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Frequently Asked Questions

"Do's and Don'ts"

Question:

Aren’t those who claim it is wrong to dine out on the Sabbath just creating a personal list of “do's” and “don’ts" much like the Pharisees did? What’s wrong with enjoying a Sabbath meal with brethren at a restaurant if it is done in moderation?

Our Response:

When reading God’s word regarding the Sabbath, there appears to be a great deal of specifics concerning what He desires of His people regarding their conduct on this day. One might even call His instructions a list of “do’s and don’ts.” The following are just a few examples:

This is an interesting question and it is often presented in defense of dining out on the Sabbath. However, we would respectfully like to ask you to consider the following.

  1. Don’t work (Ex. 20: 8, Dt. 5:13-4))
  2. Don’t compel servants to labor on your behalf (Ex. 20:10, Dt. 5:14-5)
  3. Don’t compel strangers to labor on your behalf. (Ex. 20:10, Dt. 5:14-5)
  4. Don’t compel your livestock to labor (Dt. 5:14)
  5. Don’t compel your family to labor (Ex. 20:10, Dt. 5:14-5)
  6. Don’t prepare meals (Ex. 16:23-5)
  7. Don’t go outside your place (Ex. 16:29)
  8. Don’t gather your daily food (Ex. 16:22-3)
  9. Don’t engage in business (Neh.10:31, 13:15-21)
  10. Don’t do your own pleasure (Isa. 58:13)
  11. Don’t speak your own words (Isa. 58:13)
  12. Don’t think your own thoughts (Isa. 58:13)
  13. Do assemble with God’s people (Lev. 23:1-3)
  14. Do call the Sabbath a delight (Isa. 58:13)
  15. Do call it honorable and holy (Isa. 58:13)

This appears to be a pretty substantial list. Furthermore, it was not created by those who refrain from dining out on the Sabbath. Every one of these “do's” and “don’ts” were given by God Almighty through His servants. It seems abundantly clear to us that if these instructions were truly honored by God’s people today no one would be going to restaurants on the Sabbath.

With respect to dining out in “moderation,” our question is can any of these “do’s” and “don’ts” be done in moderation? For example: can we occasionally do yard work on the Sabbath? Can we speak our own words once in awhile? Do we have to call the Sabbath a delight all the time? And what about meals? Can we cook food on the weekly Sabbath if we only do it periodically? Can we compel others to labor for us if it is only done infrequently?

Here is our question to those who engage in the practice of dining out on the Sabbath, even if only in moderation: where in God’s word does it suggest that His people can go out into a place where the Sabbath is being desecrated and avail themselves of this sin? Is there even one example where this was done by God’s people with His full acceptance? Did Jesus ever go to an inn on the Sabbath? Did He ever buy anything on this day? What about the disciples? Did they ever do anything remotely close to buying a meal on the Sabbath? Certainly moderation was a principle then just as it is now. Wasn’t it?

Everything we read in God’s word tells us that the Sabbath is sacred. It is God’s holy day. It is so pure that it is not to be contaminated with that which is profane. The services performed by restaurants on the Sabbath shout out contempt for the holy. God’s people can attempt to rationalize their behavior on the Sabbath if they wish, but the weight of scripture is clearly on the side of avoiding this practice altogether.

Respectfully,

Blow the Trumpet

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