The Lord's Day or Sabbath: Prescriptive, Descriptive, or Just a Matter of Christian Liberty? Part One

The Lord's Day or Sabbath: Prescriptive, Descriptive, or Just a Matter of Christian Liberty?

I have gathered some thoughts here after reading many books on this topic.  Sadly, a growing many in Evangelical Christianity treat this day like any other day of the week.  Consider your church attendance, which service is the most attended?  Least attended?  Is there a dramatic drop off on Wednesday night (assuming there is still a prayer meeting/Bible study still held)?  Ever wondered why?  Perhaps your the victim or proponent of the latest post-modern fad: small groups.  We will address this topic in another article.  But for now just consider it in relation to the Lord's day.

Just by way of reminder, prescriptive texts are more command based in nature.  Descriptive texts showed what was going on in that point in history.  Christian Liberty and conscience is greatly affected by these two categories.

As we begin consider the view of our past.  Chapter 21, para. 7 of the Westminster Confession of Faith: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day,

"As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, He hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto Him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which, in Scripture, is called the Lord's Day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath."

Lets not forget, this one of the main driving forces causing the Pilgrims to flee all they knew and come to the new world.  Packed on the Mayflower sailing across the ocean, for one of many reasons: the liberty and license of practice displayed on the Lord's day (and that was nearly 400 years ago).  I'm sure they would role over in shame for what goes on in many evangelical churches in the name of worship on the Lord's day.

This is how good and godly men thought of this day.  How do we think of it today in 2016?  What do we offer up in the name of worship on this day?  I would simply like to overview the scriptural data on the subject, because quite frankly most people have not be taught concerning this subject.  On the other hand, many others know its content but are governed by another principle known simply as Christian Liberty (which is appropriate in Biblical proportion but unfortunately today is simply another category under the title of grace).

So with that aside, let's consider some basics of the Biblical data.  This is the first area of debate: the origin of the Sabbath.  And yes this has been disagreed upon throughout church history (the puritans and reformers didn't even agree on this one).

Is it based on the original creation?  "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:2-3).  Is this the foundational text needed to establish that sabbath existed before the giving of the Mosaic law (which could then be dismissed as only a civil or ceremonial law)?  To be fair with those who see no connection, there is no command in this verse to observe the sabbath.

Consider two different study Bible comments here, first the ESV Study Bible (Zondervan), "These words provide the basis for the obligation that God placed on the Israelites to rest from their normal labor on the Sabbath day."  Notice how the notes don't make any application directly from this text, not even a principle for humanity, but tie it to Israel and the Mosaic law.  On a similar note the KJV Study Bible (Zondervan), "The first record of obligatory sabbath observance is of Israel on her way from Egypt to Sinai (Ex 16, and according to Neh 9:13-14 the sabbath was not an official covenant obligation until the giving of the law at mount Sinai."

Notice the opposite from the notes from the Reformation Heritage Study Bible, "The principle of setting apart one day in seven for rest and devotion to God is a creation ordinance" and then again later "the establishment of the Sabbath at creation shows that its moral obligation was not limited to the law of Moses, but abides as long as creation."

Note the key difference: when does the obligation begin for humans.  Does it begin in the creation account (Gen 2) or in the giving of the law (Ex 20)?  I would suggest based on Ex 16:22-30, the principle for a day of rest has started before the giving of the Mosaic Law.

I would suggest this fundamental disagreement finds itself later played out in applications toward the Lord's day, especially worship services and liberty of conscience.  There are many texts and topics to discuss in relation to this issue.

We will pick up this topic next in relation to the giving of the Decalogue (the ten commandments).  Especially the fourth commandment, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exo 20: 8).

Comments and discussion encouraged.