transforms the Day. It's one of the strongest ways we can build a deep community as believers, whether single or married, young or old, or what have you. It also greatly lightens the burdens for any one person.

It's a major bit of rewiring, but God gives us a weekly reset in a way we never imagined before. There's a shocking difference between 7 days of work all blended together and 1+6 where the 1 isn't just lounging around but involves it's own exercises but mentally and spiritually is a major shift in your life. No matter how bad the previous week was, the Lord's Day starts a new week and it points us to the Day when there truly will be a new, eternal, embodied life with our Savior and with our brothers and sisters in Him.

 

[dsanch1120]

Just one very concise thought: if your Sabbath is miserable for your family, you are doing it wrong. It is supposed to be a heavenly day, not a hellish one.

This was transformative for my family coming out of a NCT/Progressive Covenantalism mindset which treated the sabbath (and the Decalogue as a whole) as a bad thing. Realizing that it’s intended to be a blessing and treating it has such quickly made it the day of the week I most look forward to

 

[Logan]

This was transformative for my family coming out of a NCT/Progressive Covenantalism mindset which treated the sabbath (and the Decalogue as a whole) as a bad thing. Realizing that it’s intended to be a blessing and treating it has such quickly made it the day of the week I most look forward to

As long as people are doing book recommendations...

This one is less theological and more conversational and focuses on how to enjoy the blessings of the Sabbath. I found it very edifying.

Worship, Feasting, Rest, Mercy: The Christian Sabbath

 

[CGS]

As long as people are doing book recommendations...

This one is less theological and more conversational and focuses on how to enjoy the blessings of the Sabbath. I found it very edifying.

Worship, Feasting, Rest, Mercy: The Christian Sabbath

Scott beat you to it in post #2.

But now that's two recommendations for it, so it must be good.

 

[Deleted member 6112]

So while I understand the rest it brings, right now it feels more like a burden, but there isn't anything I can reasonably drop without quitting seminary.

Given that you're currently working through some fundamental theological issues, you might consider stepping away from seminary for a time. Your signature says that you're a pastoral intern in the SBC but hold to the Westminster Confession. It might be good to work out your ecclesiastical situation, and to allow some time for working through the many implications of the doctrine you've so recently embraced (many of which implications you may not even be aware of at this time), before resuming studies.

As someone who just finished seminary, I understand the impulse to keep going, but honestly nobody needs a pastor who just worked through the basics of the Reformed system a year or two ago. We are quick to think that we aren't novices when in reality we still are. The Lord arranged it so that it took six years for me to get through seminary, and I was convinced of a sense of a call a decade before I was even able to begin my studies. In retrospect, I'm so thankful that he slowed me down.

 

[Ploutos]

As a really basic primer, Kevin DeYoung's book on the Ten Commandments is a good place start "breaking ground", so to speak. It has likewise been my desire to move my family toward a positive vision of the sabbath, but it takes some time.

 

[retroGRAD3]

Homework is still work

 

[alexanderjames]

I find it a bit funny that though Corey has expressed his busyness and lack of time we keep piling book recommendations on him.

 

[paranymph]

I find it a bit funny that though Corey has expressed his busyness and lack of time we keep piling book recommendations on him.

Well, he can read these on the Sabbath...

 

[Corey Powell]

Just one very concise thought: if your Sabbath is miserable for your family, you are doing it wrong. It is supposed to be a heavenly day, not a hellish one. That may take some working out in practice, but it is an important principle to keep in mind, especially as someone new to the principle. If anything has to give as a seminary student, it should be your studies, not family time. There's no point graduating summa cum lauda and then receiving your divorce papers alongside your diploma. But observing the Sabbath is not anti-family in any way.

I appreciate this, though my concern is less that the Sabbath is miserable and more so that the rest of the week I have little time for recreation with my family, so while we treasure the rest of the Sabbath, it is a difficult shift for us to not have time on Saturday to do much together due to homework. But i appreciate the various encouragements to sort the priorities regarding homework. This is something is struggle with, i don't know how to turn in a project that I didn't attempt to do in excellence. There may be some idolization of perfection and reputation in this, but I also genuinely want to do well and learn as much as I can from my time here. But as you say, that certainly isn't worth straining my family over.

Have you ever talked to anyone at the Reformed Baptist Church of Louisville? If I remember correctly, you are heading to a Presbyterian church, but it might be worth seeing how they do things at RBC.

I was not aware of this church, but I may see if I can reach out to someone there. It would be great to get to talk through these things face to face with someone.

Given that you're currently working through some fundamental theological issues, you might consider stepping away from seminary for a time. Your signature says that you're a pastoral intern in the SBC but hold to the Westminster Confession. It might be good to work out your ecclesiastical situation, and to allow some time for working through the many implications of the doctrine you've so recently embraced (many of which implications you may not even be aware of at this time), before resuming studies.

As someone who just finished seminary, I understand the impulse to keep going, but honestly nobody needs a pastor who just worked through the basics of the Reformed system a year or two ago. We are quick to think that we aren't novices when in reality we still are. The Lord arranged it so that it took six years for me to get through seminary, and I was convinced of a sense of a call a decade before I was even able to begin my studies. In retrospect, I'm so thankful that he slowed me down.

I have had to give this a lot of thought and seek wisdom. The conclusion that has been generally reached is that the best thing is for me to finish because of how close I am, only a handful of classes from finishing. Were I further out I would probably transfer to Westminster or RTS. But it would be unwise use of time and money to switch right now. And if i were to take a break, it would be quite a strain on my family because we would lose our housing.

I do plan on switching to a Presbyterian congregation. But i don't plan on immediately trying to attain a pastoral position. at the beginning of this year I had to confess some sin, and in the process admit that I have some maturing to do before actively pursuing the office. My plan at the moment is to finish as soon as i am able (i was able to adjust my program to graduate sooner without increasing my workload) and move to a location based on a good Presbyterian church where we can serve and grow and eventually come under care to seek ordination. So I am planning on taking it slow.

Thanks all for the recommendations! I will try to get to these sooner than later, maybe with my newfound time to worship on the Lord's Day.

upon reflection, though my family was never Sabbatarian, I think the Lord was kind to cause us to honor it in part, if you will, by "accident." The regular schedule for my family on Sunday was morning worship with long fellowship after, have a family from the church or missionaries over for a big and late lunch, rest in the afternoon (my dad would read a book, take a nap, call his mom, and sometimes watch golf [yes, I know]), eat leftovers, then go to the evening service. We rarely had other plans on Sundays besides fellowship with other church members over a meal, sometimes with family. For a non-sabbath-keeping family, I feel this is as close as you can get and goes to show that this moral law is written on believers' hearts, whether we acknowledge it or not. So I do have some sense of what it looks like already, how much better will it be when that rest time is spent in meditation and worship.
Praise to the Lord.

 

[Jeri Tanner]

some I've listened to have said that to begin, don't start what you can't do but what you get to do. And I get that. But also I've been very discouraged by some old threads here that discuss positions on the sabbath that to me sound akin to disallowing picking grain to eat on the sabbath: can I use electricity, can I play with my children, etc.. Even if these are questions that do need to be asked, I don't think it's good or right to start there.

I'm not sure what my question is. Maybe I want to know what the change looked like for you? or some wisdom about the transition. I just needed to say these things somewhere that could be potentially helpful.

The Sabbath truly is the 'market day for the soul'- we get to spend the day in fellowship with the Lord in all the various ways afforded to us, freed up from our regular duties of work during the week. That doesn't mean that our flesh falls right into line with how we spend our moments, however. It also doesn't mean that there will be no labor- children still have to be cared for, for instance. Focus on delighting your own soul in the Lord and on your household, and on public worship, and the fellowship of the saints. You don't have to worry about the use of electricity or playing with your children (but you can redeem those things through making a good use of them). Think of it as a day of especially drawing near to the Lord, and aim not to let that idea and target get too far away from you and your family (and brothers and sisters at church). Ask him for help and lay hold on his promises, as with all things we're commanded to do. So glad the Lord has helped you in coming to these things.

 

[alexanderjames]

Well, he can read these on the Sabbath...

he said grumbly

 

[Theoretical]

I find it a bit funny that though Corey has expressed his busyness and lack of time we keep piling book recommendations on him.

It is the downside of the Puritanboard. We don't push drugs here, but we do push books.

upon reflection, though my family was never Sabbatarian, I think the Lord was kind to cause us to honor it in part, if you will, by "accident." The regular schedule for my family on Sunday was morning worship with long fellowship after, have a family from the church or missionaries over for a big and late lunch, rest in the afternoon (my dad would read a book, take a nap, call his mom, and sometimes watch golf [yes, I know]), eat leftovers, then go to the evening service. We rarely had other plans on Sundays besides fellowship with other church members over a meal, sometimes with family. For a non-sabbath-keeping family, I feel this is as close as you can get and goes to show that this moral law is written on believers' hearts, whether we acknowledge it or not. So I do have some sense of what it looks like already, how much better will it be when that rest time is spent in meditation and worship

Would that every Sabbatarian family and individual household had a practice like that!

That's a pretty splendid background for you to walk into Sabbatarianism that'll frankly fit like a glove, and more importantly, that have a good idea how to make a delight and positive from your own memories. You pretty much described a lot of the vision of Worship, Feasting, Rest, and Mercy. For you at least, it'll be a far easier transition than those of us who've had to massively rewire our lives from not having grown up with anything close to the Lord's Day, even if we were raised in devout homes.

Make sure your wife's not killing herself in labor on the day while you and everyone else chat and rest. The more you can make many hands make light work, the better. Obviously, she'll have a different background that may be more or less conducive to it, so lots of patience and delight vs the don'ts is valuable.

 

[Recipient of Grace]

It is the downside of the Puritanboard.

“Hey guys, I had a quick question that I was wondering if you wiser brethren could answer…”

“Glad you asked! Here’s this 900+ page book by John Owen that will answer your question, it’s a classic!”

“…but coulnd’t you just, y’know, answer it in, like, two or three sentences?”

“Sure! This book by Thomas Watson is only about 250 pages, really easy to understand as well! Dr. Owen, albeit brilliant, can be tough to read sometimes.”

“*sigh* Ok, fine. Thanks.”