Resources on the Sabbath

In answer to a request elicited from a previous post and the comments that followed, I thought it might be easier to make a post listing some good resources on the Sabbath from the traditionally reformed perspective.  So here goes!


Firstly, and most readily accessible, I'll list some links to some reading that can be done online:

Obviously the Confessions and Catechisms are a great place to start to get a good summary of the reformed tradition:

The 1689 addresses the issue in Chapter 22 sect 7 & 8:

As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's day: and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.

The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. 

The Westminster LC also addresses the Sabbath in the questions on the fourth commandment (116-121), though the questions on the moral law (91-100) provide a great background on the understanding perpetuity.  I find question 121 particularly interesting in asking why the word "Remember" is set at the beginning of teh commandment.

 The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion; and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, for that there is less light of nature for it, and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; that it cometh but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it; and that Satan with his instruments labours much to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.


Secondly, there is a plethora of writings from Puritans to current theologians available online through sources like Grace Online Library and Monergism.

20th century theologian John Murray, gives a wonderful exposition of the Westminster teaching on the Sabbath.

J.C. Ryle, with his characteristic warmth and pastoral care, gives a solid defense for keeping the Sabbath Day by explaining the authority and purpose of the day, how it should be kept, and then gives a stirring final appeal.

Anthony Hoeksema, in his pamphlet "Proper Sabbath Observance:  A Sojourner's Sabbath", focuses on the beauty of the Sabbath for a people that are simply Pilgrims passing through this world, sort of an eschatological view of the Sabbath as we look forward to eternity.  An interesting read that should realign our perspective of the blessing of the day.

Thomas Shepard and R.L. Dabney give very sound reasoning for the changing of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.

Thirdly, for some listening, you can find Joseph Pipa's teaching on the Lord's Day on sermonaudio.com as well as this message by Ian Goligher preaching from Nehemiah:  as well as many many others.

Finally, I'd like to recommend two books in particular that I have found very helpful.  Joseph Pipa has a very good book, "The Lord's Day", where he really seeks to pose the question of what we may be missing out on by not keeping the Sabbath in a right manner.  He looks at some key texts of scripture.

And of course, probably my favorite book on the subject that I've read, Walter Chantry's little book "Call The Sabbath A Delight".  This is a warm read that focuses on how a proper observance is truly a delight to the believer.

This is not at all intended to be an exhaustive list by any means (I have left out the puritans, aside from Thomas Shepard, and excluded the 16th and 17th century which was full and rich with teaching on Sabbath observance), but hopefully these resources will provide enough evidence to root a modern day observance of the Sabbath squarely where it ought to be, a proper understanding of what the Scriptures reveal about God's moral character, His graciousness towards us, and the great blessings that accompany obedience to the means He has ordained.

A Truly Reformed Study Bible

Alas!  Though I enjoyed my New Geneva Study Bible (now called the Reformation Study Bible) I was always disappointed that I couldn't get it in the Authorized King James version.  The NKJV was okay, but my preference is the majestic old English of the AV.  My New Geneva has lost it's binding and it's literally in pieces (I found just the cover in the school room last night and asked Christine if she knew where the rest of it was). 

I have held out purchasing the beloved (by many) ESV Study Bible for several reasons, but the main one being that I would still want my good old KJV right along side.  If I spend the money on a study Bible, I'd really rather it be the version that I enjoy studying the most.  I realize there are translational errors, but with all the study tools available for the original languages, it rarely stirs me wrong.

With that said, this announcement from Joel Beeke at Reformation Heritage Books made me drool with anticipation for the results of this endeavor.

"It's KJV.  It's a Study Bible.  It's Reformed.  It's Experiential.  It's projected for 2014."

Yeehaw! 

O The Deep Deep Love

We sang this beautiful hymn last week in Sunday morning worship.

Oh the Deep, Deep Love

1. Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus

Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free

Rolling as a mighty ocean

In its fullness over me

Underneath me, all around me

Is the current of Your love

Leading onward, leading homeward

To Your glorious rest above

Chorus       

Oh the deep, deep love

All I need and trust

Is the deep, deep love of Jesus

2. Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus

Spread His praise from shore to shore

How He came to pay our ransom

Through the saving cross He bore

How He watches o’er His loved ones

Those He died to make His own

How for them He’s interceding

Pleading now before the throne

3. Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus

Far surpassing all the rest

It’s an ocean full of blessing

In the midst of every test

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus

Mighty Savior, precious Friend

You will bring us home to glory

Where Your love will never end

Original Words by Samuel Trevor Francis (1834-1925). Music, chorus, and alternate words by Bob Kauflin. © 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Ministries. From Come Weary Saints. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

North American administration by Integrity Music. International administration by CopyCare International.

Come Christians, Join To Sing,..

Have you ever stood in Sunday worship service singing the words to the hymn but thinking, "Does it really need to be this warm in here?", or "Boyee, my tie matches my wife's dress perfectly?", or "Do I really sound that bad/good to those around me?"?  I am guilty!  Maybe you haven't actually asked those questions, but surely I'm not the only one that is guilty of a wandering mind during singing songs of worship and adoration to the most high God.

We are sinful creatures that can too easily become hardened and calloused in out hearts.  If we do not soberly prepare for the honor of worship, we can become too familiar and lose the awe.  As in all our spiritual duties, our singing can become a clanging gong when the heart is not in it.  Perhaps we have forgotten that God can raise up the rocks to cry out in His name.  Do we really imagine that He takes pleasure in vain repetitions?

By His grace, we can revive a zeal in our singing!  He has given us all that we need to sing as the London Baptist Confession describes in Chapter 22.6:  "singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord".  Wilhelmus A’Brakel, a Dutch Reformed pastor from the 17th century, gives us a few pointers in this section from The Christian's Reasonable Service, Vol 4: that can be used to aid us as we seek to sing with fervency:

First, you must know that singing is not a neutral matter in which you may or may not engage. Rather, it is God’s command. As we have shown you before, God requires this from you and desires to be served by you in this manner. Consider these and similar quotes and impress them upon your heart as being mandatory. Begin to engage in this duty with an obedient heart; break open your mouth and your closed heart will open as well.

Secondly, God has created this ability in the very nature of man. This is to be observed in children of three or four years old. Take note of how they walk around the house while singing at the same time. Observe how even in nature the birds in their own way already praise their Creator early in the morning by way of singing. If you go outside in the morning, or if you have birds in your home, you will hear it. Will the birds and small children rebuke you, and would you, who have the greatest reason in the world to sing joyously, be dumb and silent?

Thirdly, it is the work of angels, for they glorify the Lord in song (cf. Job 38:7; Luke 2:13-14; Rev. 5:11-12), and it is the work of the church upon earth and in heaven: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9); “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne…and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth” (Rev. 14:3); “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty” (Rev. 15:3). If you have no desire to sing, then what will you do in church and in heaven? Furthermore, if you are desirous to magnify the Lord with an eternal hallelujah, you should presently begin upon earth.

Fourthly, God is particularly pleased when His children praise Him in song. There where the Lord is sweetly praised in song, there He will come with His blessings. “But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Ps. 22:3). It is noteworthy to consider what transpired at the dedication of the temple. “It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one…that then the house was filled with a cloud…so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God” (2 Chr. 5:13-14). When Jehoshaphat, together with his army, lifted up their voices in joyous exclamation and song (2 Chr. 20:22), the Lord defeated their enemies. When Paul and Silas sang praises unto God in the middle of the night, the doors of the prison were opened and the bands of all the prisoners were loosened (Acts 16:25-26). Therefore, if you are desirous to please the Lord, and delight in having the Lord visit your soul and desire to experience His help, then accustom yourself to singing.

Fifthly, singing will move a heart which frequently remains unmoved during prayer. It can be that while singing the tears will drip upon the book. Have you not frequently experienced this? Have not you been stirred up by hearing the singing of others? Others will therefore also be stirred up by your singing. The Papists in France knew this, and therefore they strictly forbade the singing of psalms and meted out cruel punishment for this—even prior to massacring the church. Therefore, no longer be silent, but lift up your voices—in spite of the devil and all the enemies of God—to the honor and glory of your God, as this has done you too much good already (and still does) than that you would refrain from thanking the Lord with songs of praise. You must furthermore do so in order that you might stir up others to serve the Lord with gladness. It will then become manifest to all natural men that godliness is a joyous rather than a grievous life, and they will become desirous for this as well. And if you sing, sing with understanding, with a fervent desire, conscious of the presence of the Lord (and thus reverently), with a modest demeanor, and with both inner and external attentiveness, so that it may all be becoming before the Lord and to the edification of others who surround us.”

Reformed Baptists and the Sabbath

I read this quote from a sermon preached by Jim Savastio, Pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of   Louisville, KY.  In light of my last post on the Sabbath, I thought it would be appropriate to archive as an addendum.

Reformed Baptists have a conviction that the Law of God (as expressed in the Ten Commandments) is regulative in the life of the New Covenant believer. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:19 that, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, keeping the commandments of God is what matters.” The present age is an antinomian (lawless) age of Christianity, which makes no demands on its ‘converts,’ but God’s way of holiness has not changed. The law written on the heart in creation (Romans 2:14, 15) is the same law codified in the Ten Commandments on Sinai and the same law written on the hearts of those who enter into the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:33 and 2 Corinthians 3:3). The Apostle John wrote “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Jesus told His disciples that the way in which they would demonstrate that they truly loved Him was by obeying His commandments. Jesus said in Matthew 7 that many professing Christians will find themselves cast out on the last day because they were “practicers of lawlessness” who did not do the Father’s will. Among the laws of God none is so hated as the thought that God requires believers to give of their time to worship him and to turn from worldly pursuits. In recent years many have leveled an unrelenting attack upon the Fourth Commandment. The Presbyterian pastor and Bible commentator Albert Barnes once wrote,

“There is a state of things in this land that is tending to obliterate the Sabbath altogether. The Sabbath has more enemies in this land than all the other institutions of religion put together. At the same time it is more difficult to meet the enemy here than anywhere else: for we come into conflict not with argument but with interest and pleasure and the love of indulgence and of gain.”

John Bunyan wrote, “A man shall show his heart and life, what they are, more by one Lord’s Day than by all the days of the week besides. To delight ourselves in God’s service upon His Holy Day gives a better proof of a sanctified nature than to grudge at the coming of such days.”

Modern man is so addicted to his pleasures, his games and his entertainment that the thought that he must give them up for twenty-four hours to worship and to delight in God is seen as legalistic bondage. It is a particular grief to see those who profess to love Jesus Christ shrink from turning from their own pleasures. To God’s people, who love His law and meditate upon it to the delight of their blood-bought souls, such a commandment is not bondage, but a precious gift.

Sunday's On the Way!

The Sabbath day has become a very precious thing to my family and me in the last decade.  It is a central thought in my mind on more occasions than just during the actual Sabbath day itself.  It is becoming grievously evident to me that the more my heart is drawn to a holy observance of this commandment, the more I seem to notice the disregard for it in our day.  So am I in league with the legalistic weird-os, or is the Lord convicting us of a blessing that has been severely neglected in our contemporary Christianity.  If it's the former, no problem, I'm no stranger to being weird!  If it's the latter, then the felt burden in my heart for the church is justified.

"The Sabbath was made for man..."

 In the words of our Savior and self-proclaimed Lord of the Sabbath, we find a treasure established in creation in this day that was ordained; literally "made for man".  One day in seven to practice what eternity will hold for God's people. 

When we consider what it is "to rest", thoughts are elicited of peace, pause for reflection, a cease from labors (perhaps to enjoy the fruits thereof), etc.  We also might consider that rest is something that follows a goal being reached or an end to a project.  It is the celebration of a purpose being fulfilled.  This is beautiful for the believer, to find in the Sabbath, a day in every week that to be set aside in order to remind ourselves of God's purposes being fulfilled in our lives, and ultimately fulfilled in glorification.  All these blessings determined in eternity by the Father, purchased by the perfect work of Christ, completed at His resurrection, and sealed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  What a gift!

A whole day to cease from our earthly labors and entertainments and bask in what He has ordained for us.  An entire day out of our busy weeks solely intended for a "dress rehearsal" of what is ours in the eternal Sabbath.  Celebrating the Sabbath is anticipating glory where we will worship Him, serve Him, enjoy Him, and love Him without hindrance.

Sure, we strive to glorify and enjoy Him in all that we do, but the distractions of our worldly employments and responsibilities (not to mention entertainments) are far too noisy for us to focus our minds and hearts upon Him and our proper duties as we ought, and in the same manner afforded us on the Sabbath.  One day in seven, set apart, not to be defiled with the common affairs, but sanctified for the purpose of spiritual edification, nourishment, growth, and discipline.  Our loving Creator, mindful of our tendencies to be distracted, instituted the Sabbath for us at creation.  Furthermore, to prevent us from allowing it to slip from our souls and forfeiting the benefits, He commanded us to REMEMBER the Sabbath day, and to KEEP it holy!

It is a shame to behold, but most today (I'm speaking of professing believers here), do not only leave off striving to keep it holy, but readily look forward, and make plans, to defile it with the pleasures of entertainment and the likes of a little afternoon shopping.  We have not only defiled the Sabbath, but I dare say that it is not even considered by congregations or mentioned in the pulpits - there is precious little "remember"ance of the day to be found.

 Idle Hands...

My five young children have taught me much about human depravity.  Surely, if left to our own designs without discipline, we inevitably digress (2nd Law of Thermodynamics is in order here).  This is no where evidenced as clearly as the Sabbath.  Just as our little ones will give themselves to whatever fancies their desires (and this is a constantly moving target, particular with "ants-in-his-pants" Zechariah), so the temptations will abound if we leave hours of the day to idleness.  Now I will readily admit that one of my struggles is in the practice of self discipline, but I believe I can find camaraderie in this lack.  If I don't have a "plan" ordered for the day, then I will revert to idleness which invites temptations to defile the day with that which is common.

It is because of this that I have determined that I must lead our family in a proper observance of the Sabbath by ordering our day around serving the Lord in worship and serving others as we can make arrangements to do so.  The day must be planned for in advance.  It is the climax of our week and our planning should be appropriate as such.  It should not be demoted and given little thought to, contrarily, provisions should be made - clothes ironed and laid out, meals planned and arranged, the events of the day planned out, a good nights rest, etc. unless providentially hindered.  It should be joyfully anticipated!  We spend much time planning a family vacation, how much more should we invest into this gift from Jehovah?

It is certainly my prayer that more and more pastors, congregations and families, would begin to call the Sabbath a delight and observe it joyfully.  I have no doubt that we will then find a tremendous blessing in it!

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:  Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."  Isaiah 58:13-14

Except They Be Agreed, Pt 2

So ultimately, the question is, can Calvinists and non-Calvinists dwell peacefully together under the Southern Baptist roof, or any other roof for that matter?  I suppose the answer would differ from person to person or even church to church.  However, there are some distinctions that may be helpful in determining the overall viability of such a proposal.

Understanding Calvinism

Firstly, to avoid confusion, I shall use a definition of Calvinism that is distinctly reformed and confessional.  Calvinism is spoken of today as though it is a spectrum (five-point, four-point, etc.), but that is an unfortunate distortion of the Calvin's theology.  Calvin's theology was a thorough systematic and biblical theology, not a few points that could be separated and held to independent of one another.  One who professes to be a "four-point" Calvinist (typically a nomenclature given to the individual that denies Particular Redemption) simply demonstrates his lack of a good understanding of the fully orbed theological system of Calvin and other reformers.  Rejecting one of the "points" is to undermine the implications and foundation of the others - that foundation being the Covenantal framework of reformed theology. There must be a mutual understanding of what is at stake in disagreement and unfortunately, I fear that most of whom oppose Calvinism are not fully aware of what reformed Calvinists believe.

Theological Triage

Albert Mohler published his "triage" as a useful way of distinguishing the hierarchy of doctrine.  Calvin also had a similar understanding of the practical division of biblical doctrines.  For Mohler, the first tier of doctrine includes those essential doctrines that define Christianity (The Trinity, the deity of Christ, the incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ, etc.).  One cannot be a Christian without adherence to the first tier doctrines.  The second tier are those doctrines that prevent fellow Christians from worshiping together in one congregation.  These are those doctrines that bring divisions between believers and prevent worship or service together (Mohler cites Baptism and ordination of woman here).  The third tier would consist of those doctrines that believers can disagree over but still serve and worship in harmony within the same congregation (Mohler includes eschatology and passages that are difficult to interpret, I suppose like 1 Peter 3:19).  This structure can be very helpful, but there may be disagreement as to what tier to place certain doctrines.  For instance, for the believer convinced of the soundness of reformed theology, salvation doctrine is central to the faith and worship of the church, belonging firmly in the second tier.  There may be however, a well meaning four-pointer or even an Arminian (relatively unaware of his own theology much less that of a Calvininst), that would think it to be of little importance, third tier for sure.

Confessional Unity

Confessionalism is a very important matter for the reformed believer.  The confessions and Catechisms that arose out of the Reformation (Westminster Confession of Faith, The Savoy Declaration, The London Baptist Confession of 1644 and 1689, Heidelberg Catechism, Westminster Catechism, Canons of Dordt, etc.) were robust and distinctive regarding key doctrines of scripture.  These documents were very concise, even wordy (dare say) about the scripture, God's sovereignty, His decree, the work of redemption, the church, the means of grace (Word and sacraments), the life of the believer and more.  Doctrines pertaining to salvation were central - salvation is, after all, a work of God's free grace in the application of that redemption accomplished by Christ.  To give up the distinction of these doctrines, or to effectively relegate them to a dusty closet, is unacceptable in the reformed faith.

This is exactly what has happened in most evangelical churches today.  Little by little, the doctrinal distinctives have been abandoned in favor of "peace" in the camp. Contrarily, the Baptist 2000 Faith and Message is actually a better statement than its predecessor in that it is more definitive rather than following the trend of ambiguity, but this has also been one of the sparks of the Calvinist controversy in the SBC.

I know, I know, I can hear people saying, "We need to teach the Bible, not a confession!".  But dear one, a confession is nothing more than a standard of what we believe the Bible actually teaches.  Everyone has a confession whether it is articulated in a document or not.  Unfortunately, most in the church today don't give much thought to what they believe (perhaps this is the rancid fruit of our watered down theology).  How much better to have it articulated so we can agree and stand together in true unity with brethren today and historically.

Imagine the debate that would ensue before the PCA, OPC or ARBCA, would throw out the Westminster or the 1689 LBC to adopt a confessional statement that could fit on one page, EGAD!  It would never happen because these denominational organizations build their unity around doctrine, not a false "peace" at the expense of doctrinal reductionism.  Does excluding a doctrine because of the controversy that may arise from it really lead to a functionally vibrant church, or does the "salt lose its savor"?  Does it build true unity and peace, or is it a cheap facade?  Wherever peace and unity is bought at the price of truth, liberalism is reigning.  True unity can only come from "standing in agreement with" (the definition of confession by the way).


In Practice

Practically speaking, the Cooperative Program of the SBC leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of this reformed Baptist.  I can't stomach seeing God's storehouses emptied to support seminaries that don't teach from a biblical confessional standard.  To hear the reports boasting 500 member roles and less than 100 show up on the Lord's Day for worship.  To send missionaries into the field that are primarily trained to "get decisions".  To pay six figure salaries to men who design visionary platforms for planting churches when 15% of the existing churches don't even have a pastor and are struggling to keep the doors open.  Every issue just mentioned stems from doctrinal errors that are easily addressed from a Calvinistic/Reformed theology.  But who wants to hear the answer if they don't agree with it?

Can two really walk together except they agree?  Can two really join efforts in ministry when they can't even agree on the foundational doctrines of salvation?  For a confessionally reformed Baptist as myself, this is a road of futility and frustration.  But I also understand that there are many that stand elsewhere in the doctrinal spectrum.  We can both be wrong, but we cannot both be right.  I can admit that I may be wrong, but I must also profess that I am convinced of what I believe from the scriptures.  So I am left to say with Martin Luther, "Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God."

The great encouragement for all who are in Christ, is that we will one day worship Him in glory where all the disagreements here in this world will fall off and we will worship in true unity.  It is without doubt that we can agree with that!