REFORM IN SABBATH OBSERVANCE

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION
If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 58:13,14

I. INTRODUCTION
1. God calls us to elevate the standard
God calls upon the workers in this mission to elevate the standard, and to show their regard for His requirements by honoring the Sabbath. . . . From this place the publications are sent out, and the laborers go forth to proclaim the commandments of God; and it is of the greatest importance that a right influence be exerted by this church, both by precept and example. The standard must not be placed so low that those who accept the truth shall transgress God's commandments while professing to obey them. Better, far better, would it be to leave them in darkness until they could receive the truth in its purity. 3SM 259, 260

2. We are in danger of doing our own pleasure
I say to those who claim to be Seventh-day Adventists, Can you claim the seal of the living God? Can you claim that you are sanctified by the truth? We have not, as a people, given the law of God the preeminence as we should. We are in danger of doing our own pleasure on the Sabbath day.--Letter 258, 1907. 3SM 258
3. We are robbing God
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me, . . . even this whole nation." God has given man six days in which to work for himself, but He has reserved one day in which He is to be specially honored. He is to be glorified, His authority respected. And yet man will rob God by stealing a little of the time which the Creator has reserved for Himself. God reserved the seventh day as a period of rest for man, for the good of man as well as for His own glory. 1T 532

4. God cannot bless us
He cannot bless them as it would be His pleasure to do, for His name is dishonored by them, His precepts lightly esteemed. God's curse will rest upon them, and they will lose ten or twentyfold more than they gain. 1T 531

II. GUIDELINES FOR PROPER SABBATH OBSERVANCE
1. All should observe quietness
Boisterous noise and contention should not be allowed any day of the week; but on the Sabbath all should observe quietness. No loud-toned commands should be heard at any time; but on the Sabbath it is entirely out of place. This is God's holy day, the day He has set apart to commemorate His creative works, a day He has sanctified and hallowed.--Manuscript 57, 1897. 3SM 257
2. Keep children quiet in the church
The house of God is desecrated and the Sabbath violated by Sabbath believers' children. They run about the house, play, talk, and manifest their evil tempers in the very meetings where the saints have met together to glorify God and to worship Him in the beauty of holiness. …. Above everything, take care of your children upon the Sabbath. Do not let them violate it, for you may just as well violate it yourself as to let your children do it. When you suffer your children to play upon the Sabbath, God looks upon you as a commandment breaker. You transgress His Sabbath.--Manuscript 3, 1854. 3SM 257

3. Suit for Sabbath worship service
Many need instruction as to how they should appear in the assembly for worship on the Sabbath. They are not to enter the presence of God in the common clothing worn during the week. All should have a special Sabbath suit, to be worn when attending service in God's house. While we should not conform to worldly fashions, we are not to be indifferent in regard to our outward appearance. We are to be neat and trim, though without adornment. The children of God should be pure within and without. 6T 355

NOTE: There is no precise standard when it comes to proper dress code. What is considered proper dress in a certain place may not be proper to another place. What Mrs. Ellen G. White is saying is that Christians around the world must applied the principles of modesty and propriety that is appropriate in their own context.

4. Traveling on Sabbath
If we desire the blessing promised to the obedient, we must observe the Sabbath more strictly. I fear that we often travel on this day when it might be avoided. In harmony with the light which the Lord has given in regard to the observance of the Sabbath, we should be more careful about traveling on the boats or cars on this day. In these matters we should set a right example before our children and youth. In order to reach the churches that need our help, and to give them the message that God desires them to hear, it may be necessary for us to travel on the Sabbath; but so far as possible we should secure our tickets and make all necessary arrangements on some other day. When starting on a journey we should make every possible effort to plan so as to avoid reaching our destination on the Sabbath. 6T 359, 360

5. Saving property on the Sabbath
But if we violate the letter of the fourth commandment for our own advantage from a pecuniary point of view we become Sabbathbreakers and are guilty of transgressing all the commandments, for if we offend in one point we are guilty of all. If in order to save property we break over the express command of Jehovah, where is the stopping place? Where shall we set the bounds? Transgress in a small matter, and look upon it as no particular sin on our part, and the conscience becomes hardened, the sensibilities blunted, until we can go still further and perform quite an amount of labor and still flatter ourselves that we are Sabbathkeepers, when, according to Christ's standard, we are breaking every one of God's holy precepts. 1T 532

6. Sleeping on the Sabbath
None should feel at liberty to spend sanctified time in an unprofitable manner. It is displeasing to God for Sabbathkeepers to sleep during much of the Sabbath. They dishonor their Creator in so doing, and, by their example, say that the six days are too precious for them to spend in resting. They must make money, although it be by robbing themselves of needed sleep, which they make up by sleeping away holy time. They then excuse themselves by saying: "The Sabbath was given for a day of rest. I will not deprive myself of rest to attend meeting, for I need rest." Such make a wrong use of the sanctified day. 2T 704

7. Boots be blacked and baths be taken Sabbath
On Friday let the preparation for the Sabbath be completed. See that all the clothing is in readiness and that all the cooking is done. Let the boots be blacked and the baths be taken. It is possible to do this. If you make it a rule you can do it. 6T 355

NOTE:
In places where the weather is sometimes or throughout the year is hot and humid, taking a bath on Sabbath should not be an issue. God gives us common sense and it is necessary in that particular situation. In places where temperature is low and shower can be avoided, then I think that we should listen to our consciense. Listen to this, “Whatever path God chooses for us, whatever way He ordains for our feet, that is the only path of safety.” TMK 249. “Our Lord will judge us according to the opportunities that we have had.” HP 190

8. Diet on the Sabbath
“The Sabbath of the Lord is a day of rest from labor, and the diet upon that day should be more simple, and partaken of in less quantities, than upon the six laboring days, because they do not have that exercise upon the Sabbath that they have upon the other days of the week. Many have erred in not practicing self-denial upon the Sabbath. By partaking full meals, as on the six laboring days, their minds are beclouded. They are stupid, and often drowsy. Some suffer with headache. Such have no truly devotional feelings upon the Sabbath, and the blessing resting upon the Sabbath does not prove a blessing to them.” 3SG 254

9. Cooking on Sabbath
He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning. So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. Exodus 16: 23, 24

The Lord is no less particular now in regard to his Sabbath than when he gave the foregoing special directions to the children of Israel. He required them to bake that which they would bake, and seethe (that is, boil,) that which they would seethe on the sixth day, preparatory to the rest of the Sabbath. Those who neglect to prepare for the Sabbath on the sixth day, and who cook food upon the Sabbath, violate the fourth commandment, and are transgressors of God's law. All who are really anxious to observe the Sabbath according to the commandment, will not cook any food upon the Sabbath. 3SG 225

On Friday let the preparation for the Sabbath be completed. See that all the clothing is in readiness and that all the cooking is done. 6T 355

The Sabbath is not to be given to the repairing of garments, to the cooking of food, to pleasure seeking, or to any other worldly employment. Before the setting of the sun let all secular work be laid aside and all secular papers be put out of sight. 6T 355

10. Purchases on Sabbath
All purchases should be made and all our cooking should be done on Friday. Let baths be taken, shoes be blacked, and clothing be put in readiness. HP 151

11. Sabbath dishes
We would charge all not to wash their dishes on the Sabbath if this can possibly be avoided. God is dishonored by any unnecessary work done on His holy day. It is not inconsistent, but proper, that the dishes should be left unwashed till the close of the Sabbath, if this can be managed.--Letter 104, 1901. 3SM 258
12. Guard the edges of the Sabbath
We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that every moment is consecrated, holy time. Whenever it is possible, employers should give their workers the hours from Friday noon until the beginning of the Sabbath. Give them time for preparation, that they may welcome the Lord's day with quietness of mind. By such a course you will suffer no loss even in temporal things. 6T 356

WHAT DO OUR OFFICIAL SDA WEBSITES SAY ABOUT THIS
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 which follows.
From our official SDA websites http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/other_documents/other_doc6.html
http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/sabbathobservance.htm
NOTE:
Why I bother to share what the Spirit of Prophecy says about this matter? Because I could see that if we rely on our SDA websites, this subject will remain unclear and confusion and misunderstanding will follow as a result. Let us remember, God is not the author of confusion. TM 54 . For example www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/ says, “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.”
Now, what does preparing of food mean? Or the readying of clothes and other necessities of everyday life? Again, “God is not the author of confusion.” TM 54. So He has clear answers but some pastors are just hesitant to share. People who study and understand about other culture fairly know that there are biblical principles which are applicable in all cultures in our time today. The Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy are our clear guidelines on how SDA Christians must live their life as God expects them. Without clear Biblical guidelines, we can't really see and we don't have goals to shoot for. Our website
http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/sabbathobservance.htm says, “Any attempt to regulate Sabbath observance beyond biblical principles by developing lists of Sabbath prohibitions will be counterproductive to a sound spiritual experience.” Now let me ask you, what's wrong if I share this very explicit guidelines from the Spirit of Prophecy so everything about this matter will be clearly understood? Absolutely nothing! There is something wrong only if you think that the Spirit of Prophecy is beyond biblical principles. “The Lord will bless His tried, faithful people. He will not leave them to become confused. “ UL 69 and “Whatever path God chooses for us, whatever way He ordains for our feet, that is the only path of safety.” TMK 249. “Our Lord will judge us according to the opportunities that we have had.” HP 190
Jesus, our Advocate, is acquainted with all the circumstances with which we are surrounded and deals with us according to the light we have had and the circumstances in which we are placed. 2T 75

III. WORKS OF MERCY AND NECESSITY ARE PERMITTED ON THE SABBATH

1. Saving the life of men and animals
There are cases in which Christ has given permission to labor even on the Sabbath in saving the life of men or of animals. 1T 532
(see also Matt. 12:9-13, Luke 6:6-10)

2. Attending the sick on Sabbath
The sick and suffering require care and attention upon the Sabbath, as well as upon the other six days of the week. And it may be necessary for their comfort to prepare warm food and drinks upon the Sabbath. In such
instances, it is no violation of the fourth commandment to make them as comfortable as possible. The great Lawgiver is a God of compassion as well as of justice. 3SG 254

The necessities of life must be attended to, the sick must be cared for, the wants of the needy must be supplied. He will not be held guiltless who neglects to relieve suffering on the Sabbath. God's holy rest day was made for man, and acts of mercy are in perfect harmony with its intent. God does not desire His creatures to suffer an hour's pain that may be relieved upon the Sabbath or any other day. DA 207

3. Heating the food on Sabbath
[SABBATH MEALS IN THE WHITE HOME IN LATER YEARS ARE DESCRIBED BY HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW IN A STATEMENT DATED OCTOBER 16, 1949: "AS MRS. E. G. WHITE'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, I WAS A MEMBER OF HER HOUSEHOLD FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR, AND WAS OFTEN IN HER HOME AND TRAVELLED WITH HER OVER A PERIOD OF TWENTY YEARS. I HAVE BEEN ASKED CONCERNING THE SABBATH MEALS IN THE WHITE HOME. "AS FULL PREPARATION AS WAS POSSIBLE WAS MADE ON FRIDAY, THE PREPARATION DAY, FOR THE SABBATH MEALS. ON SABBATH THE FOOD FOR BOTH BREAKFAST AND DINNER WAS SERVED HOT, IT HAVING BEEN HEATED IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE MEAL. ALL UNNECESSARY WORK WAS AVOIDED ON THE SABBATH BUT AT NO TIME DID MRS. WHITE CONSIDER IT A VIOLATION OF PROPER SABBATH OBSERVANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE ORDINARY COMFORTS OF LIFE SUCH AS THE BUILDING OF A FIRE FOR THE HEATING OF THE HOUSE OR THE HEATING OF THE FOOD FOR THE MEALS."--(SIGNED) MRS. W. C. WHITE] 3SM 263

IV. SOLEMN APPEAL
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 work of Christ in healing the sick was in perfect accord with the law. It honored the Sabbath. DA 207

Our heavenly Father desires through the observance of the Sabbath to preserve among men a knowledge of Himself. He desires that the Sabbath shall direct our minds to Him as the true and living God, and that through knowing Him we may have life and peace. When the Lord delivered His people Israel from Egypt and committed to them His law, He taught them that by the observance of the Sabbath they were to be distinguished from idolaters. It was this that made the distinction between those who acknowledge the sovereignty of God and those who refuse to accept Him as their Creator and King. 6T 349


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