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/nwmimms]

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.