Appendix IV
"An Interesting Hypothetical"
Imagine for a moment that a deacon in God’s Church approaches his pastor and informs him that he was going to have to work one Saturday each month. He didn't want to do this but his employer made it abundantly clear that he would lose his job if he refused. The good news was that he would still be able to attend Sabbath services because he would only be required to work Saturday mornings. At this point his pastor decides to pursue the matter. The conversation proceeds as follows:
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Pastor: "How can you reconcile your decision with the fourth commandment?"
Deacon:“I don't think the command really addresses my situation.”
Pastor:"Really? What about “You shall do no work”?
Deacon: "Work was different then. People had to sweat and toil in those days. I'm a systems manager. I wear a suit to work. I have my own office. The work environment is very comfortable, almost luxurious. But even if what you say is true I still think the Sabbath command is different now."
Pastor:"How so?"
Deacon:"Sir, when God gave Israel His Sabbath law, they were a "closed society" where everyone honored His commandments. However, that isn't the case today. Our world and its culture are radically different from what they were during the days of Moses. It is just not suited for strict Sabbath observance. And because of that I think we need to apply God's law to fit our unique circumstances."
Pastor: "But what about Jesus? He kept the Sabbath and He didn't live in a 'closed society.' He didn't do His business on the Sabbath."
Deacon: "Actually, we can't know that for sure because the Bible doesn't describe every minute detail of His life. However, we do know that Jesus did permit work to be done under certain circumstances. Remember, He healed on the Sabbath. He even permitted His disciples to pick grain on the Sabbath. And God permits Levites to work every Sabbath. You work on the Sabbath."
Pastor:"But the Levites perform work related to the service of God's people."
Deacon: "That's true. But don't you see? So do I. My family are God's people and by keeping my job I serve them. And God wants me to provide for my family. Anyway, I am only going to have to work occasionally. I would never do it to excess, only in moderation and balance."
Pastor:"How do you think other people in the congregation will react when they discover you are working on the Sabbath?"
Deacon:"Well, if they judge me for this decision, they are no different than the Pharisees who condemned Jesus for His Sabbath practices. I don't think God's people should judge others regarding how they honor the commandments. It's divisive and accomplishes nothing.
Pastor: "What about your employer? Do you think it is right to dedicate part of your Sabbath to his business? Isn't he breaking the fourth commandment?"
Deacon:"That’s not for me to judge. However, even if he is sinning I am powerless to prevent that. Whether I work or not he will be open for business anyway. I can't force Sabbath observance on him. God has to call him. However, there is another reason I am convinced God approves of this."
Pastor:"Oh. What's that?"
Deacon: "My salary has made it possible for me to do good for God's people. Not only do I faithfully tithe but I also help people less fortunate to go to the feast. Last year I paid for Mrs. Johnson as well as the Baxters. This would be impossible without my job. God must appreciate my situation."
Pastor: Personally, I have difficulty understanding how you can come to this conclusion. It just seems to contradict God’s law to me.
Deacon: I appreciate what you are saying. But I want you to know that I can do this in good conscience and that is what really matters. God says that if it can’t be done in faith it is sin. But I can do this in faith.
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Although this scenario is fictional it illustrates an important point regarding the lengths people will go to when justifying their behavior. Furthermore, these were just some of the arguments actually employed by God’s leaders today when defending the practice of dining out in restaurants on the Sabbath.
This now brings us to the questions of the day.
What would the Lord of the Sabbath think of these arguments? Would He be impressed? Or, would He be disappointed? We think the answer should be obvious.
A Final Thought
Today, our approach to the fourth commandment has changed radically and scarcely resembles what it was just a few decades ago. It is now commonplace for God's people to engage in a variety of Sabbath activities that have nothing whatsoever to do with holy time. These activities include such things as going to movies, participating in sporting events, doing family errands and the most popular one, dining out at restaurants on the Sabbath and holy days. The latter activity is arguably the catalyst for all the others, but even if it stood alone, God's word makes it abundantly clear that it has no place in respectful Sabbath observance.
Despite this truth, many of God's servants defend their endorsement of this practice by using the flimsiest of arguments. Whether these leaders realize it or not, their advocacy of dining out on the Sabbath is promoting a practice that contradicts every part of God’s Kingdom—a Kingdom where nothing close to such a sin will exist. When that great government is established on earth, this debate will finally come to an end, and a practice that insults God's law will be rightfully terminated forever.
Furthermore, whether the leaders of God’s people want to accept it or not, God HATES what takes place in restaurants on His Sabbath and holy days. This time is sacred and there is NOTHING a restaurant can do that will aid His people in honoring it. Those who labor on holy time do so in defiance of God Almighty Himself. To think that He has no qualm with His people patronizing this sacrilege is simply not true. It is borne out of a desire to justify a behavior that trivializes God's law.
