Part III

    T he following is the third of nine arguments advanced by David C. Pack of the Restored Church of God when refuting A Sabbath Test. Each argument is responded to by Blow the Trumpet.

Argument III:
They’re Not Our Servants

    According to Mr. Pack, going to a restaurant on the Sabbath is permissible in God’s eyes because it does not go contrary to the fourth commandment’s prohibition against compelling servants to work. Mr. Pack reasons that those who work in restaurants are technically not his servants. Therefore no trespass has taken place. At this point it is interesting to note that he employs a letter written in 1988 by the Worldwide Church of God under the leadership of Mr. Joseph Tkach Sr. as a proof source. In the letter it says:

“Those waiters, waitresses, chefs, and the like, who may serve in a restaurant, are not our ‘servants’ in the way described in the Fourth Commandment. They are the employees of the owner of the restaurant. They would be working regardless of whether or not we ate there. God does not hold us responsible for their working on the Sabbath just because we use their services—unless we were the only ones who ever ate in that restaurant on the Sabbath. Obviously, we make up a very small portion of the customers served in restaurants on the Sabbath or Holy Days.”

Our Response:

    If Mr. Pack concurs with the conclusions of this letter, as his use of it would suggest, an interesting question presents itself. Here it is: Suppose Mr. Pack’s dinner party at an exclusive restaurant constituted two percent of the restaurant’s business on a particular Sabbath, what percent of the labor would his party be directly responsible for?

    If he is truly honest, Mr. Pack would have to concede that he and his guests directly contributed to a portion of the Sabbath labor performed by the restaurant’s employees, albeit only a very small percentage. This now brings us to a second question. How small does it have to be for God Almighty to not care? Furthermore, does it really matter to God that these restaurant employees would be working even if Mr. Pack and his party did not dine there? The authors of A Sabbath Test add some clear insight on these questions.

It is true that the decision to work on the Sabbath rests solely in the hands of restaurant personnel. But it is equally true that the decision to support that labor rests solely in the hands of those who purchase their goods and services. With this in mind, ask yourself one question: would Jesus ever compel them to work on His day even if He knew they would do it for someone else? The bottom line regarding this argument is really quite simple: You may not be able to prevent restaurant personnel from working on the Sabbath. But you most certainly can prevent them from working for you on that day! (A Sabbath Test p. 100)

    The crux of Mr. Pack’s contrary argument is driven by his belief that God doesn’t care if someone else’s servant labors on your behalf on the Sabbath—even if you personally direct that labor. He reasons that God is only interested in “your” servant, not the servants of others. In other words, here is how Mr. Pack renders the meaning of the fourth commandment.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant. However, you may seek out unbelievers who profane my Sabbath and compel their manservant and maidservant to labor on your behalf.”

    Think about what dining out on the Sabbath requires. One must consciously seek out someone who is desecrating God’s holy day. He then must be willing to pay for this sacrilege. Tragically, those who go to restaurants on God’s Sabbath actually rationalize that the restaurant personnel are performing a service that is worthy of their patronage. How do you think God views this service?

    Surprisingly, there are many in God’s Church today who, like Mr. Pack, believe the fourth commandment is limited in scope. In other words, although it prohibits God’s people, or those who serve them, from engaging in labor, it does not prohibit them from orchestrating the labor of an unbeliever’s servant for their benefit. As a result of this thinking, many contend that when God gave His law regarding the Sabbath, He actually made provisions for His people to be the beneficiary of the labor of Sabbath-breakers.

    Although many may write the amended command differently with respect to style, those like Mr. Pack who go to restaurants on the Sabbath concur with the substance of this modified rendering of God’s law. The question is: do you? Ask yourself: do these words really sound like they express the wisdom of the Holy One of Israel? Was it God’s intent to simply shield His people from profaning the Sabbath by their labor? Or was He expressing a greater eternal truth about His Kingdom?

    Today, Mr. Pack and all too many in God’s Church advance an endless stream of technical arguments in an attempt to circumvent God’s law. In this case, he has built his argument around the word “your.” However, can you imagine him applying the same logic on the ninth or tenth commandment? Those commands only refer to “your” neighbor, not someone else’s neighbor. Think of the implications of this.

    Furthermore, what Mr. Pack failed to mention in his article is that when God gave the Ten Commandments, including the one pertaining to His Sabbath, He had already made provisions that would have made it unlawful for Israelites to avail themselves of the service of those outside their community of faith. He did this immediately after He delivered them through the Red Sea and an approaching Egyptian army. At that time God specifically prohibited them from going out on the Sabbath to any place His law was not in force (Ex. 16:29). In other words, the Israelites were only permitted to be with God’s people on this day—a place where Sabbath labor soon would constitute a capital crime. When God made reference to “your servant” in the fourth commandment He was doing so because he had already prohibited them from being with the servants of those outside the community where His Sabbath would be kept. Regrettably, outside the camp is right where Mr. Pack leads his people with his teaching.

    In the final analysis, God’s word is clear. When He told His people they were not to work on the Sabbath, He was declaring that labor profanes the day He made HOLY! Even God Himself ceased from working on this day. Does anyone sincerely believe He would seek out those who profane His Sabbath and avail Himself of their services?

    The point God was making when He uttered His great Sabbath law was that Israel was not to be a party to profane work in any way, shape, or form on this day unless it specifically related to a levitical duty (Mt. 12:1-5) or it was driven by circumstances beyond a person’s control. Contrary to what Mr. Pack may argue, working in a restaurant on the Sabbath is not a levitical function and patronizing a restaurant is not beyond a believer’s control. Furthermore, Mr. Pack knows it. Certainly there can arise genuine emergencies when it becomes necessary to do what the law did not normally permit. But this is not what Mr. Pack is advocating. Make no mistake about it, this church leader contends that it is perfectly acceptable with God when he makes plans to take his wife out to a fine restaurant on the Sabbath. After all, those who work there are not his concern.

    While Mr. Pack passionately argues that it doesn’t matter if God’s people avail themselves of labor that is performed in clear violation of God’s great moral law, the authors of A Sabbath Test have a different view. It is one driven by reverence for God and compassion for those who do not yet know Him. Here are their words:

Consider what lies ahead for those who work at restaurants on the Sabbath. The day will come when they will know about God and His Great Kingdom. At that time, they will understand God’s purpose for the Sabbath and they, too, will honor this great commandment.

 

Additionally, when God’s Kingdom is established on earth, its citizens will understand why God’s people today did certain things and refrained from doing others – including purchasing goods and services on His Sabbath. They will know that by refraining from buying and selling on the Sabbath, God’s people were not only honoring the Great Creator, they were also expressing a genuine hope for all mankind – a hope that all people would one day enter into God’s Sabbath rest. This is the true witness God’s people must proclaim. It is one that will be affirmed by the very government of God when His Kingdom returns. The gospel is NOT proclaimed by your presence at a restaurant on the Sabbath. It is, in fact, proclaimed by your absence. (A Sabbath Test p 104)