What is the Sabbath? Is there a day of worship?

  
What is the proper day to worship G-d? Sunday Saturday or 7 days?

Category: Religion and Philosophy

Shalom my Friends:

I have decided to post some of my listener's comments and questions here on my Blog.  Maybe they will be a help to you or at the least informative as to what others are thinking and saying.

This blog deals with a comment one my listeners made in regard to Sunday.  It is his feeling that Sunday is not to be a day of worship and that Saturday should be the day of worship.  What do you think the Bible says? 

Here is the comment:

"sunday is an image of the beast. satan is tricking people to worship
him on sunday sun-day. day of sun worship. worship of other gods."

Here is what I have to share about the statement and a word of wisdom:

First of all I think Sunday can be filled with pagan beleifs and practices.  History and persons supporting history both bad and good have prolonged bad doctrine and practice.  That said I also have to make another statement that warrants consideration.

1) Sunday is an ok day to worship the only G-d.  There is no commandment against this at all.  And there is no Biblical commandment or directive to worship on any day.  Why?  Because one should worship G-d all of the time!  7 days a week!  You worship our Father all day, all night and every minute.  Thus Sunday is fine to worship our Father.

2) Sabbath has and always will be on Friday at Sundown until Sundown on Saturday night.  There is no debate about this at all from anyone educated in History or Jewish tradition and Biblical studies.  But Sabbath is the day of rest.  It can also be a day of worship as any day is.  Why stop worship on Saturday?  Of course one would continue to worship.  When would it stop?  Worship is all year long and regardless of the day.

3) So to argue that we worship on Saturday or we worship on Sunday is a moog point and of no value Biblically.  The Bible condones worship on Sabbath and Sunday.  So that being true, one may go to one building and worship or another and on both days even.  Who cares.  The Bible blesses you and there is no commandment or statute or judgement against this.  Worship on Thursday.  So what.  One cannot declare that one is taking the mark of the beast of other such nonsense.  The Bible does not state this nor does it teach that Sunday worshipers are in sin.  You have no Biblical proof to stand on.

4) Sunday was wrongly made by decree by the Catholic Church as Sabbath.  History does prove this and even the Catholic Encyclopedia makes no effort to cover it up.  They do in fact teach that it is not correct to call Friday Eve to Saturday eve Shabbat.  But!  Just because these folks have erred and change a sacred day and made themselves above our Elohim (G-d), does not mean that innocent Christians around the world are wicked or even pagan for worshiping on Sunday.  No one should call Sabbath anything different that what the Father has called it.  Yes I have heard many Christians call Sunday Sabbath.  Even Andy Griffith has done it in Mayberry for crying out loud.  But!  Worship is on any and all days and not JUST Sabbath day.  Worship Elohim the Blessed one on all days!  Every day.

Now what is the sumation of all of this?  We must be careful to not attack innocent people who simply want to worship the L-rd.  They are not wicked nor are they evil or taking the mark of the Beast.  They are just going to church on Sunday.  Why would you judge another's servant when G-d has made them able to stand?  You are not the Potter nor am I.  That said, leave those alone who want to worship the G-d of Israel.  Let them adore Him every day of the week and stop the hatred.  You think you are more Kadosh by worshiping on Sabbath alone.  Where is the worship for the rest of the week?  And you who feel that you are more holy for worshiping on Sunday must stop the attacks on those who worship on Sabbath.  And you who worship on Sunday, why do you not worship the rest of the week?  We are all to blame here. 

If all you get from this is one thing, get this:

Worship is all week long and 24 hours per day!

So what is the hub bub about Sabbath verses Sunday?  It is all a misunderstanding that can be cleared up by defining terms.

1) Sabbath is a day of rest.  It is not declared as a day of worship even though one does worship on Sabbath.  Read Exodus 20:9-11.  Sabbath is a day to abstain from work and labor and a day to hallow.  It is indeed a special day and I might add Biblically different from any other day.  Yet one is not told to go to worship only on this day.  Historically, Jews have always gone to Temple on Shabbat.  Even Yeshua did this.  He never went to services on Sunday actually.  Yet Yeshua DID Worship on Sunday even though Synagogue and Temple was on Sabbath.  It is ok to worship on Sunday.  Going to the building is not the issue!  Nor is the issue what Day to worship on!

But where is the controversy?  It lies in defining rest verse worship.  Rest is what is commanded and not suggested on Friday Evening until Saturday Evening.  One can hallow the day by spending the time on Sabbath with YHVH.  Worshiping our L-rd is always permitted.  You will find no directive telling you from Moshe or otehrs to not worship or to worship.  Worship is all week long.  But rest is on one day alone.  Six days you work and the seventh you rest.

If we all would simply define our terms Biblically, then all of the issue disappears.  I know some are very sincere when they make their points of view.  I know they mean to defend the day they choose.  Yet to declare one day as the day of worship is not supported by the Bible nor any of it's authors.  You worship G-d continually.  Every day and all day.

You rest on one day and that is the Sabbath as defined by the L-rd alone.  Sunday is the first day of the week and Sabbath is the last day of the week.  No man has the right to tell us when to rest but G-d alone.  He may be the President, the Pope or some other guy.  It may even by your Pastor or Rabbi.  But only G-d is the one who told us what to do in regard to rest and worship.

All of the hateful comments only make us grow apart.  They cause us all to seperate from each other.  Why not do this.  Worship in Synagogue on Sabbath and rest on Sabbath and then go and worship on Sunday too!!!  Who will worship on 2 days instead of just one day?????  May I even be more bold!  Who will worship on all 7 days?!!! Any takers?

Work 6 days if you like.  The L-rd permits this.  Rest on Sabbath and take a load off your mind and your hands.  Worship G-d alone on Sabbath as you would or even more focused.  Make it special and a delight.  Look forward to it.  You will be blessed more than you could ever imagine.

Now here is a challange too.  Why not skip Church or Synagogue one week and make that Sabbath or that Sunday a worship day at home or in a quiet place with your family.  Thank Him all day long, sing to Him and adore Him.  That's right!  Skip the building thing one week and just spend time with the Creator one day.  Now your Rabbi and Pastor may have a fit if you miss one service.  They will just have to get over it.  When we look past the building and focus on the L-rd, then everyone get's mad at you.  You can't skip Church!!!!!  Yes you can and I recommend it if you spend time with the Lord and not waste the chance to adore Him.  You see we all concentrate on the Where and not the Who.  We fixate ourselves on the when and not the Who.

If you rest on Sabbath and worship all the time, you will be so happy.  G-d will bless you and the blessing will overtake you. Deut 28.  Yeshua went away from the crowds and sat upon the mount all alone with His Father.  He rested on Sabbath and did what YHVH commanded.  He was Kadosh and He was our Messiah.  If yeshua did this why not you and I? 

It is ok to correct and admonish those who have Sabbath confused or worship distorted.  But do so in love.  Be Biblical and make sure you define your terms as the L-rd defines them.  If not then you will become a propagator of false teaching just like the rest.  Or if all you are is loud and a clanging cymbal, then you will cause other to run as they cover their ears!  Love and then some more and love again when you instruct.

I guess I have said enough.  I love you all and I hope that what I have said has been helpful.

Rabbi David