National Super-Sabbath Breaking Sunday?

[Honor]

Joe:

I'll be at an elders' meeting for the Super Bowl. He has a big screen TV and great surround sound. I think most of the church will be there...

is that what you're calling it??? LOL is that so it'll be a men's only superbowl party??LOL (just poking)

Brian:

I couldnt help but cringe at this post. I dont mean to come across as rude but you should turn to the Word of God as opposed to getting info from fallible man.

Couldn't the same be said about holding to the teachings of Calvin or Edwards or even the Confessions? I don't want to be mean but God put godly men with wisdom to help us.

 

[Tim]

To consider the title of the thread, If I were back in North America...

I would be doing my best to spend time in public and private worship, to focus on the Lord, to consider what I heard of God's Word preached, to spend time in fellowship with brothers and sisters - speaking of the Lord, His glory, and His works. May God have mercy on me if I were ever to put football (or any other sport/recreation) ahead of Him on His day.

[...]

This is true of every single day! But that is a good the reminder, though

Yes, God is first every day but that is why we obey His commandment that makes a distinction between six days of work and one of rest. For six days a week, it is good and right that we devote time to work and recreation - doing so honors God. It is sin if we devote time to work and recreation on the Lord's Day - doing so dishonors Him.

WCF 21:8 This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments, and recreations (Exo_20:8; Exo_16:23, Exo_16:25, Exo_16:26, Exo_16:29, Exo_16:30; Exo_31:15-17; Neh_13:15-22; Isa_58:13), but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy (Isa_58:13; Mat_12:1-13).

WLC 117: How is the sabbath or the Lord’s day to be sanctified?
Answer: The sabbath or Lord’s day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day, not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful; and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to betaken up in works of necessity and mercy) in the public and private exercises of God’s worship: and, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day.

For everyone: I know it is hard to pull oneself away from things like the Superbowl, especially in the face of peer pressure. Over time, I gradually eliminated work and recreation from my life on the Lord's Day: school work, long-distance running races, baseball, restaurants, buying gasoline, etc. But believe me, it is a blessing to remove these things from one's life on the Lord's Day. What might seem like an empty hole will be filled with opportunity for Christian fellowship and encouragement, time for contemplation, meditation, and prayer. It can be done. God was patient with me, as it took a couple of years for me to work through all the areas. Now I encourage others to do the same because I believe it is Biblical.

 

[Blueridge Believer]

This from a church in my town:
Fairlawn Church of God

Sunday February 1, 2009
5:00 PM

Join us at the Fairlawn Church of God for an early service at 5PM with Worship and a DVD presentation from our pastor. Immediately following, we will be dismissed to the Fellowship Hall to enjoy CiCi's pizza and watch the Super Bowl on a GIANT big-screen. What a time of fellowship! See you there!!

 

[Tim]

This from a church in my town:

[...]

Join us at the Fairlawn Church of God for an early service at 5PM with Worship and a DVD presentation from our pastor. Immediately following, we will be dismissed to the Fellowship Hall to enjoy CiCi's pizza and watch the Super Bowl on a GIANT big-screen. What a time of fellowship! See you there!!

I repeat my question from above:

If you spend time with fellow Christians but never mention the Lord, is it still fellowship? (How many times do you think the Lord will be mentioned during the game?)

 

[PresbyDane]

I will try and find a place to watch the Super Bowl, maybe a Pub or something and then I will sit down and enjoy the game, since it will not be sabbath here when the game is on it will be 1 or 2 o`clock monday morning I think

 

[A5pointer]

This from a church in my town:

[...]

Join us at the Fairlawn Church of God for an early service at 5PM with Worship and a DVD presentation from our pastor. Immediately following, we will be dismissed to the Fellowship Hall to enjoy CiCi's pizza and watch the Super Bowl on a GIANT big-screen. What a time of fellowship! See you there!!

I repeat my question from above:

If you spend time with fellow Christians but never mention the Lord, is it still fellowship? (How many times do you think the Lord will be mentioned during the game?)

Well actually although not the norm, with Curt Warner in the game there is some talk of it by the national media.

 

[Honor]

(How many times do you think the Lord will be mentioned during the game?[/B])

Every time the Steelers make a TouchDown????(lots of Praising going on then!!!!)

sorry I thought it was funny

 

[SRoper]

I would be very surprised if anyone in Edwards' congregation was stupid enough to imagine that children were born on the same day of the week as they were conceived, without fail.

Actually I have read that the belief that one was born on the same day of the week one was conceived was a superstition at the time.

 

[ColdSilverMoon]

How will you respond to the imminent national celebration of professional Sabbath breaking for fun and profit?

By being thankful one can fully obey the 4th Commandment and still enjoy the Super Bowl.

Here's a thread about Calvin's view of the Sabbath as written in the Institutes. I agree with his understanding:

http://www.puritanboard.com/f54/calvin-4th-commandment-41322/

 

[he beholds]

:

I repeat my question from above:

If you spend time with fellow Christians but never mention the Lord, is it still fellowship? (How many times do you think the Lord will be mentioned during the game?)

OK, well I think spending time with other Christians is always/almost always going to end up with you fellowshipping. I guess if you got to someone's house as the game was beginning, put headphones on, and sat in a recliner inches from the TV, and left during halftime, you may not get the chance to enjoy eachother's company, share about your life, etc. But in most cases, I imagine that Christians fellowship, by definition, when they come together for conversation, food and fun.

 

[Whitefield]

The Superbowl starts at 6 pm in Tampa ... sunset is at 6:09 pm in Tampa .. so if one measures the Sabbath sunset Saturday to sunset Sunday ... then the Superbowl may actually occur not on the Sabbath because kickoff is usually delayed.

 

[A5pointer]

kicks off at 6:28

 

[Theognome]

How will you respond to the imminent national celebration of professional Sabbath breaking for fun and profit?

I have no interest in baseball, so it will have no effect on my Lord's Day routine.

Theognome

 

[Whitefield]

kicks off at 6:28

sounds like that then occurs on the biblical second day of the week

 

[Hamalas]

I will try and find a place to watch the Super Bowl, maybe a Pub or something and then I will sit down and enjoy the game, since it will not be sabbath here when the game is on it will be 1 or 2 o`clock monday morning I think

Lucky!!

 

[Rocketeer]

This is an interesting question. To start off, I am a European and not all that knowledgeable on American football. I will, then, assume it is like soccer in that:
a. the players get paid - it is their job, their profession
b. they play on Sundays

And my third assumption is:
c. that the Sabbath nowadays falls on Sundays.

If you think it is Saturday, apply the norm below to Saturdays. Else, what are you doing on these fora?

If that is the case, and it sure seems from my side, then watching those games any day of the week is a no-no. Why? Well:

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

It calls for no work, not even for the stranger in the city. The players work, (as it is their job), and the nation is sinning by allowing Sabbath-breaking.

Secondly, Paul says:

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

(Emphasis mine)

Paul judges approving of sinners to be an aggrandizement of the sin. How can you watch football or soccer without choosing a side? You cannot, for without the competitive element the game is no fun whatsoever. Then, you approve of at least one side, and that side is collectively breaking the Sabbath. So, by giving your approval to a team when it plays or played on the Sabbath, you are yourself not only setting a bad example, but sinning directly. Ergo, do not watch paid football on Sabbath days.

The idea is that in observing the Sabbath, we have one goal in mind: to honor God. We can do that through corporate worship, fellowship, reading, singing, etc. The important thing is that the day is set aside.

Amen, amen.

I wonder how one could honor God while watching a game - I know I cannot when I play one. Then, that could well be my own weakness, and I do not wish to press that on anyone else.

Brian:

I couldnt help but cringe at this post. I dont mean to come across as rude but you should turn to the Word of God as opposed to getting info from fallible man.

Couldn't the same be said about holding to the teachings of Calvin or Edwards or even the Confessions? I don't want to be mean but God put godly men with wisdom to help us.

The difference between Calvin or Edwards and Sproul is that the former two have been dead for the required period and have been thoroughly tested. As for Sproul, he still is alive! We know that Calvin and Edwards are thoroughly scriptural in all their works, but we do not yet have Sproul's final works.

There is an old Dutch proverb, that states that for theologians we can stick to the rule that the deader is the better. Sproul simply is not dead enough. That said, Augustine and Calvin are not of the same calibre as John and Paul, Ezra and Daniel, or Mozes and David, and all these fall infinitely far below our Lord Jesus Christ. The first two have, however, each produced a far greater set of works then the others combined, and if you cannot, for lack of time or wisdom, investigate in some more or less muddy waters, the crossection of sound, good, and eminently dead theologians will yield something that is not too far off from the truth.

Another disadvantage of Sproul is that he lives in the same time as we do. Every time has it's own blindnesses, and Sproul will have most of those that we also have. The long dead theologians do not, because they lived in another time, and therefore, we can use them to correct our own views. Lewis wrote an excellent piece on that, which was later republished as On the Reading of Old Books, which I will quote here:

Every age has its own outlook. It is specially good at seeing certain truths and specially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books. All contemporary writers share to some extent the contemporary outlook - even those, like myself, who seem most opposed to it. Nothing strikes me more when I read the controversies of past ages than the fact that both sides were usually assuming without question a good deal which we should now absolutely deny. They thought that they were as completely opposed as two sides could be, but in fact they were all the time secretly united - united with each other and against earlier and later ages - by a great mass of common assumptions. We may be sure that the characteristic blindness of the twentieth century - the blindness about which posterity will ask, "But how could they have thought that?" - lies where we have never suspected it, and concerns something about which there is untroubled agreement between Hitler and President Roosevelt or between Mr. H. G. Wells and Karl Barth. None of us can fully escape this blindness, but we shall certainly increase it, and weaken our guard against it, if we read only modern books. Where they are true they will give us truths which we half knew already. Where they are false they will aggravate the error with which we are already dangerously ill. The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no cleverer then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes. They will not flatter us in the errors we are already committing; and their own errors, being now open and palpable, will not endanger us. Two heads are better than one, not because either is infallible, but because they are unlikely to go wrong in the same direction. To be sure, the books of the future would be just as good a corrective as the books of the past, but unfortunately we cannot get at them.

Link: C.S. Lewis: Introduction to "On The Incarnation"

 

[OPC'n]

Another disadvantage of Sproul is that he lives in the same time as we do. Every time has it's own blindnesses, and Sproul will have most of those that we also have. The long dead theologians do not, because they lived in another time, and therefore, we can use them to correct our own views.

I suppose that depends upon one's understanding of Scripture and whether the dead people were correct about Scripture. Just because they lived a long time ago doesn't mean they were not swayed by what was hip (whether Scriptural or not) during their time. I fully believe that Calvin was dead on concerning the Sabbath. His writings in the institutes give an extremely balanced view on this subject.

 

[Rocketeer]

Another disadvantage of Sproul is that he lives in the same time as we do. Every time has it's own blindnesses, and Sproul will have most of those that we also have. The long dead theologians do not, because they lived in another time, and therefore, we can use them to correct our own views.

I suppose that depends upon one's understanding of Scripture and whether the dead people were correct about Scripture. Just because they lived a long time ago doesn't mean they were not swayed by what was hip (whether Scriptural or not) during their time. I fully believe that Calvin was dead on concerning the Sabbath. His writings in the institutes give an extremely balanced view on this subject.

Which is why I required said theologians to be "sound, good, and eminently dead". And of course they were swayed by what was hip during their time. That is the entire point. We know in fact that Sproul is so, as well. The problem is that Sproul is swayed by the same things as I am likely to be, whereas Calvin and Augustine were swayed by things which will easily strike us as ridiculous, and therefore, will not be dangerous to us.

Please read the Lewis quote carefully.

 

[Presbyterian Deacon]

I don't like football at all. So it really doesn't matter to me.

But, I've been teaching the Gospel of Mark at our church during adult Sunday School. I find it amusing that in the providence of God I'll be teaching from Mark 2:23-28.

Mark 2:24
And the Pharisees were saying to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"

hmmmmmmmmmmm!

 

[OPC'n]

Another disadvantage of Sproul is that he lives in the same time as we do. Every time has it's own blindnesses, and Sproul will have most of those that we also have. The long dead theologians do not, because they lived in another time, and therefore, we can use them to correct our own views.

I suppose that depends upon one's understanding of Scripture and whether the dead people were correct about Scripture. Just because they lived a long time ago doesn't mean they were not swayed by what was hip (whether Scriptural or not) during their time. I fully believe that Calvin was dead on concerning the Sabbath. His writings in the institutes give an extremely balanced view on this subject.

Which is why I required said theologians to be "sound, good, and eminently dead". And of course they were swayed by what was hip during their time. That is the entire point. We know in fact that Sproul is so, as well. The problem is that Sproul is swayed by the same things as I am likely to be, whereas Calvin and Augustine were swayed by things which will easily strike us as ridiculous, and therefore, will not be dangerous to us.

Please read the Lewis quote carefully.

I understand what you're saying. But who's to say that Edwards was more correct than Sproul? We can look back on these men and "find" their errors or what we perceive to be errors, but it depends on the person looking back and comparing them to those persons who are alive. I look back at Edwards concerning some of his assertions and find them erroneous. You might look back at the same ones and find them correct. Both of us can point to Scripture and find supporting evidence of why we find Edwards being wrong or correct. I can say that Sproul is more correct than Edwards because of the supporting Scripture which Sproul uses. You can say that Edwards is more correct than Sproul because of his supporting Scripture. See what I mean?

 

[jogri17]

I'm sorry I dont think watching the game with Christian bretheren is sin. I could be wrong.

 

[ReformedWretch]

I'm sorry I dont think watching the game with Christian bretheren is sin. I could be wrong.

Exactly the point of many here.

So in my opinion threads like these need not to exist EXCEPT AND UNLESS a brother/sister is asking why he/she shouldn't do this on a Sunday. Even then, only those that are Sabbatarian need reply as those who are not are not holding to the confession.

If that doesn't make sense someone help me understand why.

 

[Zenas]

It makes us feel better to make fun of you. This is all about us and you.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

John Calvin: Practical Sabbatarian

The Institutes are not all there is to Calvin's view of the Sabbath. Calvin is what one author has called a nascent Sabbatarian. Or as another, a practical sabbatarian. Calvin says in his sermons on the law in Deuteronomy (emphasis added),

There is another thing we need to note. We are being very narrow if we have only a rest for our hands and feet and go not further than that. What should we do then? We must apply this rest to a higher purpose. We must refrain from our business which hinders us from meditating on the works of God. We must call upon his name and exercise ourselves in his word. If we spend the Lord’s Day in partying, games and sports is this honoring God? No! Is it not mocking him and misusing his name? Yes! When the stores are closed on the Lord’s Day and men do not travel about as they do on other days, is this so that we can have more leisure and liberty to attend to the things that God commands? Is it so that we can be taught by his word, meet together for the confession of our faith, call upon his name, and exercise ourselves in the proper use of the sacraments? This is how the Sabbath regulation should serve us.
Now, let us now determine whether or not those who call themselves Christians behave as they ought to. Consider how many think that on the Lord’s Day they can freely go about their own business as if there were no other day of the week in which to do these things. Although the bell rings to call them to hear the sermon, yet it seems to them that they have nothing else to do but think about their business and take stock of one thing or another. Others are given over to stuffing themselves with food privately in their homes, because they are afraid to show such contempt in public. To them the Lord’s Day is an excuse to avoid the Church of God.
From these things we see what desires we have for Christianity and service to God, since we use the Lord’s Day as an excuse for withdrawing further from God instead of as a help to bring us nearer to him. Once we have gone astray it causes us to pull completely away. Is this not a devilish sign of disrespect in man? Sadly, in spite of this, it is a common thing. We wish to God that these things were rare and hard to find. But the world shows how holy things are misused to such an extent that people have no regard for observing the Lord’s Day as he has ordained it a day for withdrawing from all earthly cares and affairs so that we might give ourselves entirely to God.
Furthermore we must understand that the Lord’s Day was not appointed only for listening to sermons, but that we should spend the rest of the time praising God. For, although he gives us food every day, we do not keep his gracious gifts in mind and give him the glory. It would indeed be a poor thing if we did not give consideration to the gifts of God on the Lord’s Day. And, because we are so occupied with our own affairs on the other days of the week, we are slow to serve God in them in the way he has assigned on the one day. The Lord’s Day must, therefore, serve as a tower in which we can go up to view God’s works in the distance. It is a time in which there should be nothing to hinder us or keep us occupied, so that we can employ our minds meditating on the benefits and gracious gifts he has given us.
If we can apply this (that is, if we can meditate on the works of God) on the Lord’s Day, then we will be able to rest more during the remainder of the week. The keeping of that Day will, as it were, shape and polish us beforehand so that to the extent we have meditated on his works, to that extent we will be influenced to benefit by them and will be led to give God thanks on Monday and every other day of the following week. Now, if the Lord’s Day is spent playing games and in other empty pastimes, and in things that are clearly contrary to God, so that men think that the way to keep the Day holy is by offending God in different ways, and if God’s holy regulations which he ordained to bring us to himself are broken in this way, then is it any wonder that men act as brute beasts the rest of the week?
​

Sermons on Deuteronomy, "On the Sabbath" Part 1 by John Calvin

I fully believe that Calvin was dead on concerning the Sabbath. His writings in the institutes give an extremely balanced view on this subject.

 

[OPC'n]

The Institutes are not all there is to Calvin's view of the Sabbath. Calvin is what one author has called a nascent Sabbatarian. Or as another, a practical sabbatarian. Calvin says in his sermons on the law in Deuteronomy (emphasis added),

There is another thing we need to note. We are being very narrow if we have only a rest for our hands and feet and go not further than that. What should we do then? We must apply this rest to a higher purpose. We must refrain from our business which hinders us from meditating on the works of God. We must call upon his name and exercise ourselves in his word. If we spend the Lord’s Day in partying, games and sports is this honoring God? No! Is it not mocking him and misusing his name? Yes! When the stores are closed on the Lord’s Day and men do not travel about as they do on other days, is this so that we can have more leisure and liberty to attend to the things that God commands? Is it so that we can be taught by his word, meet together for the confession of our faith, call upon his name, and exercise ourselves in the proper use of the sacraments? This is how the Sabbath regulation should serve us.
Now, let us now determine whether or not those who call themselves Christians behave as they ought to. Consider how many think that on the Lord’s Day they can freely go about their own business as if there were no other day of the week in which to do these things. Although the bell rings to call them to hear the sermon, yet it seems to them that they have nothing else to do but think about their business and take stock of one thing or another. Others are given over to stuffing themselves with food privately in their homes, because they are afraid to show such contempt in public. To them the Lord’s Day is an excuse to avoid the Church of God.
From these things we see what desires we have for Christianity and service to God, since we use the Lord’s Day as an excuse for withdrawing further from God instead of as a help to bring us nearer to him. Once we have gone astray it causes us to pull completely away. Is this not a devilish sign of disrespect in man? Sadly, in spite of this, it is a common thing. We wish to God that these things were rare and hard to find. But the world shows how holy things are misused to such an extent that people have no regard for observing the Lord’s Day as he has ordained it a day for withdrawing from all earthly cares and affairs so that we might give ourselves entirely to God.
Furthermore we must understand that the Lord’s Day was not appointed only for listening to sermons, but that we should spend the rest of the time praising God. For, although he gives us food every day, we do not keep his gracious gifts in mind and give him the glory. It would indeed be a poor thing if we did not give consideration to the gifts of God on the Lord’s Day. And, because we are so occupied with our own affairs on the other days of the week, we are slow to serve God in them in the way he has assigned on the one day. The Lord’s Day must, therefore, serve as a tower in which we can go up to view God’s works in the distance. It is a time in which there should be nothing to hinder us or keep us occupied, so that we can employ our minds meditating on the benefits and gracious gifts he has given us.
If we can apply this (that is, if we can meditate on the works of God) on the Lord’s Day, then we will be able to rest more during the remainder of the week. The keeping of that Day will, as it were, shape and polish us beforehand so that to the extent we have meditated on his works, to that extent we will be influenced to benefit by them and will be led to give God thanks on Monday and every other day of the following week. Now, if the Lord’s Day is spent playing games and in other empty pastimes, and in things that are clearly contrary to God, so that men think that the way to keep the Day holy is by offending God in different ways, and if God’s holy regulations which he ordained to bring us to himself are broken in this way, then is it any wonder that men act as brute beasts the rest of the week?
​

Sermons on Deuteronomy, "On the Sabbath" Part 1 by John Calvin

I fully believe that Calvin was dead on concerning the Sabbath. His writings in the institutes give an extremely balanced view on this subject.

Like I said, he gives a very balanced perspective of the Lord's Day. He didn't believe that Sunday replaced the Sabbath. He did believe that one should devote that day to God which is exactly what I believe. It is a good thing to do this. It is the highest goal of the week, BUT it isn't the Sabbath. I'm not willing to replace the seventh day with the first day. People might say that I follow the Sabbath in my actions...that's fine but to me I'm just spending much time with my God. This is what Calvin is saying. Never did he say that Sunday became the Sabbath.

 

[matt01]

How will you respond to the imminent national celebration of professional Sabbath breaking for fun and profit?

I have no interest in baseball, so it will have no effect on my Lord's Day routine.

How do you feel about football?

 

[NaphtaliPress]

Actually Calvin is much more the sabbatarian in thought than people give credit, according to Woody Lauer (OPC). He has a ground breaking in my opinion article in the 2007 issue of The Confessional Presbyterian journal where he interacts with those who draw the line at Calvin being merely a practical sabbatarian (different theory, similar results; mainstream Puritan observance).
Stewart E. Lauer, John Calvin, the Nascent Sabbatarian: A Reconsideration of Calvin’s View of Two Key Sabbath-Issues. CPJ 3 (2007) 3-14.

The Institutes are not all there is to Calvin's view of the Sabbath. Calvin is what one author has called a nascent Sabbatarian. Or as another, a practical sabbatarian. Calvin says in his sermons on the law in Deuteronomy (emphasis added),

There is another thing we need to note. We are being very narrow if we have only a rest for our hands and feet and go not further than that. What should we do then? We must apply this rest to a higher purpose. We must refrain from our business which hinders us from meditating on the works of God. We must call upon his name and exercise ourselves in his word. If we spend the Lord’s Day in partying, games and sports is this honoring God? No! Is it not mocking him and misusing his name? Yes! When the stores are closed on the Lord’s Day and men do not travel about as they do on other days, is this so that we can have more leisure and liberty to attend to the things that God commands? Is it so that we can be taught by his word, meet together for the confession of our faith, call upon his name, and exercise ourselves in the proper use of the sacraments? This is how the Sabbath regulation should serve us.
Now, let us now determine whether or not those who call themselves Christians behave as they ought to. Consider how many think that on the Lord’s Day they can freely go about their own business as if there were no other day of the week in which to do these things. Although the bell rings to call them to hear the sermon, yet it seems to them that they have nothing else to do but think about their business and take stock of one thing or another. Others are given over to stuffing themselves with food privately in their homes, because they are afraid to show such contempt in public. To them the Lord’s Day is an excuse to avoid the Church of God.
From these things we see what desires we have for Christianity and service to God, since we use the Lord’s Day as an excuse for withdrawing further from God instead of as a help to bring us nearer to him. Once we have gone astray it causes us to pull completely away. Is this not a devilish sign of disrespect in man? Sadly, in spite of this, it is a common thing. We wish to God that these things were rare and hard to find. But the world shows how holy things are misused to such an extent that people have no regard for observing the Lord’s Day as he has ordained it a day for withdrawing from all earthly cares and affairs so that we might give ourselves entirely to God.
Furthermore we must understand that the Lord’s Day was not appointed only for listening to sermons, but that we should spend the rest of the time praising God. For, although he gives us food every day, we do not keep his gracious gifts in mind and give him the glory. It would indeed be a poor thing if we did not give consideration to the gifts of God on the Lord’s Day. And, because we are so occupied with our own affairs on the other days of the week, we are slow to serve God in them in the way he has assigned on the one day. The Lord’s Day must, therefore, serve as a tower in which we can go up to view God’s works in the distance. It is a time in which there should be nothing to hinder us or keep us occupied, so that we can employ our minds meditating on the benefits and gracious gifts he has given us.
If we can apply this (that is, if we can meditate on the works of God) on the Lord’s Day, then we will be able to rest more during the remainder of the week. The keeping of that Day will, as it were, shape and polish us beforehand so that to the extent we have meditated on his works, to that extent we will be influenced to benefit by them and will be led to give God thanks on Monday and every other day of the following week. Now, if the Lord’s Day is spent playing games and in other empty pastimes, and in things that are clearly contrary to God, so that men think that the way to keep the Day holy is by offending God in different ways, and if God’s holy regulations which he ordained to bring us to himself are broken in this way, then is it any wonder that men act as brute beasts the rest of the week?
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Sermons on Deuteronomy, "On the Sabbath" Part 1 by John Calvin

I fully believe that Calvin was dead on concerning the Sabbath. His writings in the institutes give an extremely balanced view on this subject.

Like I said, he gives a very balanced perspective of the Lord's Day. He didn't believe that Sunday replaced the Sabbath. He did believe that one should devote that day to God which is exactly what I believe. It is a good thing to do this. It is the highest goal of the week, BUT it isn't the Sabbath. I'm not willing to replace the seventh day with the first day. People might say that I follow the Sabbath in my actions...that's fine but to me I'm just spending much time with my God. This is what Calvin is saying. Never did he say that Sunday became the Sabbath.

 

[OPC'n]

Does he have info which states that Calvin believed that the Sabbath was changed from Sat to Sun?

 

[Theognome]

How will you respond to the imminent national celebration of professional Sabbath breaking for fun and profit?

I have no interest in baseball, so it will have no effect on my Lord's Day routine.

How do you feel about football?

Is that the game where the ball is some weird rhomboidish shape?

Theognome

 

[ReformedWretch]

Matt 22: 35(A) And one of them,(B) a lawyer, asked him a question(C) to test him. 36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37And he said to him, (D) "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And(E) a second is like itF) You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40(G) On these two commandments depend(H) all the Law and the Prophets."