Excuse XIV
Hiding Behind the Feast
Question:
If God would consent to His people spending money at the Feast of Tabernacles, why would He prohibit them from doing the same on the weekly Sabbath?
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In an attempt to justify dining out on the Sabbath, some invoke God’s command regarding the Feast of Tabernacles. One COG leader employed this command when presenting two arguments he thought proved God’s acceptance of his sin. First, he contends that if God's people are responsible for the Sabbath labor of those who serve them at a restaurant, then they would also be responsible for the Sabbath labor of hotel staff during the Feast of Tabernacles.
The second argument claims that because God's people were permitted to convert their assets to cash when traveling to the pilgrimage feasts, they must have been able to spend that money on holy time.
In the interest of clarity, we will address these arguments separately, beginning with the first. Here is how this leader expresses it.
But let’s go further. Suppose one goes to the Feast of Tabernacles intending not to “sin” by eating out on the Sabbath. According to this standard, he would be sinning by renting a hotel room during that time. Even if he requested that his room not be cleaned on the Sabbath, he still benefits from what the hotel has to offer—water and electricity, security, heating, air conditioning, use of elevator, use of phone and daily updating of charges. These are all paid for, and require a support staff to do them.
This man is not the only one to employ this stream of logic. One of the more prominent COG groups advanced the argument this way.
There are other areas that would be affected if one takes the position that eating in a restaurant on the Sabbath is a violation of the Sabbath. For example, when one goes to the Feast of Tabernacles, would we expect him to check out of his hotel room on Friday evening and not return until Saturday evening in order to keep from violating the Sabbath? By staying in a hotel on the Sabbath you are being served and you are being charged for that service. An entire staff of people is on duty 24 hours a day to serve your needs.
Here, these two COG associations hide behind God's command to keep the Feast of Tabernacles in order to defy God's prohibition against soliciting the labor of Sabbath-breakers on holy time. What both fail to acknowledge is that although God commands His people to keep the feast, He also specifically prohibits them from acquiring and preparing their food on the weekly Sabbath (Ex. 16). Additionally, He forbids them from purchasing any goods and services on holy time (Sabbath or High day) (Neh. 10:31).
Despite this fact, these groups are convinced that going to a restaurant on the Sabbath or a holy day is the moral equivalent of staying in a hotel during the FOT. They then reason that if God's people may do one, they may also do the other. But is this really true? Although some leaders make no distinction between these two behaviors, it is clear that God does. For starters He permits one and forbids the other.
A Glaring Omission
When making their assertion about hotel personnel, these groups and the men who lead them omit an important point. Although a staff is there, God's people do not have to pro-actively solicit their service on the Sabbath any more than they have to pro-actively solicit the services of golf course personnel on the Sabbath. The fact that they are there to serve you is irrelevant. In truth, if your hotel gave every employee the Sabbath off it wouldn’t have any impact on your ability to keep the feast.
However, when it comes to dining out on holy time the opposite is true. This is because Sabbath diners ABSOLUTELY require labor in order to engage in this practice. Therefore, they MUST pro-actively seek out unbelievers for the express purpose of WORK, because without that WORK they can't do what they desire.
Something to Think About
The reason God's people should not dine out on the Sabbath is the same reason they should not check in or out of their festival housing on a Sabbath. The appropriate time for arriving at and departing from the FOT is prior to its start (a Sabbath) and after its conclusion (another Sabbath). Sadly, just as so many of God's people take a more casual approach when it comes to dining out on holy time, many of them also take a more casual approach to honoring this special festival.
Spending Money on the Holy Days
As was mentioned earlier, another argument advanced in defense of Sabbath dining is that because God’s people were permitted to convert their assets to cash to be used at the feast, they must have been permitted to spend it on the Sabbath and holy days as well. Here is how one COG leader expressed it.
Now notice God’s instructions concerning the Feast of Tabernacles, which includes annual and weekly Sabbaths:
And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of your corn, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks; that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. And if the way be too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from you, which the Lord your God shall choose to set His name there, when the Lord your God has blessed you: Then shall you turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose” (Deut 14:23-25).
Food for the Sabbaths and annual Holy Days could not always be prepared on the day of preparation. Often, on long journeys, their food supplies were, of necessity, converted into money, which was spent upon arriving at the festival.
Manipulating Scripture
Although this COG leader wants to convince his audience that God permitted His people to purchase food and labor on holy time during the pilgrimage feasts, He did no such thing. On the contrary, the only mention of engaging in such a practice is thoroughly CONDEMNED by the Almighty.
And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the Sabbath, or on the holy day: (Neh. 10:31)
When was the Money Spent?
It is true that God's people often converted their assets to money when traveling to His annual festivals. However, it is totally FALSE to suggest that they spent their money on the Sabbath or holy day. Upon their arrival, God's people would purchase provisions for the feast—but not on the Sabbath. Jesus' disciples even thought that is what Judas Iscariot was going to do when he left to betray the Messiah (Jn. 13:27-29). They obviously drew this conclusion based on experience. However, this took place on a Tuesday evening. The “high” day did not occur until Wednesday evening in that year.
History Supports the Truth
Even the historical record supports this view. When describing the annual holy days, renowned scholar, Dr Alfred Edersheim states that provisions for the feast were purchased prior to the Sabbath and holy day. Here is how he described the preparation day.
No fresh business was then undertaken; no journey of any distance commenced; but everything purchased and made ready against the feast, the victuals being placed in a heated oven, and surrounded by dry substances to keep them warm.
While all too many attempt to find a way to mitigate God's Sabbath law, the truth contained in scripture only reinforces it. God's word is clear. His people are NEVER to pro-actively seek out others to labor for them on the Sabbath or the holy day.
