What about Sunday? You can look it up in the encyclopedia and hear just about any "Christian" leader proclaim it to be the "Christian sabbath," isn't that true? It's true that diverse sources claim it to be so, but is what they are claiming truth or not? The Catholic church even claims the power and authority to actually change what God made holy. Hank Hanegraaff, the "Bible Answer Man," claims that the early church decided to change the Sabbath. Website after website claims that Sunday is the correct day for worship, the Sabbath, the Lord's Day. Defined "Biblically," there is only one Sabbath -- as in "day of rest" occurring weekly. There are other "sabbaths" mentioned, specific sabbaths that occur annually, but there is only one weekly Sabbath declared in the Bible.
Is God's Word of none effect? Does God disagree with Himself? Does God change His mind? What God has said, declared -- when He makes something holy -- can man change it? If man takes a vote, can he change what God has set in place?
But what about Sunday?
Most people who claim that Sunday is the correct day of the week to worship upon for Christians also admit that it is not the Sabbath as mentioned in the Bible. It is rare today to actually have knowledgeable Christians call "Sunday" the "Sabbath" -- to even a mediocre student of the Bible the truth of the issue is easily and clearly discovered. "Sunday" was never declared "holy" by God, nor was the day ever specified as the "seventh day" -- the day we know as "Saturday" has always been the "seventh day," which is apparent in almost all cultures of the world, the seventh day is generally called "the Sabbath," as in Sabado, Subbata, Shubuta, Shabbat; also, most encyclopedias correctly denote that the "the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, Saturday."
Do we know which day is Saturday, which day is Sunday? Well, if you trust in Jesus, you know. The Bible tells us that it was His tradition to go to the synagogue on Sabbath. And we believe that Jesus was resurrected on Sunday -- so do you know which day of the week is Sunday? If we don't know which day is Saturday, we certainly can't know which day is Sunday. You don't have to go back to the creation of the world -- just go to Jesus. Yahshua the Messiah, Lord of Shabbat. Even after His death, His closest followers rested on the Sabbath, according to the Fourth Commandment.
But what about Sunday?
I believe the strongest verse in the Bible to give the "okay" to Sunday worship is Romans 14:5-6, and although it is NOT a command to worship on Sunday, it definitely includes Sunday as a day suitable for worship. Historically, it was not until about 100 years after the crucifixion (give or take ten years) that there is any record of "Sunday" becoming any kind of issue in the early church; however, Romans 14:5-6 DOES provide some proof for the Sunday-keeper to point to scripture for "holding one day above another," as these two verses, I believe are addressing the "Sunday Issue." Yes, I believe that as early as 30-40 years after the crucifixion, there were believers who began to hold that "Sunday" was important, that it was special, and began to think of it as a memorial to the day "Jesus rose from the dead." Romans 14:5-6 does provide some slim evidence of this particular esteem of "one day above others."
One man esteemeth one day above another: another
esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the
day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth
not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that
eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks;
and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and
giveth God thanks.
Romans 14:5-6
Obviously, this text is NOT discussing the Sabbath, as the Bible clearly and plainly proves that both Jewish Christians and new Gentile Christians BOTH held the seventh day of the week, the Sabbath, as special, and met on that day for worship (Acts 13:14, 27, 44). Acts 13:42 is living proof that the Gentiles gladly came before God every Sabbath, and even set up a special date to meet with Paul on the Sabbath.
Most Christians, the honest ones, admit that Romans 14:5-6 cannot be discussing the Sabbath day, the seventh day, as most Christians KNOW that God Himself rested on the seventh day, and even wrote this as a law with His own finger in the heart of the Ten Commandments (and that Jesus kept the Sabbath and called Himself "Lord of the Sabbath"), and thus the seventh day would never be considered as "one man esteems one day better, another considers them all alike!" No, this verse, plainly, obviously is discussing the fact that some Christians might consider one of the other six days "more special" than the others, despite the fact that it is not found in scripture, and these people should be convinced in their own minds, but should not judge others based upon their own very personal preferences.
This should be a major "No Duh" to even the most basic Bible student. God Himself considers one day better than the other six, one day Holy unto Himself, His own day. (See Isaiah 58:13 -- God calls one day in seven His day, God calls the seventh day His day, a holy day, a "special day set apart wholly for Him"). Some people only need to hear God say something, just once, and that's good for them; others, sadly, can hear the same message from God hundreds and hundreds of times and never decide to obey Him, and that's how specific and redundant God IS about the Sabbath, there is absolutely no room for interpretation or dissention, God makes Himself very clear, and He does not stutter.
So, back to Romans 14:5-6 and Sunday. So, what about SUNDAY? It is obvious, that some people in the time of Paul really did consider Sunday to be special, as it was the day that Jesus was resurrected. We know that He rested on the seventh day, the Sabbath, in death, reinforcing the Ten Commandments, and that His followers, even after His death, honored God and His Sabbath by resting on the seventh day of week, "according to the commandment" (see Luke 23:56), leaving absolutely no room for doubt about which day they kept, according to the commandment (still, many Christians today think that the Disciples and all Jesus' followers messed up, that they made a major boo-boo in obeying God on the day that Jesus Himself sanctified). But tradition is a natural thing, that's why we give birthday presents to our loved ones, we pay honor to them on the anniversary of the day they were born; of course, my daughter Bronte was born on a Sunday, but I hardly think of that fact every Sunday -- no, I look forward to December 24, not only because it is Christmas Eve, but also because Bronte was born on that day!
It is easy to imagine that some young Christians began to "make Sunday special" by thinking about the Resurrection every week, on the day that He was raised from the dead. True, it is not in scripture, but it is easy to imagine, isn't it?
But Paul cautioned these young believers not to go making their own rituals into "laws" or "commandments" that other Christians must adhere to, saying that "one man might esteem one day (Sunday) above another (Monday) while another (most Christians) consider every day (Sunday through Friday) all the same. Make up your own mind, because it's not a commandment, it is your own reason. If he thinks Sunday is special, it's because he loves God, and if another guy doesn't think Sunday is special, it's because he loves God, and every day is in a sense special, if you love God." Paul further even swings this discussion about Christians with weak faith to the issue of the Resurrection -- "for to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and the living."
In this same passage, Chapter 14 of Romans, Paul discusses how Christians with weak faith are afraid to eat meat because it might have been previously offered as a sacrifice to false gods. A Christian with strong faith knows that there are no other gods, and so it is a non-issue, and it is okay to nibble on this food offered to idols (but you shouldn't do it if it is going to offend a brother in the faith, you know, that brother with the weaker faith). In the same vein, Christians of weak faith might think there is special import to Sunday because Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week; however, a Christian with strong faith knows it to be a non-issue, because really, all six working days of the week are alike, to God.
To God, only one day stands out shiningly different than the rest, the seventh day.
God hallowed the Seventh day, He rested on the Seventh day, He blessed the Seventh day. It all seems redundant, doesn't it, all this blessing and hallowing and resting. God even declared the Seventh day to be a sign between Him and His people! WHY does God go to such elaborate lengths concerning His holy day? WHY does He even SAY IT in the Fourth Commandment, starting with the word REMEMBER? It should be obvious, God Himself considers the Seventh day to be important, holy, just and good.
But what about Sunday? Aren't there other verses (please, there has to be!) that even suggest that Sunday might be special, at least to be considered "different" than the other five days of the week? The Bible tells us that the seventh day, the Sabbath is special, but isn't there even some SLIM proof that Sunday should ALSO be considered special "unto the Lord?" Yeah, tradition has MUCH to say, many websites defend the tradition, but what about the BIBLE?
The sad truth is (not that there's anything sad about truth), there really isn't much else to set Sunday apart. Some Christians might use Acts 20:7 as a "proof text" to prove Sunday holiness, but even a skimming reading shows that the believers did not put any special significance on the "first day of the week." In fact, with a deeper reading, the "Sunday boat" sinks right here, for good, in the minds of most Christians. Proof AGAINST "Sunday holiness," really? Yes, decidedly and definitely.
Here are the TRUTHs in Acts 20:7-11:
1. The all-day meeting took place on the
seventh day of the week, the Sabbath!
2. The long meeting stretched into the
evening, thus the accident and miracle
happened on Saturday evening, which
by God's counting happened on the
first day of the week, Sunday.
3. After the miracle the meeting actually
continued, and they ate, and talked, until
daybreak, Sunday morning, when Paul
actually departed!
4. Paul did not hang around for church
services, because there were no services
that day, because it was Sunday morning,
a day like any other to Christians.
5. Paul used the daylight portion of
Sunday to travel, not worship.
It's true, some dishonest Christians attempt to employ this text in Romans as a proof for "Sunday worship," but it is DIShonest, tremendously, because facts must be buried for it to be otherwise than as presented here. (Hint, they want you to read it real fast, and just accept, because they are anointed, that it supports Sunday worship!) Read Genesis Chapter 1 -- God considers time in the flow from evening first, followed by daylight, so each new day begins in the evening! You didn't know that? Well of course, you didn't know that, because "Bible teachers" know that if you know this then their proof here in Romans 20 disappears! You have been taught to discard the Biblical teaching, for the Roman interpretation of "midnight to midnight," reflected in all cultures to this day.
But don't take my word on the matter, please, don't take anyone's word. Read it, in context, the full passage, from the Bible! It's clear. It's simple. If you read it wearing the "glasses of today" (i.e., today we follow the Roman clock, and our day begins at midnight, when we're generally asleep, so we generally think of the day beginning with "daylight" followed by "night," whereas the Biblical model is the opposite, the day begins at sundown, and ends at sundown), you can find a shred of proof for Sunday "sacredness," but read in context, based on the Biblical model, "Sunday sacredness" is completely destroyed, and Sunday becomes a day for travel!
And upon the first day of the week, when the
disciples came together to break bread, Paul
preached unto them, ready to depart on the
morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
And there were many lights in the upper chamber,
where they were gathered together. And there sat
in a window a certain young man named Eutychus,
being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long
preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down
from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul
went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said,
Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When
he therefore was come up again, and had broken
bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till
break of day, so he departed.
Acts 20:7-11
Do you see the truth here? The day began at sundown, and all the disciples were together already, possibly sharing the "Lord's supper" on the Seventh-day Sabbath -- although it is not stated here that it was a communion service, the expression used here means "chow down," to eat food, a common "breaking of bread" -- and Paul preached until midnight, Saturday night (which is the first part of Sunday) and then he departed at daybreak, to begin his overland march of 20 miles on Sunday morning.
Isn't this fact amazing? Go look for yourself, site after site on the Internet will try and bamboozle you with their misdirection, with their blatant dishonesty. But do not be deceived! You know the truth, from the Bible. When you catch them, the false teachers and falser prophets, in these outright lies, do not go and see them. Reject them. Refute their lies and have nothing to do with them!
There is actually not much else in the Bible to suggest that Sunday is special. To remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Don't be fooled -- Jesus Himself gave us "The Lord's Supper" to remember and celebrate John 3:16. Jesus Himself gave us "Baptism" to celebrate and remember His death and resurrection, John 3:16. God gave His only Son so that we could live -- that means that if Sunday is holy, well, Friday is holy, and even more so, as Jesus died on Friday. Why celebrate "Good Friday" once a year (if we're Catholic) and the Resurrection EVERY Sunday? We are saved by His death, NOT by His resurrection, so logically, Biblically speaking, Friday is MORE holy than Sunday.
Unless, of course, you come back to TRADITION, which "Sunday" is all about. And most Christians today, Catholics included, admit, fully and freely that Sunday is all about tradition. And most of us agree, tradition, in and of itself, is not bad. But what IS bad is if you push the "traditions of men" higher than God's will. Isn't that true? Jesus said:
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men. For laying
aside the commandment of God, ye hold the
tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups:
and many other such like things ye do. And he said
unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment
of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mark 7:7-9
Going to church on Sunday is fine, it is good, Romans 20 assures us that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. If we went to church seven days a week we'd probably be a lot happier than we are! So it's okay, even if there is no Biblical rule or mandate saying we SHOULD go to church on Sunday. The early church met EVERY day to fellowship, and especially on the Sabbath for worship and praise of God.
But what is WRONG, is calling or considering Sunday to be the "Sabbath." Granted, not many Christians do that any more. What is wrong is to consider "going to church on Sunday" to be some manner of fulfilling the Fourth Commandment. Sunday is mostly about watching TV, football, shopping, working around the house -- and there is absolutely NO SIN in this (people will attempt to convince you of other things, that Sunday is in some mystical sun-worshipping way SPECIAL, but as we have seen their logic has absolutely nothing to do with the Truth of the Bible).
Because God did not make Sunday holy. Only God can make a day holy, and He did that, and never rescinded that holiness, in the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, the day we know today as Saturday. But don't think you can change times and laws, and get away with it, not those eternal Laws of God, because if you do attempt to change God's times and laws, it's pretty easy to figure out who you are aligning yourself with -- read Daniel 7:25:
And he shall speak great words against the most
High, and shall wear out the saints of the most
High, and think to change times and laws:
and they shall be given into his hand until a time
and times and the dividing of time.
Daniel 7:25
But what about Sunday? Don't call it the Sabbath. Don't try and make it holy, because you cannot make it holy, only God can make it holy. Is Sunday your sabbath? Sunday is fine, but it is not the Sabbath, it is not God's Sabbath. Sunday is good, because it is a day God made, the very first He made!
And God said, Let there be light: and
there was light. And God saw the light,
that it was good: and God divided the
light from the darkness. And God called
the light Day, and the darkness he
called Night. And the evening and
the morning were the first day.
Genesis 1:3-5
So, what about Sunday? Is it okay with God if you attend church on Sunday? Go to church on Sunday, please! Don't feel guilty about it. If you esteem it above Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, that's fine, it really is OKAY to esteem Sunday as a special day, it is your personal choice -- esteem it unto the Lord! We are agreed that Jesus rose from death early on the first day of the week, Sunday -- we KNOW which day is the FIRST, thus we KNOW which day is the SEVENTH, and the seventh day is the day that GOD esteems higher than the rest of the week, it really is that simple! The Seventh day is the day that God blessed, hallowed, sanctified, made holy; it is the day that Jesus is Lord of, and it was His custom to attend the synagogue on Sabbath, He even rested in death on His Own Holy Sabbath, and it is already ours, given to us at the creation of the world BEFORE sin ever entered the picture.
Go to church on Sunday (but do not confuse "going to church" with "keeping the Sabbath," they are not the same thing), and Monday through Friday as well. But remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy; six days (Sunday through Friday) do all your work (work is actually part of the Fourth Commandment, we ARE to work six days), but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord thy God!
Worship God and Keep His Day Holy.
REMEMBER the Sabbath.
Don't allow the false teachers and falser prophets to convince you to FORGET what God said REMEMBER!
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Is God's Word of none effect? Does God disagree with Himself? Does God change His mind? What God has said, declared -- when He makes something holy -- can man change it? If man takes a vote, can he change what God has set in place?
