Introduction
by George W. Reid
This
document was prepared by a special Commission appointed in 1981 by the
officers of the General Conference with the assignment of studying the
biblical passages involved, reviewing how Seventh-day Adventists observe
the Sabbath in various parts of the world, and dealing with the challenges
confronting those seeking to worship God in true Sabbath reverence.
The
Commission's report was presented to the General Conference session of
1985 and formally received by vote of the delegates. It is not intended
to serve as a set of ecclesiastical legislations, but instead to make
available the results of exploring the elements involved in faithful Sabbath
observance. As such it represents recommendations from a diverse international
Commission of Seventh-day Adventists. This study was presented to the
church following extensive research in the Scriptures and thoughtful reflections
on how best to respect God's hallowed day of rest, given to Adam and Eve
as a part of the Creation.
Although its work was based on careful
study of the Scriptures, accompanied by the counsels of the Spirit of
Prophecy, the Commission was specifically asked to address and make recommendations
on how best to deal with contemporary issues that impact Sabbath observance
today. Therefore the reader will find a number of quite specific recommendations
that address specific matters, although many more could easily come to
mind. The study was presented in the interest of encouraging worldwide
unity of understanding and practice among Seventh-day Adventists, who
now represent the largest Sabbath-observing faith community in the world,
being present in more than 200 of the world's nations.
Sabbath
Observance—Guidelines
Purpose
and Perspective
The
main objective of this document on Sabbath observance is to provide counsel
or guidelines to church members desiring a richer, more meaningful experience
in Sabbathkeeping. It is hoped that this will provide an impetus toward
a real reform in Sabbathkeeping on a worldwide basis.
Conscious of the fact that the worldwide
worshiping community encounters numerous problems in Sabbath observance
arising from within a given cultural and ideological context, an attempt
has been made to take these difficulties into consideration. It is not
the intent of this document to address every question pertaining to Sabbathkeeping,
but rather to present biblical principles and Spirit of Prophecy guidelines
that will assist the church members as they endeavor to follow the leading
of the Lord.
It is hoped that the counsel given
in the document will be helpful. Ultimately, however, decisions made under
critical circumstances must be motivated by one's personal faith and trust
in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sabbath-A
Safeguard of Our Relationship With God
The
Sabbath encompasses our entire relationship with God. It is an indication
of God's action on our behalf in the past, present, and future. The Sabbath
protects man's friendship with God and provides the time essential for
the development of that relationship. The Sabbath clarifies the relation
between God and the human family, for it points to God as Creator at a
time when human beings would like to usurp God's position in the universe.
In this age of materialism, the Sabbath
points men and women to the spiritual and to the personal. The consequences
for forgetting the Sabbath day to keep it holy are serious. It will lead
to the distortion and eventual destruction of a person's relationship
with God.
When the Sabbath is kept, it is a
witness to the rest that comes from trusting God alone as our sustainer,
as the basis of our salvation, and as the ground of our hope in the future.
As such, the Sabbath is a delight because we have entered God's rest and
have accepted the invitation to fellowship with Him.
When God asks us to remember the Sabbath
day, He does so because He wants us to remember Him.
Principles
and Theology of Sabbath Observance
Nature
and Purpose of the Sabbath. The origin of the Sabbath lies in Creation
when God rested from His work on the seventh day (Gen. 1-3). The Sabbath
has significance as a perpetual sign of the everlasting covenant between
God and His people in order that they might know who it is that created
them (Ex. 31:17) and sanctifies them (Ex. 31:13; Eze. 20:12), and that
they might recognize Him as the Lord their God (Eze. 20:20).
Uniqueness of the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is a special occasion for worshiping God as Creator and Redeemer
and as the Lord of life with whom the human family will be reunited at
the Second Advent. The Sabbath commandment forms the center of the moral
law as the seal of God's authority. Since it is a symbol of God's love
relationship with His earthly children, human beings are obliged to respect
this gift in the sense that they will do everything in their power to
promote and engage in activities that will help establish and enhance
a lasting relationship with God. Thus His people will engage only in those
activities that are directed toward God and their fellowmen, and not in
those that lean toward self-gratification or self-interest.
Universality of the Sabbath. The
universality of the Sabbath is rooted in Creation. Thus its privileges
and obligations are binding in all nations, sectors, or classes. (See
Ex. 20:11; 23:12; Deut. 5:15; Isa. 56:1-8.) Sabbath observance pertains
to all members of the household, including children, and extends even
"to the stranger that is within thy gates" (Ex. 20:10).
Time Frame of the Sabbath.
Biblical Data: The Sabbath starts at the end of the sixth day of the week
and lasts one day, from evening to evening (Genesis 1; Mark 1:32). This
time coincides with the time of sunset. Wherever a clear delineation of
the time of sunset is difficult to ascertain, the Sabbathkeeper will begin
the Sabbath at the end of the day as marked by the diminishing light.
Principles Guiding Sabbath Observance.
Although the Bible does not deal directly with many of the specific questions
we may have regarding Sabbath observance in our day, it does provide us
with general principles that are applicable today. (See Ex. 16:29; 20:8-11;
34:21; Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15-22.)
"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 Desire of Ages, p. 207).
This concept, however, is not supportive
of total inactivity. Both the Old and New Testaments invite us to care
for the needs and alleviate the sufferings of others, for the Sabbath
is a good day for all, particularly the lowly and the oppressed (Ex. 23:12;
Matt. 12:10-13; Mark 2:27; Luke 13:11-17; John 9:1-21).
Yet even good works on the Sabbath
must not obscure the chief biblical characteristic of Sabbath observance,
namely, rest (Gen. 2:1-3). This includes both physical (Ex. 23:12) and
spiritual rest in God (Matt. 11:28). The latter leads the Sabbath observer
to seek the presence of and communion with God in worship (Isa. 48:14),
both in quiet meditation (Matt. 12:1-8) and in public worship (2 Kings
4:23; 11:4-12; 1 Chron. 23:30ff.; Isa. 56:1-8). Its object is to recognize
God as Creator and Redeemer (Gen. 2:1-3; Deut. 5:12-15), and it is to
be shared by the individual family and the larger community (Isa. 56:1-8).
Sabbath and the Authority of God's
Word. Ellen White points out that the Sabbath commandment is unique,
for it contains the seal of God's law. It alone "brings to view both the
name and the title of the Lawgiver. It declares Him to be the Creator
of the heavens and the earth, and thus shows His claim to reverence and
worship above all others. Aside from this precept, there is nothing in
the Decalogue to show by whose authority the law is given" (The Great
Controversy, p. 452).
The Sabbath as a sign of the Creator
points to His ownership and authority. Meaningful Sabbath observance,
therefore, indicates the acceptance of God as Creator and Owner, and acknowledges
His authority over all creation, including oneself. Sabbath observance
is based on the authority of God's Word. There is no other logical reason
for it.
Human beings have the freedom to enter
into a relationship with the Creator of the universe as with a personal
friend.
Sabbathkeepers may have to face resistance
at times because of their commitment to God to keep the Sabbath holy.
To those who do not recognize God as their Creator, it seems arbitrary
or inexplicable for someone to cease from all work on the Sabbath day
for merely religious reasons. Meaningful Sabbath observance testifies
to the fact that we have chosen to obey God's commandment. We thus recognize
that our life is now lived in obedience to God's Word. The Sabbath will
be a special test in the end-time. The believer will have to make a choice
either to give allegiance to God's Word or to human authority (Rev. 14:7,
12).
Home
and Family Life as Related to the Sabbath
Introduction.
Home life is the cornerstone of proper Sabbath observance. Only when individuals
keep the Sabbath conscientiously in the home and assume their assigned
responsibilities as members of the family will the church as a whole reveal
to the world the joys and privileges of God's holy day.
Different Kinds of Homes. In
the twentieth century there are various kinds of homes: for example, the
home in which there is a husband, wife, and children; the home in which
there is husband and wife and no children; the home in which there is
a single parent and children (where because of death or divorce one parent
must function in both maternal and paternal roles); the home in which
a person has never married or where death or divorce has left one single,
and no children are involved; or the home in which one parent only is
a member of the church. In addressing the needs and problems of these
categories, it should be understood that some of the principles and suggestions
enunciated will apply to all groups and some will be more specialized.
Two Sacred Institutions-The Home
and the Sabbath. "In the beginning" God placed a man and a woman in
the Garden of Eden as their home. Also, "in the beginning" God gave to
human beings the Sabbath. These two institutions, the home and the Sabbath,
belong together. Both are gifts from God. Therefore both are sacred, the
latter strengthening and enriching in its unique manner the bond of the
former.
Close fellowship is an important element
of the home. Close fellowship with other human beings also is an important
element of the Sabbath. It binds families closer to God and binds the
individual members closer to one another. Viewed from this perspective,
the importance of the Sabbath to the home cannot be overestimated.
Responsibilities of Adults As Teachers.
In choosing Abraham as the father of the chosen people, God said, "I know
him, that he will command his children and his household after him" (Gen.
18:19). It seems clear, then, that an enormous responsibility has been
given to adults in the home for the spiritual welfare of their children.
By both precept and example, they must provide the kind of structure and
atmosphere that will make the Sabbath a delight and such a vital part
of Christian living that, long after leaving the home, the children will
continue the customs they were taught in childhood.
In harmony with the injunction "Thou
shalt teach them [God's commandments] diligently unto thy children" (cf.
Deut. 6:4-9), the adult members of the family should teach their children
to love God and keep His commandments. They should teach them to be loyal
to God and to follow His directives.
From earliest infancy children should
be taught to participate in family worship so that worship in the house
of God will become an extension of a family custom. Also, from infancy
children should be taught the importance of church attendance, that true
Sabbath observance involves going to God's house for worship and Bible
study. Adults in the family should set the example by attending services
on Sabbath, providing a pattern that will be seen as important when their
children make decisions on what is of value in life. Through discussions,
as the children grow older and more mature, and through Bible study, the
children should be taught the meaning of the Sabbath, its relationship
to Christian living, and the enduring quality of the Sabbath.
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 that follows.
Proper Sabbath Dress. Where
there are children in the home, on Sabbath morning as the family dresses
for church, adults may by precept and example teach children that one
way to honor God is to appear in His house in clean, representative clothing
appropriate to the culture in which they live.
Importance of Bible Study Hour.
Where children do not have the advantage of attending Adventist schools,
the Sabbath school becomes the most important means of religious instruction
outside the home. The value of this Bible study hour cannot be overestimated.
Therefore, parents should attend Sabbath morning services and do everything
possible to take their children with them.
Family Activities on the Sabbath.
In most cultures the Sabbath noon meal, when the family gathers around
the dinner table in the home, is a high point of the week. The spirit
of sacred joy and fellowship, begun upon arising and continued through
the worship services at church, is intensified. Free from the distractions
of a secular atmosphere, the family can converse on themes of mutual interest
and maintain the spiritual mood of the day.
When the sacred nature of the Sabbath
is understood, and a loving relationship exists between parents and children,
all will seek to prevent intrusions into the holy hours by secular music,
radio, video, and television programs, and by newspapers, books, and magazines.
Sabbath afternoons, as far as possible,
will be spent in family activities-exploring nature; making missionary
visits to shut-ins, the sick, or others in need of encouragement; and
attending meetings in the church. As the children grow older, activities
will enlarge to encompass other members of their age groups in the church,
with the question always in mind, "Does this activity cause me to understand
better the true nature and sacredness of the Sabbath?" Thus proper Sabbath
observance in the home will have a lasting influence for time and eternity.
Sabbath
Observance and Recreational activities
Introduction.
Sabbath observance includes both worship and fellowship. The invitation
to enjoy both is open and generous. Sabbath worship directed toward God
usually takes place in a community of believers. The same community provides
fellowship. Both worship and fellowship offer unlimited potential to praise
God and to enrich the lives of Christians. When either Sabbath worship
or fellowship is distorted or abused, both praise to God and personal
enrichment are threatened. As God's gift of Himself to us, the Sabbath
brings real joy in the Lord. It is an opportunity for believers to recognize
and reach their God-given potential. Thus, to the believer the Sabbath
is a delight.
Alien Factors to Sabbath observance.
The Sabbath can be intruded upon easily by elements alien to its spirit.
In the experience of worship and fellowship the believer must ever be
alert to alien factors that are detrimental to one's realization of Sabbath
sacredness. The sense of Sabbath holiness is threatened particularly by
the wrong kinds of fellowship and activities. In contrast, the sacredness
of the Sabbath is upheld when the Creator remains the center of that holy
day.
Culturally Conditioned Phenomena
in Sabbath Observance. It is important to understand that Christians
render obedience to God and thus observe the Sabbath at the place in history
and culture where they live. It is possible that both history and culture
may falsely condition us and distort our values. By appealing to culture
we may be guilty of giving ourselves license or excuse to indulge in sports
and recreational activities that are incompatible with Sabbath holiness.
For example, intensive physical exertion and various forms of tourism
are out of harmony with true Sabbath observance.
Any attempt to regulate Sabbath observance
beyond biblical principles by developing lists of Sabbath prohibitions
will be counterproductive to a sound spiritual experience. The Christian
will test his Sabbath experience by principle. He knows that it is the
main purpose of the Sabbath to strengthen the bond of union between himself
and God. Thus one's activities guided by biblical principles and contributing
toward such a strengthening are acceptable.
Inasmuch as no one can evaluate rightly
the personal motives of others, a Christian must be very careful not to
criticize his brethren living in cultural contexts other than his own
and engaging in Sabbath recreational activities they approve.
While traveling, Adventist tourists
should make every effort to observe the Sabbath with their fellow believers
in any given area. Respecting the sacredness of the seventh day, it is
recommended that Adventists avoid using the day for a holiday set aside
for sightseeing and secular activity.
Churches
and Church Institutions
In
establishing specific guidelines and policies for the corporate church
and church institutions, the church is setting an example of Sabbathkeeping
for the membership at large. It is the responsibility of the members to
apply true Sabbathkeeping principles in their own lives. The church can
assist by providing Sabbathkeeping principles as found in the Bible and
the Spirit of Prophecy, but it cannot be conscience for the members.
Churches-Role of Church and Family
in Sabbath Afternoon Activities. The pastor and the local church leaders
are entrusted with the responsibility of providing carefully planned Sabbath
activities for children, youth, adults, and the elderly, and for families
and singles, emphasizing the importance of making the Sabbath a day of
joy, worship, and rest. Church activities should complement rather than
replace family and home activities.
Churches-Sabbath Music. Music
has a powerful impact on a person's moods and emotions. Church leaders
will select music and musicians that will enhance the worshipful atmosphere
of the Sabbath rest and the person's relationship with God. Sabbath choir
rehearsals should be avoided during regularly scheduled Sabbath meetings.
Churches-Community Outreach.
Although Christians may participate in certain types of social work for
students, youth, and the poor in inner cities or in suburbs, they still
will exert an exemplary influence of consistent Sabbathkeeping. When engaged
in an extension school or special school for children and youth, they
will select subjects and classes that are different from the ordinary
secular subjects or classes for the week, including activities that contribute
to spiritual culture. Nature or neighborhood walks may replace recesses;
nature walks or field trips of minimal effort can replace secular subjects
and classes.
Churches-Ingathering. The general
practice of Seventh-day Adventist churches is to do Ingathering on days
other than the Sabbath. Where there is a practice to do Ingathering on
Sabbath, the plan should be implemented so as to bring spiritual benefits
to all participants.
Churches-Fund-raising on the Sabbath.
The doctrine of Christian stewardship is found throughout the Scriptures.
The act of giving has a definite place in the worship services. When appeals
for funds are made, they should be conducted in such a manner as to uphold
the sacredness of the service as well as of the Sabbath.
Churches-Sabbath Weddings. The
marriage service is sacred and would not in itself be out of harmony with
the spirit of Sabbathkeeping. However, most weddings involve considerable
work and almost inevitably a secular atmosphere develops in preparing
for them and in holding receptions. In order that the spirit of the Sabbath
not be lost, the holding of weddings on the Sabbath should be discouraged.
Churches-Sabbath Funerals.
In general, Adventists should try to avoid Sabbath funerals. In some climates
and under certain conditions, however, it may be necessary to conduct
funerals without delay, the Sabbath notwithstanding. In such cases, arrangements
should be made in advance with morticians and cemetery employees to perform
their routine tasks for the deceased in advance of the Sabbath day, thus
reducing the labor and commotion on the Sabbath. In some instances a memorial
service could be held on the Sabbath, and interment take place later.
Seventh-day Adventist Health-care
Institutions. Adventist health-care institutions provide the only
contact many people have with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Adventist
hospitals are to be more than merely health-care delivery systems. They
have a unique opportunity to bear a Christian witness 24 hours a day to
the communities they serve. In addition, they have the privilege of presenting
the Sabbath message by example every week.
In healing the sick and loosing the
bonds of the physically infirm, even on the Sabbath, Christ set an example
that we look to as the basis for establishing and operating Adventist
health-care institutions. Therefore, an institution offering medical care
to the public must be prepared to minister to the needs of the sick and
suffering without regard to hours or days.
This places a great responsibility
on each institution to develop and implement policies that reflect the
example of Christ, and to apply the principles of Sabbath observance as
found in the Scriptures and taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Administrators have a special responsibility to see that all departments
maintain the true spirit of Sabbathkeeping by instituting appropriate
Sabbath procedures and by guarding against laxity in its observance.
The following applications of Sabbath
observance principles are recommended:
1. Provide emergency medical care
willingly and cheerfully whenever needed, with high levels of excellence.
However, neither Adventist institutions nor physicians and dentists should
provide the same office or clinic services on the Sabbath as they do on
weekdays.
2. Discontinue all routine activities
that could be postponed. Usually this means a complete closing of those
facilities and departments not immediately related to patient care, and
the maintenance of a minimum number of qualified people in other departments
to handle emergencies.
3. Postpone elective diagnostic and
therapeutic services. Decisions as to what is necessary or of an emergency
nature should be made by the attending physician. If this privilege is
abused, it should be dealt with by the hospital administration. Nonadministrative
institutional employees should not become involved in making these decisions,
nor should they be obliged to confront the attending physician(s). Misunderstandings
may be avoided by making it clear in medical staff bylaws that only surgical,
diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures that are not postponable because
of the condition of the patient will be done. A clear understanding with
all who are appointed to staff membership at the time of appointment will
do much to avoid misunderstandings and abuses.
Convenience and elective surgery should
be discouraged or limited on Fridays. Procedures thus scheduled allow
the patient to be in the hospital over the weekend and hence lose fewer
days at work. However, this places the first postoperative day, usually
with the most intensive nursing care, on the Sabbath.
4. Close administrative and business
offices to routine business. Although it may be necessary to admit or
discharge patients on the Sabbath, it is recommended that the rendering
of bills and the collection of money be avoided. Never should the keeping
of the Sabbath be a source of irritation to those we seek to serve and
to save, but rather a hallmark of "the children of light" (Eph. 5:8; The
Acts of the Apostles, p. 260).
5. Make the Sabbath a special day
for patients, providing a memory of Christian witnessing never to be forgotten.
Meaningful Sabbathkeeping is much easier to achieve in an institution
that employs a predominantly Adventist staff. Presenting the Sabbath in
a proper light can be accomplished by the believing workers employed in
patient care, and may well be a convicting influence in the lives of those
not of our faith.
6. The direct care of the sick is
a seven-day-a-week activity. Illness knows no calendar. Nevertheless,
when scheduling all personnel, health-care institutions should take into
consideration the sincere religious beliefs, observances, and practices
of each employee and prospective employee. The institution should make
reasonable accommodation for such religious beliefs unless it is demonstrated
that such accommodation would place an undue hardship on its operation.
It is recognized that the consciences of individuals vary in regard to
the propriety of Sabbath employment. Neither the church nor its institutions
can act as the conscience for its employees. Rather, reasonable accommodation
should be made for individual conscience.
7. Resist pressures for relaxing Seventh-day
Adventist standards. Some institutions have been pressured by the communities,
the medical staffs, and/or the employees (where a majority is comprised
of non-Adventists) to abandon or weaken Sabbathkeeping principles and
practices so that the Sabbath would be treated as any other day. In some
cases pressure has been applied to maintain full services on the Sabbath
and reduce them on Sunday instead. Such action should be vigorously resisted.
Compliance would cause serious reexamination of the relationship of such
an institution to the church.
8. Educate employees who are not Seventh-day
Adventists concerning Sabbathkeeping principles practiced by the institution.
Every non-Adventist, at the time of employment at an Adventist health-care
institution, should be made aware of Seventh-day Adventist principles,
especially institutional policies regarding the observance of the Sabbath.
Though non-Adventists may not believe as we do, they should know from
the very beginning how they are expected to fit into the institutional
program to help it reach its objectives.
9. Foster an attitude for continuing
Christian witnessing by Adventist employees. The only contact that many
non-Adventist workers may ever have with Seventh-day Adventist workers
be in the institution employing them. Every relationship should be friendly,
kind, and expressive of the love that exemplified the life and work of
the Great Physician. Compassion for the sick, unselfish regard for our
fellowmen, an eagerness to serve, and unstinted loyalty to God and the
church may well prove to be a savor of life unto life. The keeping of
the Sabbath is a privilege and an honor as well as a duty. It should never
become burdensome or obnoxious to those who keep it or to those about
us.
Sabbath Work in Non-Adventist Hospitals.
While it is essential in medical institutions that a minimum of labor
be performed at all times in order to maintain the welfare and comfort
of the patients, Seventh-day Adventists employed in non-Adventist institutions
in which Sabbath hours bring no relief from routine duties are under obligation
to remember the principles that regulate all Sabbath activities. In order
to avoid situations in which our church members may be faced with problems
of Sabbathkeeping in non-Adventist institutions, it is recommended that:
1. When Seventh-day Adventists accept
employment in non-Seventh-day Adventist hospitals, they make known their
Sabbathkeeping principles and request a work schedule that will exempt
them from Sabbath duties.
2. Where work schedules or other factors
make this impossible, Adventists should clearly identify the duties, if
any, they can conscientiously perform on the Sabbath and the frequency
thereof.
3. Where the above accommodations
cannot be arranged, members should make loyalty to God's requirements
paramount and abstain from routine work.
Seventh-day Adventist Educational
Institutions. Seventh-day Adventist secondary boarding schools have
a major role in shaping the Sabbath observance habits of future generations
of members of the church, and Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities
do much to mold the thinking of the church's clergy and professional class.
It is important, therefore, that both the theory and practice of how to
maximize the joyful blessings of the Sabbath be as close as possible to
the ideal in these institutions.
Applications of this principle should
include:
1. Adequate preparation for the Sabbath.
2. Demarcation of the beginning and
ending of the Sabbath hours.
3. Appropriate school-home activities:
worships, prayer bands, witness, etc.
4. Keeping necessary duties to a minimum,
preferably entrusting them to people who volunteer their service rather
than to those who do the same work for pay during the week.
5. Inspiring worship services, preferably
modeling what is expected to characterize such services in the churches
of the school's constituency.
6. Adequate and varied activities
on Sabbath afternoon.
7. Structuring the weekly program
so that the Sabbath will be a lingering joy and the climax of the week,
rather than a prelude to contrasting activities on Saturday night.
a. Cafeteria
Sales. School cafeterias are designed to serve students and their visiting
parents and bona fide guests; they should not be open to the public on
the Sabbath. To avoid unnecessary business transactions during sacred
time, each institution should make provision for payment outside of the
Sabbath hours.
b. Attendance
of Faculty at Professional Meetings. In some countries, Seventh-day Adventists
are privileged to attend professional meetings in order to keep abreast
of current developments in their given field of specialization. It may
be tempting to justify attendance at these meetings on the Sabbath. However,
it is recommended that academic personnel join fellow members in worship
rather than fellow professionals at work.
c. Radio
Stations. College radio stations can be a blessing to their communities.
To maximize the blessings, programming during the Sabbath hours should
reflect the philosophy of the church. If fund-raising appeals are made
on the Sabbath, they should be conducted in such a way as to uphold the
sacredness of that day.
d. Promotional
Trips. In order to maintain the worshipful nature of the Sabbath, promotional
tours should be planned in such a way as to minimize travel on the Sabbath
and to provide maximum time for worship with fellow believers. The Sabbath
hours should not be used for travel to provide a Saturday night program.
e. Sabbath
Observance in Education for the Ministry. Pastors have a large responsibility
for shaping the spiritual life of the church by their personal example.
Therefore, institutions training ministers and their spouses need to help
their trainees form a sound philosophy of Sabbath observance. Proper guidance
received at school can be instrumental in the experience of a genuine
renewal of the Sabbath joys in their own life as well as in the life of
their church.
f. Sabbath
Examinations. Seventh-day Adventists who face required examinations given
on the Sabbath in non-Adventist schools or for certification by professional
governing boards face special problems. In dealing with such situations,
we recommend that they arrange for administration of the examinations
on hours other than the Sabbath. The church should encourage its members
in careful Sabbath observance and, where possible, intercede with the
appropriate authorities to provide for both reverence for God's day and
access to the examinations.
Secular
Employment and Trade As Related to the Sabbath
Statement
of Principle. The biblical view of the Sabbath includes both a divine
and a human dimension (Matt. 12:7, 8). From the divine perspective the
Sabbath invites the believer to renew his commitment to God by desisting
from the daily work in order to worship God more freely and more fully
(Ex. 20:8-11; 31:15, 16; Isa. 58:13, 14). From the human perspective,
the Sabbath summons the believer to celebrate God's creative and redemptive
love by showing mercy and concern toward others (Deut. 5:12-15; Matt.
12:12; Luke 13:10-12; John 5:1-17). Thus the Sabbath encompasses both
cessation from secular work for the purpose of honoring God and performing
deeds of love and kindness toward fellow beings.
Essential and Emergency Work. In
order to uphold the sanctity of the Sabbath, Seventh-day Adventists must
make wise choices in matters of employment, guided by a conscience enlightened
by the Holy Spirit. Experience has shown that there are hazards in choosing
vocations that will not allow them to worship their Creator on the Sabbath
day free from involvement in secular labor. This means that they will
avoid types of employment that, although essential for the function of
a technologically advanced society, may offer problems in Sabbath observance.
The Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy
are explicit about our duties as Christians to our fellowmen, even on
the Sabbath day. In the modern context, many employed in occupations involved
with the saving of life and property are called upon to deal with emergencies.
Arranging for regular weekend work requiring the use of the Sabbath hours
for gainful emergency employment or accepting work only on weekends in
emergency occupations to augment the family budget is out of harmony with
Sabbathkeeping principles given by Christ. Responding to emergency situations
in which life and safety are at stake is quite different from earning
one's livelihood by routinely engaging in such occupations on the Sabbath,
which are often accompanied by commercial, secular, or routine activities.
(See Christ's comments on rescuing oxen or sheep from ditches and helping
people in need: Matt. 12:11; Luke 13:16.) Absenting oneself from God's
house and being denied fellowship with the believers on the Sabbath can
have a chilling effect on one's spiritual life.
Many employers in so-called essential
service areas willingly make accommodations for Sabbathkeepers. Where
such is not granted, members should carefully review biblical principles
of Sabbathkeeping and in that light examine the type of activity, environment,
requirements of the job, and personal motives before committing themselves
to working on the Sabbath. They should ask of the Lord, as did Paul on
the Damascus road, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" When this attitude
of faith prevails, we are persuaded that the Lord will lead the believer
to discern His will and supply strength and wisdom to follow it.
Moral Decisions Regarding Sabbath
Observance. Sabbath privileges are sometimes curtailed or denied by
military, educational, political, or other organizations. To prevent and/or
alleviate these regrettable situations, the following suggestions should
be considered:
A competent church official, preferably
the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director, should be appointed
to keep abreast of developments that could undermine freedom of worship
on the Sabbath. When necessary, this official will approach responsible
authorities to intercede when an adverse impact upon Seventh-day Adventists
is present in any contemplated measure or legislation. [This course of
action may prevent enactment of laws that could curtail or deny Sabbath
privileges.]
Adventist members should be encouraged
to stand by faith for the principle of Sabbathkeeping regardless of circumstances,
resting in the assurance that God will honor their commitment to Him.
Church members should offer spiritual,
moral, and, if needed, temporal help to other members experiencing Sabbath
problems. Such support will serve to strengthen the commitment to the
Lord not only of the individual member facing Sabbath problems but also
of the church as a whole.
Purchase of Goods and Services
on the Sabbath.
1.
The Sabbath is designed to provide spiritual freedom and joy for every
person (Ex. 20:8-11). As Christians we must be supportive of this basic
human right granted to each individual by the Creator. As a general rule,
the purchasing of goods, eating out in restaurants, and paying for services
to be provided by others ought to be avoided because they are out of harmony
with the principle and practice of Sabbathkeeping.
2. Furthermore, the above-mentioned
commercial activities will turn the mind away from the sacredness of the
Sabbath (see Neh. 10:31; 13:15ff.). With proper planning, adequate provisions
can be made in advance for foreseeable Sabbath needs.
Sabbath Travel. While Sabbath
travel may be necessary for engaging in Sabbath activities, one should
not allow Sabbath travel to become a secular function; therefore, preparation
should be made in advance. Automobile fuel and other needs should be cared
for before the Sabbath begins. Travel on commercial carriers for personal
or business reasons should be avoided.
Treating a Specific Employment
Problem. When a member of the church finds it necessary to resign
from a position, or loses his job because of Sabbath problems, and is
reemployed by the denomination in similar work, and where the new job,
because of its essential nature, requires the member to work on the Sabbath,
the following suggestions are recommended:
1. A careful explanation of the essential
nature of the work will be given to the member.
2. All efforts should be made by the
organization to ascertain that only the essential aspects of the new job
will be performed on the Sabbath. Administrators should also explain to
the new employee the religious purposes and basic objectives of the employing
organization.
3. A rotation schedule will be adopted
in order that the member who can conscientiously accept such work on the
Sabbath may frequently be able to enter into a fuller celebration of the
Sabbath day.
Shift Work. When a Seventh-day
Adventist works for an employer where shift work is the rule, he may be
requested to work on the Sabbath or a portion thereof. Under such circumstances
the member involved is encouraged to consider the following:
1. The member should strive to be
the best possible worker, a valuable employee whom the employer cannot
afford to lose.
2. If a problem develops, the member
should seek to resolve it by appealing to the employer personally for
an accommodation based on goodwill and fairness.
3. The member should assist the employer
by suggesting such accommodations as:
a. Working
a flexible schedule
b. Taking
a less desirable shift
c. Trading
shifts with another employee; or
d. Working
on holidays
4. If the employer resists an accommodation,
the member should immediately seek assistance from the pastor and from
the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department in countries where
they are involved in such activities.
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