Is There A Sabbath Any Longer?

The Question of the Sabbath Today

These guys have been taking over the show, so I want to do a little talking. The question we asked last week was whether there is a Sabbath any longer. Is there a Sabbath day? It's a really good question. Why? Because there are sabbatarians out there; there are Seventh-day Adventists who believe that the Sabbath day is still in effect. There are Messianic Jews who observe the Sabbath and believe in it, and there are Mormons who call the Sabbath Sunday. There are Baptists who also call Sunday the Sabbath. What is it about the Sabbath? What do you know? Bring it to the table.

The Sabbath and Its Origins

I don't think there is a Sabbath day anymore. On what grounds? On the grounds that if Christ fulfilled it all, why would we still have the law? The Sabbath is a tradition of Jewish law. However, the argument is that it's not based on the law because before Moses came with the law, there was a Sabbath instituted at creation. So, the rest of the Sabbath day is still carried on, say the religionists who support it because it wasn't part of the law, but part of God's established plan for life.

The Day of the Sabbath

So why do Christians today celebrate the Sabbath on a Sunday? That's not the Sabbath; it was on a Saturday. Ah, so there's the first point. The Seventh-day Adventists say that. That's right. They've done that, and they're very proud of the fact that they have the day right. I'll agree with them. Good job! At least it's not like the Mormons who tell me that Sunday is the last day of the week, so therefore, it's the same. I never heard of it until I moved up here because I thought the seventh day of the week was Saturday. They're all like, "No," like am I stupid, though, right? I was raised thinking that Saturday was the last day of the week. Yeah, it all revolves around what their religion teaches them. You change the actual facts of how a society runs to benefit your thoughts on things.

Consequences of Not Observing the Sabbath

I would just ask them what happens if you don't obey the Sabbath day. Good question. What happens in the Old Testament when you didn't obey? You got stoned. That's right, you were killed. But see, you have to clarify that because people might think it's about getting intoxicated. I just know people, and that's what they would seem to break. When Ethan breaks and you get him to laugh, he hates it. He wants to be a seriously-minded young man. The thing is, at school, I'm the least serious person around until you bring up one of three things: politics, religion, and killer whale captivity.

These are the three things that I know very well. That's the trinity of Ethan Foster right there—the trinity of topics right there that you are such a fascinating young man. He goes out and gets ants and sells them around the world, well, locally.

Misconceptions and Observances

Anyway, let's get back to the Sabbath day. We agree that according to the Jews, it is Saturday. It goes from Friday night at dusk to Saturday night at dusk. That is God's way. Can they go out on Friday nights then? No, there's no going out. That's why the Seventh-day Adventists don't. That's why they obey, and they think it's important.

Understanding the Sabbath Debate

The Notion of the Sabbath

Some people believe that the Sabbath is on Sunday. For instance, Mormons who observe Sunday as their sabbath typically stop their activities by 11:30 PM on Saturdays to ensure they are home before the new day begins at midnight. This practice aligns with their legalistic approach to observing the Sabbath.

The Christian Justification

A common justification among some Christians for observing the Sabbath on Sunday is that Christ was resurrected on that day. They regard Sunday as the "Lord's Day." This belief leads many Christians to refrain from shopping, dining out, and attend church on Sundays, maintaining the idea of a holy day.

Picking and Choosing Among Believers

However, there is a tendency to pick and choose which biblical laws to follow. Many don't strictly adhere to the original scriptural commandments. For example, a conversation with an orthodox Christian in a math class highlights this selectiveness. He claimed to follow biblical law literally but admitted he would only stone gay people if the law permitted it, thus contradicting the supposed adherence to biblical directives.

Old Testament and New Testament Perspectives

In the Old Testament, followers were under the law, which meant adhering to strict rules, including observing the Sabbath from Friday to Saturday. People were oppressed by these laws until Christ came, offering rest and salvation. Through Christ, rest is available 24/7, eliminating the need to observe a specific day as the Sabbath.

Modern Sabbath Observance

Despite the theological understanding that rest in Christ is continuous, many believers still observe a traditional day of rest. COVID-19 has also impacted Sabbath observance, with some suggesting the pandemic has helped sabbatarians adhere more strictly to their beliefs due to restrictions on gatherings and outings.

Conclusion

The interpretation and observance of the Sabbath vary greatly among different religious groups. The inconsistencies in how the Sabbath is observed today point to a broader issue of selective adherence to religious principles. Ultimately, the essence of rest in Christ is overlooked in favor of following traditional practices, leading to debates and misunderstandings about the true nature of the Sabbath.

The Hidden Manipulation of Sunday Worship

The Subconscious Influence of Church Leaders

So you're going down a bad road, but what would be the subconscious or unconscious reason why church leaders, like pastors, priests, popes, and prophets, emphasize Sunday as a special day? Why do they love to include it, and how is it incorporated into the Christian life? They get their tithe money on Sundays, and that's exactly what it is. If you can't do anything else, you might as well come to church, right? Their law, for them, is really important to get people to believe that there is a special day. It's the biggest religious manipulation.

The Illusion of Rest

Going to church and getting ready doesn't seem like rest. You could be at home resting in your bed. How do you drive the distance, which is forbidden on a Sabbath day according to the Old Testament, to get to your church? The strange part is that many churches now have coffee shops. Technically, you're going to a restaurant since someone has to work there. I never thought about that until now. They have a little restaurant café with tables and stuff. Churches have said the world needs to be shut down, yet they provide these services while you donate.

The Building Paradox

While they'll say the church is not a building, they'll often have a building fundraiser. It’s weird because you don't think about these things when you're involved in them. That's why we do shows like this—to wake up people who are seekers of truth and to help free them from the bondage that comes with a specific day of the week.

Looking Ahead: Next Week's Topic

Alright, so I think we concur on that. Shall we pick a topic for next week's show? Yes, of course. Stephen, I believe it's your turn. Alrighty, I always shake it up as if it had never been shaken before. Each time is a new shake. Steve has a record of picking bad topics; was Jesus God? Oh my goodness, gracious! That's an easy one. In light of that question and that response, I can't wait for next week as we discuss this. I'm not scared—I'm going to research this because I know Sean's going to pull something up. I think I'm gaining a track record of picking up these deep topics. I know—the deep topic picker!

Light-hearted Fun and Farewell

Deep topic picker—try saying that fast 20 times. You can't do it! I thought it would be easy until I tried it. Anyways, I'm sorry. Say "toy boats" five times fast. Why? Just do it. No way! Come on, it's fun for the audience. I'll do it—"toy boats, toy boats, toy boats, toy boats, toy boats." That's pretty good. Your turn. I'm very focused—it's the Minnesota accent because I say "toy boats." It fixes it and makes it easier.

Ethan's not going to do it. We have to do the ending, the conclusion. I was hoping you'd do "toy boats" for us. I tried to, but I'm not good at this. Next week on toy boats—oh, he's smart. He's not going to fall for it.

Alright, you guys, we are out. We'll see you next week here on Cat Out Boats.

[Music]

This show gets crazier and crazier.