The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum An article in CT about Sunday Sabbath

Compared to most of their content, not a bad article, although the clear meaning behind the article is somewhat vague...

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/march/sabbath-commandment.html

I guess I'm taking over for Pete as the resident "curmudgeon"!

Sorry, but I didn't find much good or truth in the article. Why? Well....

1) As a REFORMED Protestant, I do not give any recognition to "Lent".

2) Bad interpretation of Exodus 31:12-13 which speaks of "SabbathS", i.e., the ceremonial sabbaths/festivals which passed away when the new covenant was established by Christ. The 4th Commandment is not in view there. Further, Paul makes clear that the OT "sabbaths" are not to be observed any longer, Colossians 2:16 (KJV) "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:".

3) The Sabbath is indeed a day of rest, but a rest from one's normal work, recreation, etc. (Isa 58:13,14), BUT it is a resting from those things in order that the child of God may be ACTIVELY focused upon the worship of God and doing those things which are spiritually governed, works of mercy, for example visiting the sick and infirm, tending to those who are needy, reading the Scriptures and/or other good biblically-based books. The Sabbath is a day of great activity for the people of God and to be sure the most anticipated, or at least it should be, day of the week; the first day of the week, the LORD's Day.

That's my

thanks Jeff, I know Calvin was mentioned but not sure exactly what the author was getting at????

Pilgrim said:
I thought it might be helpful for people who are not familiar with "Lent", if you would expand briefly on why Reformed Protestants don't recognize "Lent".

Thanks
Tom

Notice that my reference was to "I" personally and in no way was it tended to imply that all who ascribe to the doctrines of the Reformed Faith would have the same view.

Lent is part of the Liturgical Calendar which the Reformers and particularly the Puritans rejected. They did not recognize any "holy days" nor events which the Eastern and Western churches practiced, e.g., Eastern/Russian/Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholicism. They held that the Sabbath, the first day of the week was the only prescribed "holy day" the Christian Church should observe. Quite recently, there has been a renewed interest in liturgical worship and the liturgical calendar among such groups as the Emergent Church and the New Calvinist movement which have little recognition of the Regulatory Principle of Worship.

Thus, following those who had what I believe to be a firm grasp of the biblical teaching concerning worship and its practice in the Church, I find no biblical warrant for recognizing, legitimatizing nor practicing Lent. A simple Google search on Lent will reveal much how various contemporary denominations and churches observe this 40 day period. Each individual will have to decide for themselves if there is Scriptural warrant for its observation.