Sabbath Observance—Guidelines
Introduction
by George W. Reid
This
document was prepared by a special Commission appointed in 1981 by the officers
of the General Conference with the assignment of studying the biblical passages
involved, reviewing how Seventh-day Adventists observe the Sabbath in various
parts of the world, and dealing with the challenges confronting those seeking
to worship God in true Sabbath reverence.
The Commission's report was presented to
the General Conference session of 1985 and formally received by vote of the
delegates. It is not intended to serve as a set of ecclesiastical legislations,
but instead to make available the results of exploring the elements involved in
faithful Sabbath observance. As such it represents recommendations from a
diverse international Commission of Seventh-day Adventists. This study was
presented to the church following extensive research in the Scriptures and
thoughtful reflections on how best to respect God's hallowed day of rest, given
to Adam and Eve as a part of the Creation.
Although its work was based on careful
study of the Scriptures, accompanied by the counsels of the Spirit of Prophecy,
the Commission was specifically asked to address and make recommendations on
how best to deal with contemporary issues that impact Sabbath observance today.
Therefore the reader will find a number of quite specific recommendations that
address specific matters, although many more could easily come to mind. The
study was presented in the interest of encouraging worldwide unity of
understanding and practice among Seventh-day Adventists, who now represent the
largest Sabbath-observing faith community in the world, being present in more
than 200 of the world's nations.
Sabbath Observance—Guidelines
Purpose and Perspective
The
main objective of this document on Sabbath observance is to provide counsel or
guidelines to church members desiring a richer, more meaningful experience in
Sabbathkeeping. It is hoped that this will provide an impetus toward a real
reform in Sabbathkeeping on a worldwide basis.
Conscious of the fact that the worldwide
worshiping community encounters numerous problems in Sabbath observance arising
from within a given cultural and ideological context, an attempt has been made
to take these difficulties into consideration. It is not the intent of this
document to address every question pertaining to Sabbathkeeping, but rather to
present biblical principles and Spirit of Prophecy guidelines that will assist
the church members as they endeavor to follow the leading of the Lord.
It is hoped that the counsel given in the
document will be helpful. Ultimately, however, decisions made under critical
circumstances must be motivated by one's personal faith and trust in the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Sabbath-A Safeguard of Our Relationship With
God
The
Sabbath encompasses our entire relationship with God. It is an indication of
God's action on our behalf in the past, present, and future. The Sabbath
protects man's friendship with God and provides the time essential for the
development of that relationship. The Sabbath clarifies the relation between
God and the human family, for it points to God as Creator at a time when human
beings would like to usurp God's position in the universe.
In this age of materialism, the Sabbath
points men and women to the spiritual and to the personal. The consequences for
forgetting the Sabbath day to keep it holy are serious. It will lead to the
distortion and eventual destruction of a person's relationship with God.
When the Sabbath is kept, it is a witness
to the rest that comes from trusting God alone as our sustainer, as the basis
of our salvation, and as the ground of our hope in the future. As such, the
Sabbath is a delight because we have entered God's rest and have accepted the
invitation to fellowship with Him.
When God asks us to remember the Sabbath
day, He does so because He wants us to remember Him.
Principles and Theology of Sabbath Observance
Nature
and Purpose of the Sabbath. The origin of the Sabbath lies in Creation when
God rested from His work on the seventh day (Gen. 1-3). The Sabbath has
significance as a perpetual sign of the everlasting covenant between God and
His people in order that they might know who it is that created them (Ex.
31:17) and sanctifies them (Ex. 31:13; Eze. 20:12), and that they might
recognize Him as the Lord their God (Eze. 20:20).
Uniqueness of the Sabbath. The
Sabbath is a special occasion for worshiping God as Creator and Redeemer and as
the Lord of life with whom the human family will be reunited at the Second
Advent. The Sabbath commandment forms the center of the moral law as the seal
of God's authority. Since it is a symbol of God's love relationship with His earthly
children, human beings are obliged to respect this gift in the sense that they
will do everything in their power to promote and engage in activities that will
help establish and enhance a lasting relationship with God. Thus His people
will engage only in those activities that are directed toward God and their
fellowmen, and not in those that lean toward self-gratification or
self-interest.
Universality of the Sabbath. The
universality of the Sabbath is rooted in Creation. Thus its privileges and
obligations are binding in all nations, sectors, or classes. (See Ex. 20:11;
23:12; Deut. 5:15; Isa. 56:1-8.) Sabbath observance pertains to all members of
the household, including children, and extends even "to the stranger that
is within thy gates" (Ex. 20:10).
Time Frame of the Sabbath. Biblical
Data: The Sabbath starts at the end of the sixth day of the week and lasts one
day, from evening to evening (Genesis 1; Mark 1:32). This time coincides with
the time of sunset. Wherever a clear delineation of the time of sunset is
difficult to ascertain, the Sabbathkeeper will begin the Sabbath at the end of
the day as marked by the diminishing light.
Principles Guiding Sabbath Observance.
Although the Bible does not deal directly with many of the specific questions
we may have regarding Sabbath observance in our day, it does provide us with
general principles that are applicable today. (See Ex. 16:29; 20:8-11; 34:21;
Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15-22.)
"The law forbids secular labor on the
rest day of the Lord; the toil that gains a livelihood must cease; no labor for
worldly pleasure or profit is lawful upon that day; but as God ceased His labor
of creating, and rested upon the Sabbath and blessed it, so man is to leave the
occupations of his daily life, and devote those sacred hours to healthful rest,
to worship, and to holy deeds" (The Desire of Ages, p. 207).
This concept, however, is not supportive of
total inactivity. Both the Old and New Testaments invite us to care for the
needs and alleviate the sufferings of others, for the Sabbath is a good day for
all, particularly the lowly and the oppressed (Ex. 23:12; Matt. 12:10-13; Mark
2:27; Luke 13:11-17; John 9:1-21).
Yet even good works on the Sabbath must not
obscure the chief biblical characteristic of Sabbath observance, namely, rest
(Gen. 2:1-3). This includes both physical (Ex. 23:12) and spiritual rest in God
(Matt. 11:28). The latter leads the Sabbath observer to seek the presence of
and communion with God in worship (Isa. 48:14), both in quiet meditation (Matt.
12:1-8) and in public worship (2 Kings 4:23; 11:4-12; 1 Chron. 23:30ff.; Isa.
56:1-8). Its object is to recognize God as Creator and Redeemer (Gen. 2:1-3;
Deut. 5:12-15), and it is to be shared by the individual family and the larger
community (Isa. 56:1-8).
Sabbath and the Authority of God's Word.
Ellen White points out that the Sabbath commandment is unique, for it contains
the seal of God's law. It alone "brings to view both the name and the
title of the Lawgiver. It declares Him to be the Creator of the heavens and the
earth, and thus shows His claim to reverence and worship above all others.
Aside from this precept, there is nothing in the Decalogue to show by whose
authority the law is given" (The Great Controversy, p. 452).
The Sabbath as a sign of the Creator points
to His ownership and authority. Meaningful Sabbath observance, therefore,
indicates the acceptance of God as Creator and Owner, and acknowledges His
authority over all creation, including oneself. Sabbath observance is based on
the authority of God's Word. There is no other logical reason for it.
Human beings have the freedom to enter into
a relationship with the Creator of the universe as with a personal friend.
Sabbathkeepers may have to face resistance
at times because of their commitment to God to keep the Sabbath holy. To those
who do not recognize God as their Creator, it seems arbitrary or inexplicable
for someone to cease from all work on the Sabbath day for merely religious
reasons. Meaningful Sabbath observance testifies to the fact that we have
chosen to obey God's commandment. We thus recognize that our life is now lived
in obedience to God's Word. The Sabbath will be a special test in the end-time.
The believer will have to make a choice either to give allegiance to God's Word
or to human authority (Rev. 14:7, 12).
Home and Family Life as Related to the Sabbath
Introduction.
Home life is the cornerstone of proper Sabbath observance. Only when
individuals keep the Sabbath conscientiously in the home and assume their
assigned responsibilities as members of the family will the church as a whole
reveal to the world the joys and privileges of God's holy day.
Different Kinds of Homes. In the
twentieth century there are various kinds of homes: for example, the home in
which there is a husband, wife, and children; the home in which there is
husband and wife and no children; the home in which there is a single parent
and children (where because of death or divorce one parent must function in
both maternal and paternal roles); the home in which a person has never married
or where death or divorce has left one single, and no children are involved; or
the home in which one parent only is a member of the church. In addressing the
needs and problems of these categories, it should be understood that some of
the principles and suggestions enunciated will apply to all groups and some
will be more specialized.
Two Sacred Institutions-The Home and the
Sabbath. "In the beginning" God placed a man and a woman in the
Garden of Eden as their home. Also, "in the beginning" God gave to
human beings the Sabbath. These two institutions, the home and the Sabbath,
belong together. Both are gifts from God. Therefore both are sacred, the latter
strengthening and enriching in its unique manner the bond of the former.
Close fellowship is an important element of
the home. Close fellowship with other human beings also is an important element
of the Sabbath. It binds families closer to God and binds the individual
members closer to one another. Viewed from this perspective, the importance of
the Sabbath to the home cannot be overestimated.
Responsibilities of Adults As Teachers.
In choosing Abraham as the father of the chosen people, God said, "I know
him, that he will command his children and his household after him" (Gen.
18:19). It seems clear, then, that an enormous responsibility has been given to
adults in the home for the spiritual welfare of their children. By both precept
and example, they must provide the kind of structure and atmosphere that will
make the Sabbath a delight and such a vital part of Christian living that, long
after leaving the home, the children will continue the customs they were taught
in childhood.
In harmony with the injunction "Thou
shalt teach them [God's commandments] diligently unto thy children" (cf.
Deut. 6:4-9), the adult members of the family should teach their children to
love God and keep His commandments. They should teach them to be loyal to God
and to follow His directives.
From earliest infancy children should be
taught to participate in family worship so that worship in the house of God
will become an extension of a family custom. Also, from infancy children should
be taught the importance of church attendance, that true Sabbath observance
involves going to God's house for worship and Bible study. Adults in the family
should set the example by attending services on Sabbath, providing a pattern
that will be seen as important when their children make decisions on what is of
value in life. Through discussions, as the children grow older and more mature,
and through Bible study, the children should be taught the meaning of the
Sabbath, its relationship to Christian living, and the enduring quality of the
Sabbath.
Preparation for the Sabbath. If the
Sabbath is to be observed properly, the entire week should be programmed in
such a way that every member will be ready to welcome God's holy day when it
arrives. This means that the adult family members will plan so that all
household tasks-the buying and preparing of food, the readying of clothes, and
all the other necessities of everyday life-will be completed before sundown
Friday. The day of rest should become the pivot around which the wheel of the
entire week turns. When Friday night approaches and sundown is near, adults and
children will be able to greet the Sabbath with tranquility of mind, with all
preparation finished, and with the home in readiness to spend the next 24 hours
with God and with one another. Children can help achieve this by carrying
Sabbath preparation responsibilities commensurate with their maturity. The way
the family approaches the beginning of the Sabbath at sundown on Friday night
and the way Friday night is spent will set the stage for receiving the
blessings that the Lord has in store for the entire day that follows.
Proper Sabbath Dress. Where there
are children in the home, on Sabbath morning as the family dresses for church,
adults may by precept and example teach children that one way to honor God is
to appear in His house in clean, representative clothing appropriate to the
culture in which they live.
Importance of Bible Study Hour.
Where children do not have the advantage of attending Adventist schools, the
Sabbath school becomes the most important means of religious instruction
outside the home. The value of this Bible study hour cannot be overestimated.
Therefore, parents should attend Sabbath morning services and do everything possible
to take their children with them.
Family Activities on the Sabbath. In
most cultures the Sabbath noon meal, when the family gathers around the dinner
table in the home, is a high point of the week. The spirit of sacred joy and
fellowship, begun upon arising and continued through the worship services at
church, is intensified. Free from the distractions of a secular atmosphere, the
family can converse on themes of mutual interest and maintain the spiritual
mood of the day.
When the sacred nature of the Sabbath is
understood, and a loving relationship exists between parents and children, all
will seek to prevent intrusions into the holy hours by secular music, radio,
video, and television programs, and by newspapers, books, and magazines.
Sabbath afternoons, as far as possible,
will be spent in family activities-exploring nature; making missionary visits
to shut-ins, the sick, or others in need of encouragement; and attending
meetings in the church. As the children grow older, activities will enlarge to
encompass other members of their age groups in the church, with the question
always in mind, "Does this activity cause me to understand better the true
nature and sacredness of the Sabbath?" Thus proper Sabbath observance in
the home will have a lasting influence for time and eternity.
Sabbath Observance and Recreational activities
Introduction.
Sabbath observance includes both worship and fellowship. The invitation to
enjoy both is open and generous. Sabbath worship directed toward God usually
takes place in a community of believers. The same community provides
fellowship. Both worship and fellowship offer unlimited potential to praise God
and to enrich the lives of Christians. When either Sabbath worship or
fellowship is distorted or abused, both praise to God and personal enrichment
are threatened. As God's gift of Himself to us, the Sabbath brings real joy in
the Lord. It is an opportunity for believers to recognize and reach their
God-given potential. Thus, to the believer the Sabbath is a delight.
Alien Factors to Sabbath observance. The
Sabbath can be intruded upon easily by elements alien to its spirit. In the
experience of worship and fellowship the believer must ever be alert to alien
factors that are detrimental to one's realization of Sabbath sacredness. The
sense of Sabbath holiness is threatened particularly by the wrong kinds of
fellowship and activities. In contrast, the sacredness of the Sabbath is upheld
when the Creator remains the center of that holy day.
Culturally Conditioned Phenomena in
Sabbath Observance. It is important to understand that Christians render
obedience to God and thus observe the Sabbath at the place in history and
culture where they live. It is possible that both history and culture may
falsely condition us and distort our values. By appealing to culture we may be
guilty of giving ourselves license or excuse to indulge in sports and
recreational activities that are incompatible with Sabbath holiness. For
example, intensive physical exertion and various forms of tourism are out of
harmony with true Sabbath observance.
Any attempt to regulate Sabbath observance
beyond biblical principles by developing lists of Sabbath prohibitions will be
counterproductive to a sound spiritual experience. The Christian will test his
Sabbath experience by principle. He knows that it is the main purpose of the
Sabbath to strengthen the bond of union between himself and God. Thus one's
activities guided by biblical principles and contributing toward such a
strengthening are acceptable.
Inasmuch as no one can evaluate rightly the
personal motives of others, a Christian must be very careful not to criticize
his brethren living in cultural contexts other than his own and engaging in
Sabbath recreational activities they approve.
While traveling, Adventist tourists should
make every effort to observe the Sabbath with their fellow believers in any
given area. Respecting the sacredness of the seventh day, it is recommended
that Adventists avoid using the day for a holiday set aside for sightseeing and
secular activity.
Churches and Church Institutions
In
establishing specific guidelines and policies for the corporate church and
church institutions, the church is setting an example of Sabbathkeeping for the
membership at large. It is the responsibility of the members to apply true
Sabbathkeeping principles in their own lives. The church can assist by
providing Sabbathkeeping principles as found in the Bible and the Spirit of
Prophecy, but it cannot be conscience for the members.
Churches-Role of Church and Family in
Sabbath Afternoon Activities. The pastor and the local church leaders are
entrusted with the responsibility of providing carefully planned Sabbath
activities for children, youth, adults, and the elderly, and for families and
singles, emphasizing the importance of making the Sabbath a day of joy,
worship, and rest. Church activities should complement rather than replace
family and home activities.
Churches-Sabbath Music. Music has a
powerful impact on a person's moods and emotions. Church leaders will select
music and musicians that will enhance the worshipful atmosphere of the Sabbath
rest and the person's relationship with God. Sabbath choir rehearsals should be
avoided during regularly scheduled Sabbath meetings.
Churches-Community Outreach.
Although Christians may participate in certain types of social work for
students, youth, and the poor in inner cities or in suburbs, they still will
exert an exemplary influence of consistent Sabbathkeeping. When engaged in an
extension school or special school for children and youth, they will select
subjects and classes that are different from the ordinary secular subjects or
classes for the week, including activities that contribute to spiritual
culture. Nature or neighborhood walks may replace recesses; nature walks or
field trips of minimal effort can replace secular subjects and classes.
Churches-Ingathering. The general
practice of Seventh-day Adventist churches is to do Ingathering on days other
than the Sabbath. Where there is a practice to do Ingathering on Sabbath, the
plan should be implemented so as to bring spiritual benefits to all
participants.
Churches-Fund-raising on the Sabbath. The
doctrine of Christian stewardship is found throughout the Scriptures. The act
of giving has a definite place in the worship services. When appeals for funds
are made, they should be conducted in such a manner as to uphold the sacredness
of the service as well as of the Sabbath.
Churches-Sabbath Weddings. The
marriage service is sacred and would not in itself be out of harmony with the
spirit of Sabbathkeeping. However, most weddings involve considerable work and
almost inevitably a secular atmosphere develops in preparing for them and in
holding receptions. In order that the spirit of the Sabbath not be lost, the
holding of weddings on the Sabbath should be discouraged.
Churches-Sabbath Funerals. In
general, Adventists should try to avoid Sabbath funerals. In some climates and
under certain conditions, however, it may be necessary to conduct funerals
without delay, the Sabbath notwithstanding. In such cases, arrangements should
be made in advance with morticians and cemetery employees to perform their routine
tasks for the deceased in advance of the Sabbath day, thus reducing the labor
and commotion on the Sabbath. In some instances a memorial service could be
held on the Sabbath, and interment take place later.
Seventh-day Adventist Health-care Institutions.
Adventist health-care institutions provide the only contact many people have
with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Adventist hospitals are to be more than
merely health-care delivery systems. They have a unique opportunity to bear a
Christian witness 24 hours a day to the communities they serve. In addition,
they have the privilege of presenting the Sabbath message by example every
week.
In healing the sick and loosing the bonds
of the physically infirm, even on the Sabbath, Christ set an example that we
look to as the basis for establishing and operating Adventist health-care
institutions. Therefore, an institution offering medical care to the public
must be prepared to minister to the needs of the sick and suffering without
regard to hours or days.
This places a great responsibility on each
institution to develop and implement policies that reflect the example of
Christ, and to apply the principles of Sabbath observance as found in the
Scriptures and taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Administrators have
a special responsibility to see that all departments maintain the true spirit
of Sabbathkeeping by instituting appropriate Sabbath procedures and by guarding
against laxity in its observance.
The following applications of Sabbath
observance principles are recommended:
1. Provide emergency medical care willingly
and cheerfully whenever needed, with high levels of excellence. However,
neither Adventist institutions nor physicians and dentists should provide the
same office or clinic services on the Sabbath as they do on weekdays.
2. Discontinue all routine activities that
could be postponed. Usually this means a complete closing of those facilities
and departments not immediately related to patient care, and the maintenance of
a minimum number of qualified people in other departments to handle
emergencies.
3. Postpone elective diagnostic and
therapeutic services. Decisions as to what is necessary or of an emergency
nature should be made by the attending physician. If this privilege is abused,
it should be dealt with by the hospital administration. Nonadministrative
institutional employees should not become involved in making these decisions,
nor should they be obliged to confront the attending physician(s).
Misunderstandings may be avoided by making it clear in medical staff bylaws
that only surgical, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures that are not
postponable because of the condition of the patient will be done. A clear
understanding with all who are appointed to staff membership at the time of
appointment will do much to avoid misunderstandings and abuses.
Convenience and elective surgery should be
discouraged or limited on Fridays. Procedures thus scheduled allow the patient
to be in the hospital over the weekend and hence lose fewer days at work.
However, this places the first postoperative day, usually with the most
intensive nursing care, on the Sabbath.
4. Close administrative and business
offices to routine business. Although it may be necessary to admit or discharge
patients on the Sabbath, it is recommended that the rendering of bills and the
collection of money be avoided. Never should the keeping of the Sabbath be a
source of irritation to those we seek to serve and to save, but rather a
hallmark of "the children of light" (Eph. 5:8; The Acts of the
Apostles, p. 260).
5. Make the Sabbath a special day for
patients, providing a memory of Christian witnessing never to be forgotten.
Meaningful Sabbathkeeping is much easier to achieve in an institution that
employs a predominantly Adventist staff. Presenting the Sabbath in a proper
light can be accomplished by the believing workers employed in patient care,
and may well be a convicting influence in the lives of those not of our faith.
6. The direct care of the sick is a
seven-day-a-week activity. Illness knows no calendar. Nevertheless, when
scheduling all personnel, health-care institutions should take into
consideration the sincere religious beliefs, observances, and practices of each
employee and prospective employee. The institution should make reasonable
accommodation for such religious beliefs unless it is demonstrated that such
accommodation would place an undue hardship on its operation. It is recognized
that the consciences of individuals vary in regard to the propriety of Sabbath
employment. Neither the church nor its institutions can act as the conscience
for its employees. Rather, reasonable accommodation should be made for
individual conscience.
7. Resist pressures for relaxing
Seventh-day Adventist standards. Some institutions have been pressured by the
communities, the medical staffs, and/or the employees (where a majority is
comprised of non-Adventists) to abandon or weaken Sabbathkeeping principles and
practices so that the Sabbath would be treated as any other day. In some cases
pressure has been applied to maintain full services on the Sabbath and reduce
them on Sunday instead. Such action should be vigorously resisted. Compliance
would cause serious reexamination of the relationship of such an institution to
the church.
8. Educate employees who are not
Seventh-day Adventists concerning Sabbathkeeping principles practiced by the
institution. Every non-Adventist, at the time of employment at an Adventist
health-care institution, should be made aware of Seventh-day Adventist
principles, especially institutional policies regarding the observance of the
Sabbath. Though non-Adventists may not believe as we do, they should know from
the very beginning how they are expected to fit into the institutional program
to help it reach its objectives.
9. Foster an attitude for continuing
Christian witnessing by Adventist employees. The only contact that many
non-Adventist workers may ever have with Seventh-day Adventist workers be in
the institution employing them. Every relationship should be friendly, kind,
and expressive of the love that exemplified the life and work of the Great
Physician. Compassion for the sick, unselfish regard for our fellowmen, an
eagerness to serve, and unstinted loyalty to God and the church may well prove
to be a savor of life unto life. The keeping of the Sabbath is a privilege and
an honor as well as a duty. It should never become burdensome or obnoxious to
those who keep it or to those about us.
Sabbath Work in Non-Adventist Hospitals.
While it is essential in medical institutions that a minimum of labor be
performed at all times in order to maintain the welfare and comfort of the
patients, Seventh-day Adventists employed in non-Adventist institutions in
which Sabbath hours bring no relief from routine duties are under obligation to
remember the principles that regulate all Sabbath activities. In order to avoid
situations in which our church members may be faced with problems of
Sabbathkeeping in non-Adventist institutions, it is recommended that:
1. When Seventh-day Adventists accept
employment in non-Seventh-day Adventist hospitals, they make known their
Sabbathkeeping principles and request a work schedule that will exempt them
from Sabbath duties.
2. Where work schedules or other factors
make this impossible, Adventists should clearly identify the duties, if any,
they can conscientiously perform on the Sabbath and the frequency thereof.
3. Where the above accommodations cannot be
arranged, members should make loyalty to God's requirements paramount and
abstain from routine work.
Seventh-day Adventist Educational
Institutions. Seventh-day Adventist secondary boarding schools have a major
role in shaping the Sabbath observance habits of future generations of members
of the church, and Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities do much to
mold the thinking of the church's clergy and professional class. It is
important, therefore, that both the theory and practice of how to maximize the
joyful blessings of the Sabbath be as close as possible to the ideal in these
institutions.
Applications of this principle should
include:
1. Adequate preparation for the Sabbath.
2. Demarcation of the beginning and ending
of the Sabbath hours.
3. Appropriate school-home activities:
worships, prayer bands, witness, etc.
4. Keeping necessary duties to a minimum,
preferably entrusting them to people who volunteer their service rather than to
those who do the same work for pay during the week.
5. Inspiring worship services, preferably
modeling what is expected to characterize such services in the churches of the
school's constituency.
6. Adequate and varied activities on
Sabbath afternoon.
7. Structuring the weekly program so that
the Sabbath will be a lingering joy and the climax of the week, rather than a
prelude to contrasting activities on Saturday night.
a. Cafeteria
Sales. School cafeterias are designed to serve students and their visiting
parents and bona fide guests; they should not be open to the public on the
Sabbath. To avoid unnecessary business transactions during sacred time, each
institution should make provision for payment outside of the Sabbath hours.
b. Attendance
of Faculty at Professional Meetings. In some countries, Seventh-day Adventists
are privileged to attend professional meetings in order to keep abreast of
current developments in their given field of specialization. It may be tempting
to justify attendance at these meetings on the Sabbath. However, it is
recommended that academic personnel join fellow members in worship rather than
fellow professionals at work.
c. Radio
Stations. College radio stations can be a blessing to their communities. To
maximize the blessings, programming during the Sabbath hours should reflect the
philosophy of the church. If fund-raising appeals are made on the Sabbath, they
should be conducted in such a way as to uphold the sacredness of that day.
d.
Promotional Trips. In order to maintain the worshipful nature of the Sabbath,
promotional tours should be planned in such a way as to minimize travel on the
Sabbath and to provide maximum time for worship with fellow believers. The
Sabbath hours should not be used for travel to provide a Saturday night
program.
e. Sabbath
Observance in Education for the Ministry. Pastors have a large responsibility
for shaping the spiritual life of the church by their personal example.
Therefore, institutions training ministers and their spouses need to help their
trainees form a sound philosophy of Sabbath observance. Proper guidance
received at school can be instrumental in the experience of a genuine renewal
of the Sabbath joys in their own life as well as in the life of their church.
f. Sabbath
Examinations. Seventh-day Adventists who face required examinations given on
the Sabbath in non-Adventist schools or for certification by professional
governing boards face special problems. In dealing with such situations, we
recommend that they arrange for administration of the examinations on hours
other than the Sabbath. The church should encourage its members in careful
Sabbath observance and, where possible, intercede with the appropriate
authorities to provide for both reverence for God's day and access to the
examinations.
Secular Employment and Trade As Related to the
Sabbath
Statement
of Principle. The biblical view of the Sabbath includes both a divine and a
human dimension (Matt. 12:7, 8). From the divine perspective the Sabbath
invites the believer to renew his commitment to God by desisting from the daily
work in order to worship God more freely and more fully (Ex. 20:8-11; 31:15,
16; Isa. 58:13, 14). From the human perspective, the Sabbath summons the
believer to celebrate God's creative and redemptive love by showing mercy and
concern toward others (Deut. 5:12-15; Matt. 12:12; Luke 13:10-12; John 5:1-17).
Thus the Sabbath encompasses both cessation from secular work for the purpose
of honoring God and performing deeds of love and kindness toward fellow beings.
Essential and Emergency Work. In
order to uphold the sanctity of the Sabbath, Seventh-day Adventists must make
wise choices in matters of employment, guided by a conscience enlightened by
the Holy Spirit. Experience has shown that there are hazards in choosing
vocations that will not allow them to worship their Creator on the Sabbath day
free from involvement in secular labor. This means that they will avoid types
of employment that, although essential for the function of a technologically
advanced society, may offer problems in Sabbath observance.
The Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy
are explicit about our duties as Christians to our fellowmen, even on the
Sabbath day. In the modern context, many employed in occupations involved with
the saving of life and property are called upon to deal with emergencies.
Arranging for regular weekend work requiring the use of the Sabbath hours for
gainful emergency employment or accepting work only on weekends in emergency
occupations to augment the family budget is out of harmony with Sabbathkeeping
principles given by Christ. Responding to emergency situations in which life
and safety are at stake is quite different from earning one's livelihood by
routinely engaging in such occupations on the Sabbath, which are often
accompanied by commercial, secular, or routine activities. (See Christ's
comments on rescuing oxen or sheep from ditches and helping people in need:
Matt. 12:11; Luke 13:16.) Absenting oneself from God's house and being denied
fellowship with the believers on the Sabbath can have a chilling effect on
one's spiritual life.
Many employers in so-called essential
service areas willingly make accommodations for Sabbathkeepers. Where such is
not granted, members should carefully review biblical principles of
Sabbathkeeping and in that light examine the type of activity, environment,
requirements of the job, and personal motives before committing themselves to
working on the Sabbath. They should ask of the Lord, as did Paul on the
Moral Decisions Regarding Sabbath
Observance. Sabbath privileges are sometimes curtailed or denied by
military, educational, political, or other organizations. To prevent and/or
alleviate these regrettable situations, the following suggestions should be
considered:
A competent church official, preferably the
Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director, should be appointed to keep
abreast of developments that could undermine freedom of worship on the Sabbath.
When necessary, this official will approach responsible authorities to
intercede when an adverse impact upon Seventh-day Adventists is present in any
contemplated measure or legislation. [This course of action may prevent
enactment of laws that could curtail or deny Sabbath privileges.]
Adventist members should be encouraged to
stand by faith for the principle of Sabbathkeeping regardless of circumstances,
resting in the assurance that God will honor their commitment to Him.
Church members should offer spiritual,
moral, and, if needed, temporal help to other members experiencing Sabbath
problems. Such support will serve to strengthen the commitment to the Lord not
only of the individual member facing Sabbath problems but also of the church as
a whole.
Purchase of Goods and Services on the
Sabbath.
1. The Sabbath is designed to provide
spiritual freedom and joy for every person (Ex. 20:8-11). As Christians we must
be supportive of this basic human right granted to each individual by the
Creator. As a general rule, the purchasing of goods, eating out in restaurants,
and paying for services to be provided by others ought to be avoided because
they are out of harmony with the principle and practice of Sabbathkeeping.
2. Furthermore, the above-mentioned
commercial activities will turn the mind away from the sacredness of the
Sabbath (see Neh. 10:31; 13:15ff.). With proper planning, adequate provisions
can be made in advance for foreseeable Sabbath needs.
Sabbath Travel. While Sabbath travel
may be necessary for engaging in Sabbath activities, one should not allow
Sabbath travel to become a secular function; therefore, preparation should be
made in advance. Automobile fuel and other needs should be cared for before the
Sabbath begins. Travel on commercial carriers for personal or business reasons
should be avoided.
Treating a Specific Employment Problem.
When a member of the church finds it necessary to resign from a position, or
loses his job because of Sabbath problems, and is reemployed by the
denomination in similar work, and where the new job, because of its essential
nature, requires the member to work on the Sabbath, the following suggestions
are recommended:
1. A careful explanation of the essential
nature of the work will be given to the member.
2. All efforts should be made by the
organization to ascertain that only the essential aspects of the new job will
be performed on the Sabbath. Administrators should also explain to the new
employee the religious purposes and basic objectives of the employing
organization.
3. A rotation schedule will be adopted in
order that the member who can conscientiously accept such work on the Sabbath
may frequently be able to enter into a fuller celebration of the Sabbath day.
Shift Work. When a Seventh-day
Adventist works for an employer where shift work is the rule, he may be
requested to work on the Sabbath or a portion thereof. Under such circumstances
the member involved is encouraged to consider the following:
1. The member should strive to be the best
possible worker, a valuable employee whom the employer cannot afford to lose.
2. If a problem develops, the member should
seek to resolve it by appealing to the employer personally for an accommodation
based on goodwill and fairness.
3. The member should assist the employer by
suggesting such accommodations as:
a. Working a
flexible schedule
b. Taking a
less desirable shift
c. Trading
shifts with another employee; or
d. Working on
holidays
4. If the employer resists an
accommodation, the member should immediately seek assistance from the pastor
and from the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department in countries where
they are involved in such activities.
Comentarios
Publicar un comentario