Why do many worship and do Sabbath on Sunday instead of Saturday?
Who changed it, and when? In addition; if Sunday is the first day of the week and God rested on the seventh day, which would be Saturday, and said to keep it holy and do no work; how is it that we are taught that Sunday is the Sabbath day of worship and rest?
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Asked May 18 2013
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Anonymous
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Scooby Doobyicus
Any reason you give to annul the Sabbath Commandments must be equally valid and annul the other Commandments too……
or
keep MY Sabbath - not what someone else said it is……...
Captain BooBoo
God says that if you are Spirit-Filled with the evidence of speaking in Tongues and Full-Immersion baptized in water, then we have entered into His eternal rest.
Nana Robert II
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. The Pharises were so wicked what they know is the sabbath day only, either Saturday or Sunday is the sabbath what matters is holiness we one can see God.
Junior Baillie
This Commandment is very clear. It didn't say "Pick a day and keep it holy" but "Remember THE SABBATH DAY". This is a specific day...
Exodus 20:8-11King James Version (KJV)
"8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
Steve clonts
If I get stranded on a dessert island and loose track of time and start keeping Monday as my Sabbath, would God not recognize my worshiping of Him on that day? Of course He would. And to think otherwise is ludicrous. The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
However, after the crucifixion and because Jesus was raised from the dead on the "first day of the week", Christians worship typically on Sunday.
Those who killed Christ did so mainly because he did miracles of healing on the Sabbath. They had made Sabbath worship into something it wasn't suppose to be.
Any who insist that those who don't worship on Saturday are going to hell are in conflict with the true meaning of Sabbath worship.
God wants us to set "one" day aside each week in full worship to God and the things of God.
To believe that for six thousand years the "Lords day" has landed on the exact same day is just not correct. What about leap year? Or when God made the earth stand still. God doesn't need the Sabbath. Man does.
Greg Kelly
Does "Remember" in the 4th Commandment mean "Observe" or does it mean Remember the specific day? Does 'remembering that specific day "keep" it holy', mean to retain it as a holy day, or does keep mean to observe whatever time period you want to and say God sees that time as holy? If the answer is yes the Sabbath day is a specific day, the 7th for the Jews, then shouldn't spiritual Jews ( NT Christians) worship in Spirit and Truth? Merely a humble observation.
April Manalo
Mr. Wong. The way you presented it may sound logical. But if I were to follow your logic and apply your rationalization on the rest of God's commandments, do you mean if I do not kill, according to the Ten Commandments, I am being legalistic? Because it does not matter if you follow the commandments as long as you accept God's grace, it's ok?
There is no small or big commandment and if God says it, should we question God's word and believe in mere fallible human beings who decided to change the Sabbath to Sunday? It's easy to use the word legalistic just to make an excuse to continue our habits when we were not yet in Christ. However, why not see it as a way to show God we love Him instead of making the Sabbath a burden? Why not rejoice on the Sabbath day, receive the special blessing that comes with it ever since the beginning of time and commune with God on His own chosen day?
God chose that day, the seventh day Sabbath, for us to remember Him and His role in our lives. Is it wrong then to follow what God said from the very beginning? Is it "legalism" to reject the council chosen "Sunday" worship? The "Sabbath" will be the SIGN of God in His children in the last days. If you don't have it, what other sign/mark are you willing to have?
Frank Scimeca
This is more of an observation but what I have just read in all these answers is that the Pharisees seem to be alive and well. Friends we have a freedom in Christ and many here are stuck on religion. It is sad.
kalu hser
Whose words should be listen and obey? God's, or man's? I believe we should obey God's word, and to follow His commandments is the safest way for us. We can't deny the reality, the Sabbath is the fact. If Jesus keep the Sabbath on the seventh day as a Jew, I would follow His steps rather than worshiping on the Sunday which is obviously changed by human idea. You can choose today whether you'll follow God or man. May God bless you all!
Greg Kelly
God is gracious and full of mercy, he winks at times of ignorance, but when truth comes calls all to repentance. Sincere Christians have differing levels of understanding, different numbers of "talents" given. From someone on a desert island to someone at the naval observatory who knows no time has been last and no matter how much you change a calendar or a leap year, the weekly cycle has not cha ged. It is simple to know which day is which by observing cultures throughout the world and as God placed stars in the sky to mark times and seasons. Yes, loving God enough to keep his Day holy and spend this specific time with him isn't legalism or being as a pharisee. God accepts the sincerity of those that do not know any better, for now.
opoku isaac
The Sabbath was not for Israel merely, but for the world.When the Lord bade Israel to hallow His Sabbaths, He said, "They shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am Jehovah your God". Isa 40:18-29; Isa 41:10; Isa 45:22; Eze 20:20
Greg Kelly
Isn't it interesting how a commandment that says "Remember" is causing so much controversy? Those who obey God as opposed to those that see god as a "self help guru". How do detractors get "it's ok to keep any day you want" from "the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath". Yes, it was made for us, but He still made it and in Rev. 14-7 we are to worship Him who "made". I don't see a reach there, it's not like taking one verse and telling everyone it means 25 different things or something totally out of context. Sabbath keepers do the opposite, they have many, many verses to build a wall, a breached wall. Freedom means liberty and the Word calls the Ten Commandments the Law of Liberty. The greatest liberty and freedom I can imagine is when the Lord transforms my heart and I keep all of His commandments without even considering or second guessing. To keep His commandments out of real love because I am saved, NOT to be saved. If I make my bed because I love my mom or take out the garbage because I love my dad, that isn't legalism folks, it sure may be a commandment I was given, but love sure keeps it from being an enslaving chore. I don't think elaboration is needed at this point.
Billy P Eldred
Wow! Naive as I may be, I never realized this was such a hot debate. Evidently, many have researched this issue much more than I so I will leave the debate to them.
What I want to say is if you worship either day and not the giver of those days, you are in error. I believe God gave us the Sabbath for two reasons. One, because He loves us and wants us to set aside a time to rest and two, so that we will remember Him during that time of rest. Remember that He created the heavens and the earth and most of all He created us! So whichever answer you vote up, just remember to worship the giver of the Sabbath and not the day.
Don't get caught up in the legalism of earning your way to heaven through works, rather bask in His Love and Grace. If you believe it honors God more to observe the Sabbath on Saturday then do so. If Sunday, then do so. My God can see your heart and I believe he will accept your sincerity either way.
GGod said "where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." I don't think he said when.
Greg Kelly
All I can say is pray, study the scriptures, find out the truth, if the Holy Spirit convicts you and He does NOT contradict the Bible, if so it isn't the Holy Spirit, then act on what you know, if God wants me to keep any day, so be it, pick the 7th. I don't think one day He will look and say "You obeyed too much."
Greg Kelly
God rained Manna down for six days and withdrew it on a specific time FOR FORTY YEARS. That manna is symbolic of Jesus and God reminded His people of the specific time period of the sabbath. The word for Saturday in over 80% of language is the english word "Sabbath". When Christians stop confusing the old covenant with the Ten Commandments, this issue straightens itself out. The Ten Commandments are God's laws of love and liberty, it should be our wish to follow them.
The problem with the old covenant is they never asked for God's help in obeying them, they didn't have faith looking forward as Abraham did, as Moses did. The "old law" was written by Moses and placed on the side of the Ark, The Commandments were IN the gold box. The law, "love the Lord with all your heart, mind, strength is NOT new, Deuteronomy 6:5.
Jesus kept the time period his entire life and a whole nation still keeps it as well as Sabbatarians and they aren't mistaken about the date, again, manna for forty years, the example of Jesus. So debates on knowing the day are invalid, if you must look up Saturday and Sunday in the dictionary. The issue is, is it okay to keep Sunday because it is the new dispensation of Jesus resurrection or is what we refer to as Saturday still the 7th day of the 4th commandment or does "remember" and "holy" refer to keeping any day we want or does it matter? The Bible is clear, Jesus is clear. It's human beings that struggle. Refer to answers for further study.
Joshua Logsdon
I would prfer to worship on Saturday if I had a choice, but culturally it would probably be wiser to instead rest & worship on Sunday. It is true that we should at least pick one day out of the week to use only for worship and leisure. Not one of the old testament commandments should be left out. But it may not matter which day your culture has chosen as a day for rest and observance.
Penny G. Vera
If I wanted to observe the Saturday Sabbath, and worship God in Church with other believers, Where? I don't believe in the Seventh Day Adventist teachings from Diana White. And if we should be observing Saturday as The day of worship, why is our nation observing Sunday? Thousands of Pastors, Preachers, Teachers, teach on Sunday. They have been taught at Christian universities, and have studied the Bible for years, yet still preach, teach and pastor on Sunday. So if Sabbath is supose to be on Saturday, why isn't it. Where does one go? Makes me want to just stay home.
Vincent Mercado
Seems to me there are two sides here - the Catholics who say Sunday, and the combined Messianic Jews and Seventh Day Adventists who say Saturday.
The Orthodox Church and the Anglicans will obviously side with the Catholics on this. While the rest of the Protestant world is in denial - they want to worship on Sunday but they cannot say they agree with the Catholics.
Greg Kelly
Penny, I understand how you feel. Go to church and worship God any day you want, don't confuse going to church with Keeping the Sabbath Holy unto the Lord God. The Jews were set free from Egypt before they were brought to Mount Sinai and I believe a close relationship is needed before seeing the truth of the Sabbath as a loving response of obedience to a loving God. Trying to keep any commandment without a love relationship with Jesus is kinda putting the cart before the horse.
One thing I might add to your comments about what are all the teachers, pastors etc. doing: When has the majority been right in religious matters? Were not the Pharasees the most learned of the masses, were they not the teachers, the educated, the important religious leaders of their time? They missed the coming of Jesus, so don't look to the perceived education or "importance" of human beings in these matters. Learned, "religious" people "caused" the crucifixion did they not?
So forget fretting, bondage and be free, develop a sincere honest relationship with Jesus, the lamb and The King of Kings based on a daily, prayerful study of His Word, then see where He takes and shows you in His word concerning the 4th Commandment.
Love the Lord God and spend time with Him, then He will show you in the Word and give you the power and strength of love to keep His commandments, but apart from Him we can do nothing.
kalu hser
Instead of choosing which side is correct, we better consider what the Bible says. Majority is not always right. so we better base our convictions, beliefs on God's word alone. If Seventh-Day Adventist base their belief in Ellen G. White alone then we can argue. but if their beiefs base on the word of God then we can't argue with God's word.
Vincent Mercado
Good morning Penny. Your search for an answer is genuine, it has brought you this far. I believe the next step is to schedule an appointment with a pastor or a priest to hear their reasons why the Church worships on Sunday.
Many have struggled on this question before you. I hope that, like me, you will find answers that are biblicallly sound, as well as logical and reasonable.
Vincent Mercado
Kalu, are you a Seventh Day Adventist? Does your church worship on Sunday?
Billy P Eldred
Penny it has been said that the biggest problem with Christianity is Christians. Today, every day, is the best day to worship the Lord. I have been shocked that there is so much debate over this question, but we dare not let ourselves even for a second project man's inadequacy against our love for the Lord.
Vincent Mercado
How about you, Billy? What is the name of your church and when does your church worship?
Steve clonts
Some of my closest friends are Seventh day Adventist. One of them is an 89 year old doctor, retired of course. We've discussed in depth, the subject of Sabbath worship. Next to their belief in Jesus Christ, I would have to say this subject is most ,"dear" to them. They are the some of the kindest and giving people I have ever met or had the previlidge of knowing. They have feed me, doctored me and helped me out financially. And when it comes to this subject, sabbath worship. There ain't nothing changing their mind. Good luck....
Kenneth Heck
This issue of the appropriate Sabbath day generates much heat and not enough light.
As Christians we follow Christ and hear his voice, no other, as sheep follow the shepherd. We know Christ is Lord of the Sabbath. We can find criticisms of various Christian churches in the New Testament for their failings. None of them involve worshipping or resting on the wrong day. Also, we have no further revelation from Christ after nearly 2,000 years stating which day he considers most suitable for rest and/or worship. If it really was important which day is which, do you not think Christ would have revealed it to us long ago, rather than leaving us in ignorance and confusion? Christ has not clarified the issue because there is no issue, according to Col. 2:16 and Rom. 14:5-9.