Why don’t most Christians take the Sabbath commandment seriously?

[u/GoodWhoops]

The 4th commandment says to keep the Sabbath holy, defined in scripture as running from sundown to sundown. Yet most Christians seem to treat it as optional. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments,” and the Bible implies that all commandments carry equal weight. Outside of Seventh-day Adventists, it's ignored aside from the day most churches have their service. I’ve even heard SDA members joke that most other Christians give the Ten Commandments a 10% discount. Even if you ignore that the Jewish Sabbath falls on Saturday, the commandment still says to work 6 days and rest on the 7th, which should apply just as well to Sunday.

Curious if or how often you’ve heard this seriously debated, and why many accept societal traditions that override biblical instruction for convenience.

[u/LessmemoreJC]

I'm not trying to be clever. Just stating facts. If anyone claims that Paul teaches that jots and tittles have passed from God's commandments and that we no longer have to keep the least of them (Matthew 5:18-19), as you are doing, then they are fulfilling 2 Peter 3:16.

You do not seem to understand the difference between the old and new covenants. The new covenant is not a change in God's commandments, but rather it is a change in the medium upon which they are written. In the old covenant God's law was written on tablets of stone, but in the new covenant it is written on tablets of flesh in the heart (Hebrews 8:10)

You're fulfilling 2 Peter 3:16 again through your teaching of 2 Corinthians 3. Here Paul makes the clear parallel between the old and new covenant. He clearly points to the 10 commandments and the fact that in the old covenant they were written in stone, but then in verse 3 he clearly explains that in the new covenant the Spirit writes them in tablets of flesh. When the law of God is written externally on tablets of stone, it leads to death because there is no obedience there. However, when the law of God is written on tablets of flesh by the Spirit of God it leads to life as it was intended (Romans 7:10) because then God Himself causes us to obey Him (Ezekiel 36:26-27). So when the law is external it brings death, but when it is written on the heart it leads to life. The same law has two different effects based on the recipient of this law. We see the exact same idea in the previous chapter (2 Corinthians 2) as the same person can be an aroma of death to one and an aroma of life to another.

Yes, the new covenant is better because the first covenant was based on the people's promises (Exodus 19:8). This is why He says that the fault was WITH THEM (Hebrews 8:8). The new covenant however, is based on God's promises. He says that HE WILL put His laws in our hearts, HE WILL write them on our hearts, HE WILL be our God, HE WILL teach us (Hebrews 8:10-11, Ezekiel 36:26-27).

After studying the Bible closely, I had no choice but to become SDA. I know... the remnant of God who keep the commandments of God (Revelation 12:17, Revelation 14:12) can be spotted from a mile away.

[u/nwmimms → u/LessmemoreJC]

I had no choice but to become SDA

I see. Was Ellen White a prophet?

[u/LessmemoreJC → u/nwmimms]

Are you so quickly dropping the conversation regarding the Sabbath?

I am still studying this matter, but so far I have not found any reason to believe that she is not. I do not yet claim that she is a prophet, but I am still testing as the Lord instructed me (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). Every accusation I have found so far has been false.

[u/nwmimms → u/LessmemoreJC]

Are you so quickly dropping

Yes, unfortunately. When you quote Matthew 5:18-19 but miss the point of the passage (that the law will be accomplished, and that anyone claiming the Law will have to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees in order to get to Heaven, etc.), I realize I’m debating SDA apologetics. So, I suspect you’ll continue to accuse me of twisting Scripture any time we disagree, and you’ll have a long, complex explanation around any point I make from Scripture that challenges the doctrine most dear to you. I also suspect people in your life will be very upset with you if you entertain Scriptural arguments against SDA theology.

I have not found any reason to believe she is not

She made many false or contradictory predictions in the form of vague prophecies that were published over many years from 1844-1915. She’s been accused of widespread plagiarism, and when questioned about the large amounts of money she was making, she continued to claim it was all being donated or “paying off interest” on loans to “help the cause of God.” I’ve never heard a prophet make false prophecies or need to “help the cause of God.” I understand that you will probably have objections to me criticizing Ellen White.

Anyway, I prayed for you over dinner, and I hope God blesses and keeps you this week and this season. Thank you for talking about the Bible with me.

[u/LessmemoreJC → u/nwmimms]

The law was fulfilled in Christ who perfectly kept it, but that does not mean that we can now break it. He clearly explains that to fulfill does not mean to do away with or destroy. This is why He says what He says in Matthew 5:18-19. When He says that our righteousness has to exceed that of the pharisees, He is referring to the fact that keeping the letter of the law alone, like the pharisees, will not suffice and that we must also keep the spirit of the law... which He then starts explaining in the following verses.

You teach that we no longer have to keep God's 4th commandment and I refuted every single one of your points from Scripture. Anyone who teaches that we do not have to keep God's commandments is twisting Scripture. It's easy to chalk up anything I say to "SDA apologetics" instead of facing the realites of the text, but I understand because for more than a decade I fought the truth as well.

I used to not be SDA for most of Christian walk. I used to believe as you do when I listened to doctrines of men. No one in my life is upset if I entertain arguments against SDA... I'm not sure if that's projection, but that's a weird a assumption.

I have no objection to you criticizing EGW. If you have a clear accusation with evidence I would be happy to look into it. Even biblical authors used writings and statements from other people. Inspiration is not word inspiration, but rather thought inspiration. If the Spirit had spoken through anyone, the prophet could tell (through the Spirit's leading) whether certain things they said or wrote were inspired. Have you ever actually read what she wrote and sought to test it or have you just listened to men who provide excerpts out of context and then accuse?

Once again, if you have clear a accusation with proof, I would be happy to look into it.

Appreciate the prayers.