Argument XVIII

     In this phase of his advocacy of dining out on the Sabbath, Mr. Pack provides a genuine exception to God's prohibition against buying and selling on the Sabbath. His purpose it to hide behind the exception. Remember, the point to Mr. Pack's essay is to prove that God approves of His people seeking out unbelievers on the Sabbath and hiring them to prepare his Sabbath meals.

David C. Pack:

"In the Philippines, some brethren in Manila must take taxis get to services—which requires exchanging money for services rendered. These “taxis” are more like short buses, and hold well beyond the maximum number of passengers allowed. Riding in them can involve a considerable amount of risk, not to mention the discomfort brethren must endure during long rides through the city."

 

"It is always convenient for critics, who live in the modern nations of Israel and benefit financially from the birthright blessings, to proclaim the “errors” of brethren who live in less affluent regions. Apparently, these detractors are unaware that the world actually extends beyond the borders of North America—they do not comprehend the kind of sacrifices that so many brethren around the world make week after week in order to attend Sabbath services."

 

Our Response:

    In all due respect to Dave Pack, there is a huge difference between having to take public transportation to Sabbath services because there is no alternative, and him making Friday evening dinner reservations at a nice restaurant for the pure joy of it. To suggest that these two behaviors are morally equivalent is not only untrue, it's insulting, and mocks the very Savior he claims to worships. Sadly, this is typical of Mr. Pack's approach concerning this issue.

    Jesus Himself taught that there are times when genuine emergencies may require us to alter our Sabbath behavior. Furthermore, the authors of A Sabbath Test dedicate an entire chapter to that very thing. However, when advocates of dining out on the Sabbath attempt to blur the lines between those emergencies and what they simply want to do on Holy time, God's purpose is never served. Sadly, this is exactly what Mr. Pack does--HE BLURS THE LINES.

    His goal is quite simple. He wants to persuade you to believe that if one may pay for the right to sit among non-believers on a bus, because they have no choice, then he (Dave Pack) may pay for the right to have non-believers serve him in the comfort of a a Five Star restaurant. Personally, we would not want to present this argument before God Almighty.

 Argument XIX  

"Fine Dining"

  

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