It seems growing up Seventh Day Adventist automatically puts a bad taste in people’s mouths about the Sabbath. Probably from the first day I stepped into an SDA church at the age of 7, it has been crammed in my head what I could & should do or don’t do when the sun sets on Friday evening until it sets again on Saturday evening.
That’s all well and good when you’re trying to teach a person the fundamental principles behind Sabbath observance. The problem comes when those do’s and don’ts set in as rules instead of helpful suggestions.
This is my little brother resting on Sabbath. I want to be like him when I grow up
Breaking The Cycle
I’m elated these days that I have finally found out what it means to “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” I’m also learning what it means to rest for 24 hrs. I “dropped out” of church for about ten months, and sadly, I didn’t miss it. The first few months were kind of rocky, because I had to fight with myself regarding whether I was making the right decision. I read, studied, and prayed until I had a peace about my choice. Then I spent the next few months learning to rest.
Resting started off partying and clubbing Friday night and sleeping most of the day Saturday, then flowed into hanging out Friday night, sleeping late Saturday, and then lounging & watching tv the rest of the day. I eventually confronted the fact that I was remembering & resting, but not keeping holy. I thought about Isaiah 58:13,14 and the rest of Exodus 20:8-11. So, I set about trying to rest.
I stopped hanging out Friday nights (why I was doing that anyway is beyond me) and used those hours for reflection of the past week, unloading issues, thanking God for blessings and reproofs. I put on calming music that would help usher me into a restful mood. I’d turn off the lights and let the lights from outside filter into my apartment. Sometimes that would last well into the night; other times I would wake up in the morning realizing I’d fallen asleep shortly after cutting off the lights. Either way I was happy to have begun the Sabbath actually resting, unwinding, preparing my soul for the rest of the day.
Sabbath days were trickier especially during the summer when sunset was well after 8. I filled my days with reading; walking; watching sermons on TV or watching Bible/Christian movies or concerts; going to the mountain and engulfing myself in nature; and if it had been an extremely taxing week, I would sleep or lounge.
Most people when they heard what I did balked at me and asked, “What do you think about when you hear the scripture about forsaking the assembling together with the saints?”
I responded, “I think I love that text,” adding, “So, that’s why I call my friends on the phone, or I attend a Sabbath dinner, or I invite them to go along with me on a walk or to whatever outing I decide to do. I don’t believe it was restricted to going to church, because clearly if the early church was meeting and breaking bread daily, they weren’t doing it in the synagogue.”
Usually that response gets a look of disgust from the close minded, or an I’m-going-to-look-into-that-later look from the Berean-at-heart. And that’s the same thing I told Jehovah. “Lord, I’m not running away, just taking a breather. I want you to teach me how to rest on the Sabbath and keep it holy. Teach me to deal with the anger I feel toward religion, because if it was really about its business the churches would do like suggested and come together daily for building the members.”
One Sabbath at my aunt's lake house
Feeling the Love
I must say that I enjoy Sabbath to no end these days. I tackle the week with renewed fervor. I don’t wake up on Sabbath mornings happy, yet dreading the fully packed day of events. That’s how I use to feel. Now I take it Sabbath by Sabbath. I keep myself open to what the Lord wants, whether it is to visit someone, chill, travel, or go to church.
I remember one Sabbath, I was enjoying our time so well I didn’t want to cook. I thought, “Dog, if I’d prepared something yesterday I could just eat real quick and get back to the love.” I understood why He had told the Israelites to gather a double portion on Fridays; it would help them stay focused and connected on Sabbath. God loves it when we really want to spend time with Him, emptying ourselves to be filled by Him. It’s great.
Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. And the same thing goes for religion and church. Don’t let it rule you; let God.