I have a question about irony

[Mervin_Bitikofer]

@Dale

…but in the big picture and in the context of all of scripture

Well sure … lots of old testament exhortation can be found for setting days aside. But I think it’s more than just Dennis’ opinion here. On the strength of Romans 14, it would also seem to be Paul’s (not always so humble) opinion.

[fmiddel]

@Dale

You need to make a distinction between the moral law and the rest – ceremonial law, dietary, sanitary and civil.

@Dale

They are there implicitly.

Actually, they’re not (either in Paul or anywhere in the Old Testament), unless you “read them in.” Where are the lines between them?

And what do you do with the necessity to “keep the whole law” (Galatians 5:3, James 2:10)?

[fmiddel]

@Dale

Sometimes learning takes some self-discipline.

Honestly, that’s a little snide. Christy may be learning a whole lot of stuff but doesn’t feel obligated to learn about something that’s important to you at this particular point in time.

When was the last time you brushed up on quantum mechanics? Or North American postmodern idolatry? Or the historical legacy of the Avignon papacy?

After all, sometimes learning takes some self-discipline…

[fmiddel]

The Sabbath denotes Saturday. The Sabbath connotes rest. Not worship, church attendance, giving, etc., on the “first day of the week” (i.e., Sunday), but “rest.” Legit. Well, maybe all that stuff connotes rest now, in our post-Reformation expression of Christianity, in other words, church attendance, corporate prayer, public worship, etc., somehow amount to “rest,” but frankly, as a pastor, Sunday is typically my most exhausting day of the week. Which necessarily leads to the awkward conclusion that “Sabbath means exhaustion.”

Hmmm?

[LM77 (Liam Maguire)]

Thanks for coming back to me, Dale. I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on Romans 14:5.

@Dale

The point being, the weekly Day of Rest is still close to Father’s heart and has not been rescinded (and by virtue of it being part of the moral law) and the ceasings mandated for it are still in effect, not unlike that the mandate to cease from theft is still in effect.

I do see where you’re coming from, I do, and I appreciate your desire to be faithful to God’s word. It is commendable. However, I as I hoped I pointed out in my summary and reflections above, I don’t think it is that simple. The issues are complex, views vary widely - even in the history of the reformed. As a result, I’m not sure claims of being ‘right’ and others ‘wrong’ with regards to the sabbath are all that helpful in the long run. But that’s just my two cents.

[Sealkin (Quinn)]

@LM77

The issues are complex, views vary widely

Indeed so, I have looked into the Wesleyan-Methodist view of the Sabbath and it has been understood as in two terms:

1. Attending Church, hearing of the Word of God and partaking of the Sacraments.
2. Doing works of mercy and piety and spending time with family in both in terms of community and fellowship for worship and loving unity.
   The Sabbath is hard to define in our 21st century world and it gets busy even on Sunday, but what joy it is when we pause in worship and let God reenergize us.

[Dale (evolutionary providentialist [now deceased])]

You can say that something is wrong or that someone’s understanding is mistaken without being judgmental.