Backwoods Presbyterian
Puritanboard Amanuensis
I don't know of a single Sabbatarian anywhere who thinks you cannot put gas in your car on the Sabbath. In my experience the caricatures of Sabbatarians always involve extrapolations to the absurd.
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I don't know of a single Sabbatarian anywhere who thinks you cannot put gas in your car on the Sabbath. In my experience the caricatures of Sabbatarians always involve extrapolations to the absurd.
But, and this highlights part of the problem here, if everyone, without knowing the circumstances, abstained, the bringer of such food--recall my single guy scenario--would have none of his food eaten. This appears to be, as I said earlier, churlish.
If he inquired and someone said, "Well, no one wants to eat your Sabbath-bought chicken," he might protest, "but I bought this last night," or he might say, "is that wrong?" or even "I feel as if I have no other options." He might say, "why didn't somebody tell me instead of just not eating the chicken?" And if the response is "someone will eat it," is it not possible that you really mean "some soul who doesn't know better will eat it?" If you think that it's not right for you to eat it, don't you think that others shouldn't? Are you not tempted to look down at those who do? How might Chaplain Ben's blogpost on Christian maturity apply here?
Peace,
Alan
With all due respect, this is exactly why I could never live up North! Brother, their spicy chicken is delicious!
Brothers:
If someone contributes food in this manner to one of our fellowship meals, I think that it is misguided, if not close to churlish, to refuse to eat it. Someone spiritual might speak gently to the brother (Galatians 6:1). But think about it: this brother has bought and brought the food to contribute to the joy and to do his part in the fellowship meal. We should suppose that the brother is well-meaning, though misguided: he is either ignorant about what he is doing or he is as yet unpersuaded that such is not what he should be doing. The way to handle it, however, is not to refuse to eat the good brother's contribution.
Peace,
Alan
I don't know of a single Sabbatarian anywhere who thinks you cannot put gas in your car on the Sabbath. In my experience the caricatures of Sabbatarians always involve extrapolations to the absurd.
I was just making a point. However, one must consider how habitually filling up your gas tank on the Lord's Day would not be wrong and purchasing a bucket of Popeye's chicken once a month would be.
I don't know of a single Sabbatarian anywhere who thinks you cannot put gas in your car on the Sabbath. In my experience the caricatures of Sabbatarians always involve extrapolations to the absurd.
I don't know of a single Sabbatarian anywhere who thinks you cannot put gas in your car on the Sabbath. In my experience the caricatures of Sabbatarians always involve extrapolations to the absurd.
Yes. I'm personally convicted about many things that some in our congregation are not. Chicken still in its retail packaging seems clearer to me than other scenarios, and I'd likely abstain. I see no need to speak to them of it, as I'm not in a leadership position.Anyway, I probably wouldn't approach the violator. That seems more like a job for an elder than a congregant.
I would urge greater care than some posts suggest.
As has been noted here, the food may have been bought Saturday evening. Imagine this scenario: I'm a single guy and I grab some chicken on Saturday night for my evening meal. Knowing that there's a Sunday fellowship dinner at church, I get extra as my contribution (I've been told as a single guy not to worry about it by the Smith's, who always bring plenty, but I would like to make my own contribution). This means that anybody who wishes to speak to this guy should know what's going on. And who will this be? Who are the ones who should thus investigate? I am not saying that only elders may, but I am saying that this should all be handled carefully in any circumstances.
The original poster has come back and told us that he's really only asking because he wants to know whether he ought to eat the food or not. Well, brother, a poll of PB members is not the way to determine that. Rather, Romans 14:23 is. I could eat without conscience issues, but if you can't, you shouldn't.
[Moderator]
Charges of legalism or pharisaism are out of bounds. They do nothing to clarify the matter or assist your brethren.
The original poster should be able to ask how best to handle a situation where his conscience is not clear without having to face hurtful accusations. It would seem that it should be possible to inculcate gentleness and patience towards those not yet thoroughly grounded in the observance of the 4th Commandment without falling into harshness and impatience towards those wondering or explaining how to apply the 4th Commandment in a given situation.
[/Moderator]
Tyrese, without in any way trying to escalate this issue, you did use the word "pharisaism". Unless you really did mean to say that someone was being pharisaical, it is best to avoid the word entirely because to mention such a thing is very serious indeed. Those who advocate a strict view of the Sabbath are all too familiar with this word popping up in conversations regarding the 4th Commandment and it is most frustrating. I don't see how tone would make it any more or less appropriate.