And He said unto them, The sabbath made for man,
and not man for the sabbath: therefore the
Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Mark 2:27-28
A term "to speak out of both sides of the mouth at the same time" is probably known by most people. How often we speak in that manner. We say one thing only to say the opposite in the next breath. For instance: we say that we keep the Ten Commandments and speak of not murdering, nor stealing, not committing adultery, or bear false witness, even not to cuss using God's name (I am not sure how that applies in using God's name in vain), as God has more than one name that is used in Scripture to define and reveal Him. Cussing is not a good way to speak, but to use a name in vain is to misuse the name for in the "name" the "power" of the name, that which the name infers in a bad or hurtful manner is to use the "power" of the name in vain. You may not covet, yet there are some of the Ten Commandments that are hardly, if ever, used or spoken of as that which we are to keep. So, I guess we have less than Ten Commandments, at least we only use or admit some and leave out others. We say that we follow the words of Jesus: "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled. Whomsoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19). Jesus adds: "And He said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17). Jesus simplifies the Ten Commandments by breaking them into the two parts: Our responsibility to God, and our responsibility to others: "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hand all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). God's original words: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy....wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it" (Exodus 20:8;11b).
Here is a problem: it is hard to distinguish between Authentic Christians and cultural Christians; the sabbath has lost it meaning and purpose. Both camps say one thing but do another, or speak excuses as to why they are not following the command of God to keep the sabbath holy. This may not be true of all Christians but it is generally true within Christendom. Authentic Christians must not allow themselves to be prone to the former objects of their desire to have influence. Authentic Christians guard over their hearts and minds and work at increasing their knowledge and love of heavenly things. Both theological camps go to Church, sing songs, worship in some way to God and even do philanthropic things, but in the most: Sunday is really just another day of the week even if it contains some sort of worship.
Is not the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, or one day out of seven to be a day, is the day, that God Himself set aside to be a special day? Scripture says that it is! The sabbath, that according to the Jewish calendar and practice was Saturday, and after Jesus came, died on the cross the sabbath, or that special day to be reserved for the Lord became the first day of the week, or Sunday. Sunday is the one day out of seven that is called: the Sabbath, a day to focus on God, on His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, to lay aside work, the business and cares of this life, to spend time with God. Can the sabbath, the day of rest commanded by God be any other day of the week? Yes! Some are needed in health care, or police work, or other work that necessitates that a person work on Sunday. This does not mean that they can avoid the sabbath, no, they still can set aside a special time, a special day to focus on God, to set aside the cares of this world, to meditate upon God, upon His son, to renew their spiritual life.
Sunday, or the sabbath is not to be a day to do whatever a person desires to do outside of allowing that day to be a special day, to follow the commands of God and focus on Him. How can this be done? There are many ways to do this, and spending time with family to speak about the sermon just heard, to fellowship with family, even with friends by having a special day to be with them, make the sabbath be a joyful day. Ever think about preparing for the sabbath before the sabbath arrives? Maybe preparing ahead a lunch, or a time to spend just with family, maybe with friends, to not go out and spend money, time, in restaurants, or playing golf, or doing things that would keep a person from spending focused time with God. Think on this: to go out and eat in restaurants is to make others to by your servant and to keep them from being in Church, or being with family, or spending time just with God. Restaurants and not health care, or police, or military, or anything of some sort of emergency, they can close on the Sabbath allowing their workers to keep the sabbath. Oh! if they do work they still can have a sabbath, but will they? Most often not if the sabbath does not have a special place in their hearts, that is, if God does not have a special place in their hearts. Do you, Authentic Christian us this time, the sabbath seeking to serve the kingdom of God? Or, has some sort of worldly culture influenced you?
You either speak the truth, to not speak out of "both sides of your mouth at the same time" or to do the will of God: Which will it be? There are others ways that I have not listed by which you can worship God and keep His commandments, but do not make excuses allowing you freedom from the commands of God allowing you to find ways to not do His will. Cultural religion can find a way to enter into a person's spiritual life that is contrary to the will of God. Weed it out! Make God your priority! Man, or cultural Christians may not understand, but who cares? It is your relationship with God that matters, not man. Read again the will of God in regards to the sabbath. It may just change your life! Are you ready? If not get ready for you will answer to God at the throne.
And Moses said unto the congregation,
This is the thing which the LORD
commanded to be done.
Leviticus 8:5
Remove the stain of culturalism
Richard L. Crumb
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