Sabbath Keeping Debate
Challenges:
FLUFF &
PUFF!
by:
Steven J. Wallace
|
T |
he challenges and
clichés from Adventist preachers are numerous.
They range from things like, “The one commandment
that starts with ‘Remember’ has been forgotten.” Others are in the form of bold
challenges which are really nothing more than fluff and puff; however, they
remain in circulation! Jan Marcussen’s challenge is of that
type:
(http://www.biblesabbath.org/tss/492/millionDollarDebate.html).
Marcussen’s boisterous claims of giving 1 million
dollars to the first person who can show him one scripture where God commands us
to keep Sunday weigh about as much as a bucket of smoke. I have read several
responses to these challenges but when the evidence was presented to show the
absurdity of Adventism, no cash was passed! Furthermore, one can hardly find a
Sabbath Keeper to debate the issue today. At the present, I have only found one
who would meet me in a public arena to debate this issue. Many want to be
“private” debaters where they can take refuge behind their screen name on the
internet, but few will go before the public and “debate their cause.” Some have
and I respect that they, though a minority were willing to at least subject
their teaching to such an atmosphere. Meeting with the local Adventist preachers
in this area proved to be futile, however. They absolutely refused to have a
public Bible discussion on this issue. One even said that the devil always wins
in a debate! I have to wonder if the devil won the debate regarding circumcision
in Acts 15? Did he win the public challenge between Jesus and the ruler of the
synagogue over the Sabbath question in Luke 13:10-17? Indeed, evil was defeated;
truth prevailed, and the multitude rejoiced (13:17). Such can be the effect of
any honorable discussion today where the truth is clearly presented! The devil
doesn’t win in a debate where truth is presented and defended, and where error
is punished. On the other hand, the devil is the victor when those in error are
too cowardly to have their doctrine examined in a public setting and their
congregation continues to tolerate them.
The fact about the Sabbath, and this doesn’t rest
well with Adventist, is that God took it away, not man. See Colossians 2:14-17
(NKJV):
14
having wiped out the
handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.
And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the
cross.
15
Having disarmed
principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over
them in it.
16
So let no one judge
you in
food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or
sabbaths,
17
which are a shadow of
things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
In order for Paul to say, “Let no one judge you
regarding sabbaths,” the Sabbath would have to be “taken away.” That Paul is
speaking of the seventh day, the Sabbath, is evident by its traditional
inclusion with “food or drink”, “festival” and “new moons.” This is using the
method that was used by the Hebrews (see 2 Chron. 2:4; 8:13; 31:3; Hos. 2:11).
And it is worth mentioning that “sabbaths” as used in these passages is spoken
of being of the “commandment of Moses” and being written in the “Law of the
Lord” showing there is no difference between the “commandments of Moses” and the
“Law of the Lord.” That law, including the Sabbath commandment, was taken away.
That Old Law cannot co-exist or be in
force simultaneously with the
glorious New Covenant. This is clearly understood from Hebrews
10:
9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do
Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish
the second.
10 By that will we have been
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for
all.
What is the first and what is the second? The “second” is the “will” that
God had for Jesus to do. The second “will” or purpose, desire, etc., has to do
with the “offering of the body of Jesus.” This is the “New Testament” as the
Hebrew writer already established in chapter 9:16[1].
A testament is in force after men are dead. Our Lord’s Testament or the second
“will” was in force through the “offering of the body of Jesus.” What then is
the first? It is the first testament
or covenant which was given through Moses and had authorized articles such as
the earthly sanctuary, lampstand, showbread, golden censer, ark of the covenant
and tablets of stone (see Heb. 9:1-4 for all of these[2]).
Some Adventists try to contend that the “first covenant” was with Adam and the
second covenant was made at
Having established the passing away of the Ten
Commandment Covenant above, we shall now briefly demonstrate what day God
authorizes as being the “Lord’s Day.” We have several charts to answer arguments
that Sabbath Keepers may interject at:
The Sunnyside Church of
Christ Website
Consider the “Meeting at
6
But
we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five
days joined them at
7
Now
on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message
until midnight.
Notice the
simple facts:
·
Here is a
religious assembly.
·
One week has
expired.
·
Christians or
“disciples” were congregating on the first day of the week. This practice had
begun before our Lord’s ascension (see Jn. 20:19, 20, 1).
·
Paul preached to
disciples on this day. There is no indication that he preached on the Sabbath at
all to them.
·
There is also
the absence of entering Jewish synagogues to convert Jews. Those passages are
plentiful in the Bible, but Sabbatarians confuse the purpose of Paul entering
those places. They use those as
proof to keep the Sabbath today, yet Paul was merely trying to reach his own
people to save as many as he could with the gospel.
·
There is in
fact, no mention of anything going on during the Sabbath in this week’s history.
Luke silently passes over the Sabbath. If Luke was an Adventist, he would have
spilled all kinds of ink on what disciples were doing in keeping the Sabbath
day.
·
The action of
meeting upon the first day of the week as a congregation of saints was
thoroughly sanctioned and completely authorized by the apostle
Paul.
·
Partaking of the
Lord’s Supper as seen in the euphemism “break bread” was authorized. Note that
this was not a common meal as Paul would not have authorized the church to come
together as a “church” to do so.[4]
We could add other points worth pondering too. For
example, the contribution for the work of the church was commanded by Paul to be
done on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1, 2). The Lord was resurrected
upon the first day of the week, thus the “Lord’s day” (Mk. 16:9). The Holy
Spirit baptized men on the first day of the week.[5]
So then, the first day of the week was the day when the first gospel sermon was
preached (after our Lord’s ascent). It was also the day when 3000 souls were
added to the Lord (Acts 2). The New Law came into effect on the first day of the
week (cf. Acts 2:1ff and Is. 2:3; Lk. 24:47, 49). The risen Savior was first
worshiped on the first day of the week (Matt. 28:1, 9, 10). Along with this, the
first day of the week was the day when Jesus chose to appear to his disciples
(Jn. 20:1, 19; Lk. 24:1, 13-15, 30, 31, 35).
These are the facts and others could be used to
establish and sustain that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, the day
God chose for disciples to come together and commune His death. What was
presented in this article is fact based upon scripture, not fluff that is
flopped out by foolish and insincere challenges. If there is an honest
Sabbatarian who has made a dollar figure challenge, I will expect to receive the
funds in my banking account. Call me for the address to send the check! But if
you are really sincere, and truly want to please the Lord, I will let you keep
your money, but meet me in a public four or why not “seven” day debate and show
us why you cannot present one passage from the New Testament where the church is
commanded to do any religious service on the seventh day of the
week.
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