Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com      
Sabbath — Imposed Rule or Design for Life?

Sabbath — Imposed Rule or Design for Life?

I have many friends who were raised Seventh-day Adventist and were taught to observe the Bible Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset—the same Sabbath hours the Jewish people observe. But many of them have found the day to be a day of restriction, a day filled with lists of all the things they cannot do.

I believe this is due to reading the fourth commandment through the lens of human, imperial law — rules enacted — rather than through design law — protocols upon which life is built.

God is Creator, and God built the universe — space, time, matter, energy, and life — and God’s laws are the laws upon which all reality operates: the law of gravity, physics, and thermodynamics, as well as the laws that govern our minds and relationships — the moral laws. Breaking a design-law always injures and requires healing, while breaking imposed rules requires punishment be inflicted by the ruling authority.

Sadly, the fourth commandment has been translated through the lens of imposed law, causing the commandment to sound like some prohibition.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. (Exodus 20:8).

The key word in this verse is “it.” The Hebrew translation of “it” is: הוּא, הִיא [huwʾ, beyond, (Pentateuch), hiyʾ/hoo/] pronoun. A primitive word; TWOT 480; GK 2085 and 2115; 38 occurrences; AV translates as “that,” “him,” “same,” “this,” “he,” “which,” “who,” “such,” and “wherein.” 1 he, she, it. 1a himself (with emphasis).[1]

This allows for a completely different insight (not focused on merely the grammatical, but the actual application): Remember the Sabbath day, keeping yourself holy. Or, Remember the Sabbath day in order to stay holy.

Think about it: If we were to build a golden calf and have an orgy of pagan worship during the Sabbath hours, have we made the Sabbath less holy? If we spent the Sabbath hours in total righteous living, would we make the Sabbath more holy? We cannot keep the Sabbath holy, because we didn’t make it holy in the first place, thus we can’t make it unholy — we can only keep ourselves holy. And can a person keep themselves holy only one day in seven?

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath” (Mark 2:27). For what reason? To aide humankind in holiness — in keeping themselves holy!

And what is holiness? Holiness is the state of being holy, which is what? I would like to suggest that being holy is being in harmony with God in all aspects of our being. Thus, being holy is living in harmony with God’s character, protocols, and methods — His design-laws!

And how is the Sabbath related to this?

When was the Sabbath created (remember the Sabbath was made for man)? At the end of creation of planet Earth and this solar system.

What was happening in the rest of the universe during that week? War! What kind of war and over what?

And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Rev 12:7-9)

The Greek translated “war” is πόλεμος [polemos /pol·em·os/], from which we get polemic — it is a war of words or ideas.

Since Satan is the father of lies (see Jn 8:44), what has been the focus or target of those lies and where is this war fought?

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2Cor 10:3-5)

The war is over the truth about God, whether we can trust God and whether He is worthy of our love, devotion, and loyalty.

God wants our love, trust, loyalty, and devotion. Can any being get this from another by using threats, coercion, or the infliction of punishment? Of course not. In fact, what happens to love, trust, loyalty, and devotion when one threatens and coerces another is that love and trust are broken and replaced by rebellion.

So, if Satan could get intelligent beings to believe that God is coercive, threatening, and the source of inflicted pain, suffering, torture, and death, then love and trust would break down and rebellion against God would ensue.

How could Satan get intelligent beings to conclude this about God? By alleging God’s laws are not the design-protocols the Creator built life to operate upon, but, instead, function no differently than the rules enacted by human beings — imperial laws that require the ruling authority to inflict punishment for disobedience.

Then, how does the Sabbath fit in?

What does it say about God, that in the context of an assault on His right to rule, rather than using His power to force all beings to bow to Him, He, instead, creates a day of freedom to think?

Who was watching as God created planet Earth?

“Where were you
when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you possess understanding!
Who set its measurements—if you know—
or who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its bases set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
when the morning stars sang in chorus,
and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7)

The heavenly beings were watching as God created Earth while a war over God’s right to rule was raging. Why would God create planet Earth at this point in universal history? To demonstrate by actions (give evidence) that Satan’s allegations were wrong.

Earth was created as the pinnacle of Godliness — a world of procreative power to operate upon love; a place where angels could look to find answers to the questions raised by Satan:

“We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.” (1Cor 4:9)

Adam and Eve were created in perfect love, to give of themselves in love and create beings in their image, and rule over the planet in other-centered love. In sinless perfection, Adam and Eve would have had children, not to abuse or enslave them, but to care for and nurture them, thus the way they governed this world would be a microcosm of the universe, revealing how God lovingly rules His entire creation.

And after six days of overwhelming display of creative power, the Godhead says to all the watching beings, “You have heard the allegations against us, you have seen the evidence we have just given, now, Universe, We rest our case! Take 24 hours aside and think for yourselves, come to your own conclusions, and decide who you are going to trust.”

On days one through six of creation week, we learn that God has incredible power, but God doesn’t want His intelligent creatures to be intimidated, to be afraid, or to follow Him because of power. God wants His creatures to love Him, trust Him, and be devoted to Him in loyal admiration. Thus, after six days of creation, God created a day of freedom, a day where God stops using power and steps back, giving His creatures space and time to consider and think. Day seven is the only day that reveals the character of the One who wields the power: God presented evidence (truth), in love, and left His creatures free to decide for themselves. No coercion, no intimidation, no pressure, just freedom!

Then what is the Sabbath commandment about? It is about how one lives their life in harmony with God and His design for life. Do we present truth in love and leave others free, or do we use imperial rules and coerce others with threats of punishment?

All week long we are to remember the Sabbath, to keep ourselves holy. We are to be beings who present truth in love, while leaving others free. Only those who practice these principles of God in their lives are true Sabbath-keepers. Those who crucified Christ had the right day of the week, but did not have God’s principles written into their characters. They were not Sabbath-keepers.

With this in mind, we realize that God is Creator and His laws are the protocols upon which all life and reality is built to operate. As the Creator of time, God built into time a day for human health, holiness, growth, and development; a day of evidence to reveal truth about how God governs. Every seven days, every human being passes through this day, this reminder, this piece of evidence, this opportunity for healing, growth, renewal, transformation, contemplation, and freedom from the lies about God.

We can only experience these blessings if we throw off the lies about God and His law and accept His design protocols for life. But, if we insist on viewing the Sabbath as a “test of obedience” — a rule enacted by a powerful potentate who is watching to see if we break his rule — then the Sabbath becomes, not a sign of godliness, but a mark of beastliness.

The historic two days of worship within Christianity — Sabbath and Sunday — stand as two banners, signs, flags, marks, or pennants that represent two divergent systems of governing.

Just as the U.S. flag — the grand old Stars and Stripes — is a symbol or sign of the United States of America, so these two days of worship are signs of two different systems of governing. However, the flag is not the reality for which it stands. The U.S. flag is only a symbol of the USA. A person can wave the flag of America, while being an enemy of the U.S. For example, during WWII, German soldiers donned American uniforms, with the U.S. flag, and infiltrated American lines to sow discord and disrupt the U.S. war effort. Just because someone waves the flag doesn’t mean that they support what the flag actually stands for.

Likewise, with Sabbath and Sunday. These two days are signs of two different systems of governing. The Sabbath is a day of rest by its creation; it was made by God for this purpose at the end of creation week. The Sabbath is an evidence of design-law — truth, presented in love, while leaving others free — and is a sign of God’s method of governing.

Sunday, however, became a day of rest by legislative action, by human authorities making rules. Therefore, Sunday is a mark of imperialism, of law and government that functions like sinful humans — imposed rules that require infliction of punishment for disobedience.

However, these days of worship, with their origins establishing their significance, are just like the U.S. flag — symbols, signs, and marks — but they are not the governments they represent. So, a person could be a Sabbath-keeper, but practice the imposed-law model and teach that Sabbath-breaking requires God to inflict punishment on the violator. That person would be like the German soldiers described above, infiltrating God’s church to sow discord and confusion. They would not be on God’s team, but actually promoting the methods of the beast. These religious traitors to God’s kingdom would be most powerfully exemplified by the Sabbath-keepers who crucified the Lord of the Sabbath.

Conversely, a person who worships on Sunday, but promotes truth in love, while leaving others free, is promoting the principles of the Sabbath and is on God’s team.

The real question is: Who do we understand God to be:

  • a Creator/Designer, whose laws are the protocols upon which life is built and who created the Sabbath for our spiritual health, or
  • an imperial dictator, who makes up rules and then enforces those rules with threats of punishment, just like the church of the Dark Ages did for those who violated her Sunday?

I invite you to reject the imperial-law lie that makes God appear to be an arbitrary dictator and the source of inflicted pain, suffering, and death, and embrace the truth that God is Creator and His laws are the protocols upon which all life is designed to operate. Embrace the seventh-day Sabbath as a gift, designed by God, for all human beings to experience health, peace, joy, rest, healing, and growth, as every day of the week we remember the Sabbath, to keep ourselves holy, by practicing the methods of God — truth, presented in love, while leaving others free!


[1]    Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

 

Email me the blog whenever a new one is published.

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 12

I have been really blessed reading your response to the various questions on your site.

K.C., OH, USA

 

Testimony 47

I can’t even begin to thank you and your ministry enough for introducing me to the Truth about a loving and merciful God! I have my daughter and her in-laws to thank for sharing with me “The God-Shaped Brain” as well as your website. I listen to the Bible study class lessons on my daily walk. May God continue to bless your thirst-quenching ministry!

Liz H., Port Angeles, WA, USA

 

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 11

I would love to have a copy of “Healing the Mind” DVDs to have in my therapy office. I enjoy having clients check out materials to enhance their therapy experience. I have sat under Dr. Jennings’ teaching at an American Association of Christian Counselors convention and respect his work greatly.

K.B., LA, USA

 

Testimony 18

The Healing the Mind DVD set tarted me on a journey that has changed my relationship with our loving God more significantly than any other study, and brought me to your book and Bible study podcasts, which I now listen to daily, thanks to the availability of archived content on your site and on iTunes.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 53

I was so blessed by a friend who gave me your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” while I was sitting in church asking God to please help me learn more about Him and help me not to be so confused and scared. That was about 2 years ago. Your books have helped me to love God even more. I’m not confused or scared anymore! I have listened to all of your bible study classes and feel like I know the wonderful people that attend every week. Thank you for all that you’re doing in spreading the true message about God and His law of love. God bless you and your whole class.

Elssy P., Modesto, CA, USA

 

Testimony 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa

 

Testimony 17

The blessings of clarity and understanding you and your class inspire me to take from the word of God have impressed upon me so greatly the true, loving character of our Creator. I have found amazing freedom and joy through building a stronger, more intentional relationship with Him. What is new is that this is now a relationship built on love, reverence and respect rather than fear and obligation, and as such my eyes have been slammed OPEN as I am continually impressed by the manifestations of God’s true character in His provisions for fallen man.

T.E.H., Salt Lake City, UT, USA

 

Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA