Adam wrote:We just have a fundamental disagreement with you based on what we accept as Scripture. That is why I suggested that this forum may not be the best one for you to participate in. I suggest that you find or start a different forum for Sabbath-observing Christians. Then if people are interested in that viewpoint, they can search you out and ask questions. But people on this forum are generally not interested in entertaining such views and will not appreciate or be receptive to your efforts to 'evangelize' on this topic, especially since it is accompanied by a viewpoint that rejects portions of the New Testament as Scripture.
Blessings to you.
Adam,
This is a forum for Anabaptists. Many Anabaptists have kept the Sabbath.
You can find some good articles on Sabbatarian Anabaptists, such as these:
http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Sabbat ... nabaptists
http://friendsofsabbath.org/ABC/Church% ... ptists.pdf
This is an SDA article on them:
https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archiv ... nabaptists
The point that is made in some of these articles, is that ideas the Sabbatarian Anabaptists were persecuted by some of the Anabaptist groups, just as Adult Baptism had been persecuted by the Catholic Church.
The Sabbatarian Anabaptist Andreas Fischer and Oswald Glait were martyred for their beliefs, and their writings and tracts destroyed by their fellow Anabaptists. There is a parallel to today.
What is needed is not persecution, but an open discussion of ideas, to find the truth in scripture.
This is what was said of the church in Berea:
Acts 17:(11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
If our discussion makes you search the scriptures to see if these things are so, then that is a good thing.
But if it makes someone want to ban someone else from presenting their ideas, as the Jews in Thessalonica did, then history has shown that doesn't work.
An idea that is from God cannot be burned at the stake, or stoned, or hung on a cross. That just makes it stronger.
And if it is not from God, then it will perish on its own, as did the ideas of Marcion and his New Testament Canon. Gamaliel said this very thing in Acts 5:38-39:
(38) And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
(39) But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
If you want to avoid talking about the Sabbath, then don't post anything on it, or respond to it. (AKA, "don't feet the trolls"). But don't fight against it, as you may be fighting against something greater.
There is a world-wide awakening to the 4th Commandment among believers, as the Spirit is leading us to acknowledge the day that our Creator Himself rested. Genesis 2:2 This was not a day selected by man, but by YHVH Himself.
The Reformation is not complete. There are many Catholic traditions in our churches that need to be removed, with the change of the Sabbath to Sunday being the greatest. Many people are now part of this Reformation.
The Anabaptists and other groups, such as the Seventh Day Adventist, the United Church of God, and many different types of Messianic groups are finding converts all over the world, mainly because they keep the Sabbath day.
This awakening is a logical consequence of following only 9 Commandments. Anyone who reads the Bible with an open mind can see that there is a fallacy of ignoring one of the 10 Commandments.
Even Christ said that the 10 Commandments were necessary for salvation:
Matthew 19:(16) And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do,
that I may have eternal life?
(17) And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God:
but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
(18) He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
(19) Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Note that this list does not contain the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 10th Commandments, as these Commandments were well known, and not something that most people of that day had a problem with. Only now, do men seek to replace or destroy the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Commandments, which establishes our relationship with God.
To answer your original question:
Adam wrote:
So, my questions are:
Does your church community see itself as observing the Sabbath?
If so, how is the Sabbath observed? Is it only by worshipping on Sunday?
Or is it also by abstaining from work and resting?
If your church community does not see itself as observing the Sabbath, what are the justifications for not observing it?
Yes, we do.
We rest and meet in each other's homes.
No, Sunday is not the Sabbath day, no where in Scripture has this day been moved to Sunday.
Yes, we abstain from work to earn a living and rest. But if someone is in trouble, we help them regardless of the effort involved.
I found other people's justifications for not observing the Sabbath very interesting, although I had seen them before.
And, just as you have kindly asked me not to participate in a forum on the Sabbath, I would likewise ask anyone here not to call Sunday the Sabbath, unless they can prove that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday in Scripture, under the authority of YHVH or Christ. I think I have asked this question enough too.
Thanks,
John