Here's an excellent look at this current trend of "forsaking the assembling" of the saints (Hebrews 10:19 - 25). I wonder how these "culture sensitive" pastors would respond to this guy. I think he hits the nail squarely on the head.
http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/1368450.html
That is an excellent article. I absolutely agree with the points made, especially with the "consumer mentality at work".
I think he's right on target. Thanks for the link.
"..Here's an excellent look at this current trend of "forsaking the assembling" of the saints (Hebrews 10:19 - 25)..." ~ Manfred the Wonder Dawg
Apples and oranges.
Re: the reference to the subjective realm of human opinion in which “everyone does what is right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). This is merely addressing the attitude of moral relativists who engage in "situation ethics" (ethical relativism).
Judges 21:25 has no legitimate "ethical" relevance to whether or not one decides to "keep a certain day of rest" under the New Testament. God did not command Sunday is to be kept as a "replacement" Sabbath for Saturday. Christ has become the "Sabbath Rest" for his people since his resurrection. His "church" (the regenerate individuals in whom the Holy Spirit resides) may meet on any day they choose.
Sabbath - J P Holding
http://www.tektonics.org/af/ebe19.html
[snip]
Col. 2:14-17 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 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 (note: this includes festival sabbaths as well as the normal one on Saturday): Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Against this passage, all our subject can do is cite two pre-resurrection verses (which again, have no relevance). However, this is post-resurrection, and the grammar here is rather explicit in its insistence that there is no longer any binding for the Sabbath. It should also be noted that the verses parallel the list of ordinances in Numbers 28-29, where the Sabbath is grouped with burnt offerings and new moons, all of which have passed away in the work of Christ. (A similar parallel is found in Galatians 4:9-11 - "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." Note that: a) In Galatians, Paul was acting to counter the effects of Judaizers who wanted to impose Jewish rituals on Gentile converts; b) the Greek here matches the LXX version of the Numbers passage.
Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
This passage indicates that love is the fulfillment of the law - not following the specifics. (It is in this way that Jesus fulfilled the Law!) This means that the Sabbath commandment is "fulfilled" also, and that observance is superfluous. ...
A little later, there is also this passage:
Romans 14:4-6 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Our subject misses the significance of this one, too: Here Paul says something that does indeed, on the one hand, permit those who wish to to keep a Saturday Sabbath; on the other hand, it also indicates that the day is not to be esteemed over any other. (Our subject realizes this in the 93rd newsletter, but again thinks it is enough to object that this means that no one has to observe Sunday either -- and again, he is correct! ) ..
Heb. 4:9-11 are a clear endorsement of Sabbath-keeping. The NIV renders "rest" in v. 9 as "Sabbath-rest." The Greek word at issue is sabbatismos, which occurs only this once in Scripture, but in extrabiblical literature, it refers to plain old Sabbath-keeping. Further, v. 10 says that "he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." This cannot refer to resting from "dead works" of trying to earn salvation, because the comparison to God obviously and necessarily fails here. The Writer concludes "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." v. 11. Thus we have a clear admonition from the NT to enter Sabbath rest as God did, by resting from our works on the seventh day.
Let's quote this passage:
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
"..the context of the passage indicates that the "Sabbath" being referred to is an eschatological one -- the eternal "Sabbath" of enduring praise and celebration all believers will have. (Moreover, how would one "labour to enter" into a Saturday Sabbath, or into any chronological event?) The parallel here is to Paul's admonitions not to run a race in vain.