Introduction
The Sabbath has long been a source of many controversies throughout church history. Even before Christ came to earth, the Sabbath was abused and misused among the Pharisees and people of Israel. Many unnecessary regulations were added which restricted the use to a legalistic checklist of do’s and dont’s. However, the main purpose of the reason for Sabbath-keeping in the Old Testament was for God’s people to rest in God by setting apart their natural duties of the day, such as work and recreation. Due to the New Testament not explicitly restating this command, some controversies have arisen on how Christians under the New Covenant should observe the Sabbath, if at all. There are four main views surrounding the observance of the Sabbath. First, the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy is completely abrogated, so Christians are not required to observe any day of the week as divinely ordained rest. Secondly, the Seventh-Day Adventist approach believes that there is no change to the Sabbath from Old Covenant to New Covenant, thus Christians should observe Saturday as a day to cease from work and rest in God. Thirdly, the Continental approach believes that the Sabbath has moved to Sunday under the New Covenant and that Christians should observe it by ceasing from work. Finally, the Puritan approach also believes that the new Sabbath is on Lord’s Day, and people should cease from work, but those who adhere to this view also believe people should cease from recreational activities. These four prevalent views have many different Scriptural arguments for their approach.
The Sabbath is Completely Abrogated Approach
People who hold that there no longer remains a Sabbath for Christians employ many arguments. Fundamental to their approach is that the New Testament does not explicitly re-command Sabbath-keeping; therefore, Christians, who are under the New Covenant rather than the Old, no longer have to observe any days above others. The commandment to keep the Sabbath holy was purely a ceremonial law kept by the Israelites in their covenant with God. Since Christ disposed of the ceremonial law, which was filled with types and shadows and is thereby fulfilled in Christ, the Sabbath was removed. Scriptural support of this view is Romans 14:5-6 and Colossians 2:16-17. Paul says, in Romans 14:5-6, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.” Those who hold to this view argue that Paul states that it is up to the individual to determine if all days are alike or hold one day above others, so it is not a prescriptive objective moral obligation but rather up to the person. Also, Colossians 2:16-17 says “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” This verse also testifies that Christians are no longer obligated to observe any Sabbath. To summarize the arguments, Paul states that it is up to the individual to decide on the observance of a day rather than a moral command.
The Seventh-Day Adventist Approach
The Seventh-Day Adventist approach holds that there is no change in the Sabbath under the New Covenant. Adherents to this view argue that it is a creational ordinance due to Gensis 2:1-3 which says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” Because God sanctified the seventh day at the end of creation, keeping the Sabbath is a morally binding observance through the ages. The Sabbath is then reinstituted with the Mosaic Law in the ten commandments, thereby making the observance of a Saturday Sabbath perpetual. Since Seventh-Day Adventists believe the Sabbath is to be kept on Saturday, they believe there is no ceremonial aspect to the observance of the Sabbath in the Old Testament, and is, therefore, not abrogated by Christ. Also, Seventh-Day adeventists use many New Testament passages of Christ or the apostels preaching in synagogues on Saturday to be evidence of the apotles observance on the seventh day (see Acts 13:42, 17:1, etc.) Furthermore, these adherents believe that Daniel 7:25 is fulfilled because the church has changed the Sabbath to Sunday. In conclusion, Seventh-Day Adventists hold that the 4th commandment in every way is morally binding for Christians under the New Covenant.
The Continental Approach
The Continental approach to the Sabbath holds that there remains a Christian Sabbath, but it has been moved to Sunday, also known as Lord’s Day. Believing the Sabbath still continues, the continental approach uses many of the same arguments Seventh-Day Adventists use, such as the Sabbath being a creational ordinance, and the Sabbath being part of the decalogue, thereby making the observance perpetual. However, those who hold to this view differ from the Seventh-Day Adventists because they believe that the Sabbath was moved to Sunday. They argue that the creational ordinance did lay a pattern for the worship of one period out of seven, but the day Saturday is not necessary. Also, in the decalogue, the Sabbath has a ceremonial aspect which is the day of observance. The moral part of the 4th command is one period out of seven; therefore, making the observance of one day in seven perpetual. Since the Old Covenant members were looking forward to rest, their Sabbath is on Saturday, but for New Covenant believers we look back to rest which would change the day to Sunday. The pattern for worship devoted to God on Lord’s Day is found in Scripture. For example, Acts 20:7 says, “On the first day of the week when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to part the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight (see also 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).” Those who hold to this view see a lesser connection to the Sabbath of the Old Testament (although there still remains the principle) than the Puritan view which will be summarized next.
The Puritan Approach
Holding to many of the same arguments the Continental view uses, the Puritan view holds many of the same beliefs, such as, there still remains a day of observance in worship and rest, and that the day is on Sunday. However, the Puritan view says that there is a much stronger connection to the Old Testament Sabbath, and thus, making the specific commands to Israel about the Sabbath binding on Christians today. Because of this, Isaiah 58:13-14 still applies to the Christian life. This passage commands us to turn away from our own ways, pleasure, and talking idly. So, this passage would forbid recreation on the Sabbath. This is the only difference between the Continental view and the Puritan view; the Puritan view forbids work and also recreation.
Conclusion
Throughout church history, there have been many views regarding the Sabbath, all having biblical support. This topic continues to be a controversial debate but an important one. We must try to obey God the way He commands us to in Scripture. If part of that is observing a day in honor to Him, we must obey. If observing the Sabbath is abrogated under the New Covenant, we must not judge others for not observing Lord’s Day. However, in my next article, I will argue why the Puritan view is the biblical view. My view on the Sabbath, however, is not dogmatic, since there is ample support for all the views discussed in this blog; I am open to changing my mind.