What are You Willing to Do to Make Your Dreams Come True?

All of us have dreams; dream vacations, dream jobs, dream homes, even dream families. We invest our resources of money and time preparing ourselves to accomplish our dreams. When we are faced with choices, any choices, we painfully weigh our options against their potential to help us accomplish our dreams. If any choice either works against our dreams or doesn’t at least lead toward our dreams, we quickly opt out for fear that our dreams won’t become a reality. We will do ANYTHING to make our dreams come true.

As we begin another Church year in September, I would like you to consider this question, “Do you dream about being in Heaven when you die?” If you do, and I presume you do, what are you willing to do make that dream come true? The Orthodox Christian Way of Life is designed to help you make this dream a reality. Here are some examples:

Attending Church Services as often as you can – We read of two glimpses into Heaven in the Holy Scriptures in both Isaiah (chapter 6) and Revelation (chapter 1). Moses was commanded by God (told to us in Exodus) to shape Old Testament Worship (the model for New Testament Orthodox Christian worship) with the understanding that when we are worshiping God in Church, we are preparing to experience Heaven. SO....the more time we spend in Church for worship, the more we will appreciate the reality of Heaven. Heaven isn’t a good day fishing, it isn’t a good day at the golf course, it isn’t a peaceful field of bright colored flowers. Heaven IS the angels and saints (that includes us) worshipping God ALL THE TIME. If you dream about being in Heaven, but you don’t enjoy being in Church, spending more time IN Church will help make your dream come true.

Living the Fasts and Feasts of the Church – Jesus Christ commanded, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8.34) The only way you will be able to enjoy Heaven is to learn NOW how to deny yourself and take up your cross. When you live the fasts and feasts of the Church, you are learning how to focus your entire existence around having a relationship with Christ. The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, has established a CALENDAR which focuses your time, daily-weekly-seasonally, on growing closer to Jesus Christ. If you dream about being in Heaven, allowing your life to be shaped NOW by the Church to focus upon God all the time will help your dream come true.

Caring for the Poor – Christ directly connects our entrance into Heaven to serving the poor in the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 25.31-46). Caring for the poor is an act of love. God IS love, and He commanded “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19.18, Luke 10.27) If you cannot love your neighbor, and your enemies (Matthew 5.44), it will be impossible to enjoy Heaven. If you dream about being in Heaven, learning NOW to love your neighbors and enemies by caring for them, will help your dream come true.

Participating in the Whole Life of the Church – The life of the Orthodox Christian Parish is dedicated at all times to helping you make your dream of being in Heaven come true. The Divine Services, Bible studies, opportunities to serve the poor, fellowship through social events, house blessings, the Mysteries (Confession, Holy Communion, Unction, etc) special blessings (hospitals, newborns, adoption etc), special classes (Orthodoxy 101), and Parishes are always considering new ways to help you make your dream come true. The only part missing is YOU. What are YOU willing to do make your dream come true? It’s YOUR choice.

The Holy Things are for the Holy

With these words, we Orthodox Christians pray during the Divine Liturgy that the bread and wine having been presented may become, by the Power of the Holy Spirit, the Body and Blood of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Orthodoxy “things” matter, because Jesus, the Divine Incarnate Word of God, entered into creation. The Holy Mysteries of the Church (Sacraments) are each indications that the Grace of God is manifested through His Creation. Even our own hands can become the vehicle of God’s grace when we help those around us.

For those who question the truth of blessed objects, myriad miracles can attest to their power throughout human history. If God can bring water from rocks, (read Exodus 17) why couldn’t He bring other blessings from other physical objects? In the New Testament we hear of “handkerchiefs and aprons” (Acts 19.12) brought from Saint Paul having miraculous healing powers.

But if physical objects can contain the healing power of God, they can also contain the evil works of demons. It concerns me that so many Christians carelessly involve themselves with items used for evil or other demonic purposes. If coffee grounds can be used by demons is it possible there might be residual evil present in the cup? Can tarot cards every really cease to be connected to darkness? Can practices designed to “communicate with other gods” ever be harmless?

The Orthodox Way is the way toward holiness, and we should never dabble in anything that does not convey God’s grace. The Holy Things are for the Holy; leave the unholy for someone else!

No Thanks Hollywood, You Can Keep Your son of god

The new movie The Son of God opens in theaters today…

I make no secrets about my dislike for “the Hollywood agenda” when it comes to the moral direction our society continues to engage. But when it comes to movies about Jesus and His Church, I can no longer sit quietly under the guise of, “at least they’re talking about Jesus,” without offering a serious warning.

The Orthodox Church throughout history has fought courageously to maintain the truth about who we know Jesus Christ to be, as that truth was revealed by the Holy Spirit to the Holy Apostles. We have defended the truth of Orthodoxy down to single letters when the meaning of who Jesus was and is might be misunderstood by the faithful. We have maintained this truth, “once and for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1.3) through the holy and sacred tradition of the Church.

We would not sit quietly when Arius spoke falsely of Christ, and we cannot sit quietly when contemporary “theologians” under the guise of producing Hollywood blockbuster movies, as these movies are often times fictional representations of the Gospels and early history of the Church. This is nothing new, of course, as Hollywood has a long tradition of altering history for big screen for affect, while defending their actions in “the name of entertainment,” and warning viewers they are not responsible for educating our children.

I remember growing up being warned, “You can’t trust a movie with the facts. You have to read the book!” Teachers were, and probably still are, very good at forming questions that required knowledge of the book rather than just the movie. We can all think of movies where multiple characters from the book were blended into single portrayals on the big screen. So what makes us think this is not also happening when the Bible is produced on the big screen?

The reading of Scriptures is a crucial part of every Christian’s spiritual journey, but there are verses which don’t flow well, for the big screen. If movies were limited to just the written verses, the classic “Ten Commandments” would have been much shorter a movie and Charlton Heston would have been much less famous. I noticed the last time I watched the movie, (and I LOVE the movie) I had my Bible open. What was said in two verses in my bible was more than thirty minutes on the screen. How? Fiction and fantasy is the only way.

But it isn’t only the fictional additions that we must be concerned with. The Orthodox Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, has been interpreting the Holy Scriptures since they were first written (speaking specifically of the New Testament) and the Sacred Tradition requires us to “stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” (2 Thessalonians 2.15) We must be extremely careful anytime we hear the Holy Scriptures interpreted by anyone, including within the Church. Are the interpretations consistent with the Teachings of the Holy Apostles? Are they in line with the understanding of the Church Fathers, who themselves were loyal to the teachings of the Holy Apostles when they first sanctioned the Bible with Canonical Authority.

If you plan to watch this new movie about Jesus, or Noah opening March 28^th, then I caution you to sit with your spiritual father afterward about what the movie teaches. The visual impact of the movie will make it difficult for you to “forget” the incorrect teachings in favor of the Church, but prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit will help as well.

I suppose, from my vantage point, these two movies might comprise a new attack on the Church, since they are being released during the Great Lenten journey while we are seeking a closer relationship with God. Many will flock to the movie theater “seeking a deeper relationship” rather than finding it in the Church. What they are likely to find is partial truth and fantasy about a god who is not the same as The God who revealed Himself to the Church.

Never

Never is a big word. Many times we use it with good intentions, yet with poor results. This shouldn’t surprise us, since by our own failures, we know “never” to be unachievable promise. Consider these few examples from the Scriptures.

Moses said, "You have spoken well. I will never see your face again." (Exodus 4.29) FAILED

The Apostle Peter said, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." (Matthew 26.33) FAILED

So can we trust ANYONE to use the term? Just one…

God said, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.” (Genesis 8.21)

He also said, “Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." (Genesis 9.11)

He also said, "I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you.” (Judges 2.1)

There are many more where this came from. Just search “never” on your Bible app…God never goes back on His word. You can trust Him on that!

                                              

This post is written for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers Institute. You may find other blogs participating in this challenge. I hope you enjoy this year’s Advent journey.

Idolatry

How appropriate that the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge has given us this topic on a “Sunday” during football season. I strongly believe, that for many Americans, football has become an idol. Just think about it. God commands, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6.5) God also says, (about having idols) “you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.” (Exodus 20.5) But isn’t that what we do when we place such an unbalanced importance upon football that it keeps us away from our prayers, or from attending Church on Sundays?

It isn’t just football. Idols come in many forms:

Sports

Careers

Money

Statues

Politics

Relationships

But the biggest idol we tend to worship is OURSELVES! When was the last time you put yourself ahead of God? I bet it was today? In fact, our ego and pride are the worship services for the SELF. It isn’t a coincidence that Jesus said we had to deny ourselves in order to follow Him.

Something to think about!

This post is written for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers Institute. You may find other blogs participating in this challenge. I hope you enjoy this year’s Advent journey.

Sometimes I Think we Just Confuse Old with Tradition

Today’s topic from the 40 Days Blogging Challenge is “Oil Lamps." Following the ancient tradition of the Temple as commanded by God, Orthodox Christians bring an offering of olive oil to be burned in the Church lamps continually serving as a reminder of the presence of the Light of God.

And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually (Exodus 27.20)

Although olive oil has been offered to God for centuries, millennia actually, many Churches today have electric lamps in front of Icons and Icon Screens. Many have told me that this is done mainly for safety reasons, and quite frankly there have been TOO many Church fires this year. But is electric ok when it comes to the Church?

Allow me to take this topic in a different direction…Is it ok to swap ancient practices with new technology? Isn’t that all electric lights accomplish? Would God have commanded the Temple lamps to have 100 watt light bulbs if He could? There is something to be said about the offering part of the oil lamps, but aside from a parishioner bringing the oil, the PURE oil, as a gift to God; could the offering not be a check to cover the bulb and electricity? It’s not like WE press the olive oil, right?

I have to admit, as much as I prefer the original, I’m not sure where I draw the line. I do think there is a benefit to the discipline of lighting the oil lamps in the Church every morning. We maintain six in our Church, and there is a blessing in the daily practice, and prayers, of lighting the lamps, especially if you can remember that EVERY offering to God is an offering of prayer and devotion to God.

So, I’ll keep the oil lamps in our Church. We also have several electric lamps on the Icon Screen, which are “on” 24 hours a day, so I’m definitely NOT a purest when it comes to this issue. I was told once that an oil lamp is “alive” rather than dead electricity, but I’m not sure I buy that argument. The last time I stuck my finger in an electric socket, it felt pretty alive to me! Yes....I HAVE done that.

A few other examples of the “technology swap” include:

• Chanter stands with computer screens replacing traditional books
• Paraffin candles replacing pure beeswax
• Icons on canvass rather than painted on the wall
• Electronic or digital bells and speakers replacing bell towers

 Sometimes I think we Orthodox confuse “old” with Tradition.

  

This post is written for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers Institute. You may find other blogs participating in this challenge. I hope you enjoy this year’s Advent journey.

Did God Command Bishops to Wear Special Hats?

In a recent article, Pope Francis was quoted as saying he was thinking of doing away with "the hat" and "Besides, you expect me to believe God really cares if I wear a big pointy hat or not? Come on.”  That got me thinking about Orthodox Clergy and the comments I often hear about we dress. I gather the Pope is trying to bridge the gap between the younger "more with-it" generation who might consider the Bishop's Mitre as old fashioned, ritualistic and therefore BAD. But did God say anything about hats?

I've already written my thoughts about clergy vestments in general, so I won't go into that here. You read about clergy vestments of the Old Testament Temple in Exodus 28-29, but I have quoted 2 points here...

"And you shall put it on a blue cord, that it may be on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban" Exodus 28.37

"You shall put the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban." Exodus 29.6

I guess maybe God DID say something about how the celebrant must dress. Of course, I'm not a follower of Sola Scriptura, but even I can can tell the difference between a baseball cap and a holy crown.

UPDATE! I was going to delete the entire post as I "fell" for the satire. I don't normally fall for this stuff, but I saw this headline in a few locations, and in the growing context of coverage of the Pope's desire to "change things up" I didn't do the proper research. Having said that, I STILL think (which is why I didn't delete the post) there is benefit to reminding visitors/friends/society in general of the wealth of our ancient Holy Tradition.

What to do with all those Black Friday Bargains?????

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 15 (Reflections on Mark 12-16)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

Today is “Black Friday” so I wanted to keep my comments on the readings somewhat connected. If you read me earlier post today, “If you need it, buy it; If you can’t afford it, WAIT FOR IT,” then you already know my feelings about “Black Friday” so I won’t repeat them here. Today I want to reflect on a conversation I had last week, and Mark 14.3-9.

And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted? "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. "She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." (Mark 14.3-9)

The other day, I had a conversation with someone about, as I was told, wasting money in decorating the Church. I’ve had this conversation MANY times before, so it doesn’t faze me, but it ties well into today’s readings. Have you ever noticed when people complain about “wasting money” in decorating the Church, they defend their affront with, “God doesn’t need money!” In my personal experience with this topic, the one with the affront is not at all financially struggling. In fact, they are fairly well off.

Although today’s reading in the Gospel of Mark doesn’t make reference of Judas’ intention in filing HIS affront, other sources do. “This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.” (John 12.6) I’m not suggesting the person with whom I had my conversation last week was a thief, merely that I’m not quite sure the affront was as pure as I was led to believe.

God has directed that His Temple be decorated with the finest materials; gold, fine linens, precious stones, etc. You can read about the construction of the Temple in Exodus 25-31. Why did He command this if He didn’t desire it? The point is the value WE place on those precious items. WE place a value on gold, and therefore we gild items that are of precious value to us, OR to show high social status. When we decorate God’s Church with golden items, it is because we place a value on those items and we wish to honor the highest social status that God deserves. When we pretend to be affronted by the money spent decorating God’s house, and then proceed to spend “Black Friday” filling our shopping baskets with items we don’t even need, how much affront is genuine?

So here is a challenge for you, specifically during this shopping season. How about you take the money saved on GREAT BARGAINS and bring it to the Church? This would be consistent with Saint John Chrysostom’s urging to take money saved during fasting periods and giving it to the poor. It might also help keep things in perspective for the Christmas shopping season. If we focus on spending the savings on ourselves, or worse, MORE SHOPPING, then we really haven’t benefited at all.

Until tomorrow…..You’re right! God doesn’t need money….but you probably don’t need that extra stuff you’re buying on sale either.

The Giving of Thanks

Since the beginning of humanity, we have made an offering to God to show our gratitude for His blessings. From the first harvest and first flock of sheep recorded in Genesis, the practice of bringing an offering to God was established.

“Now in the process of time Cain brought a sacrifice to the Lord from the fruits of the ground. Able also brought a sacrifice from the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. The Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his sacrifices. So Cain was extremely sorrowful, and his countenance fell.” (Genesis 4.3-5)

And from that moment human beings have been offering to God, some with a pure heart, some with a selfish heart.

Fast forward to Noah and the Flood…The FIRST thing Noah did after leaving the Ark was to make an offering to God.

“The Noah built an altar to God, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered whole burnt offerings on the altar.” (Genesis 8.20)

Fast forward to Abraham and his victory over the king of Sodom…The FIRST thing Abraham did was celebrate the Divine Liturgy with Christ.

“Now Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. He blessed Abram and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hands.’ Then Abram gave him a tithe of all.” (Genesis 14.18-20)

Fast forward to the reunion of Jacob and his brother Esau…The FIRST thing Jacob did once he pitched his tent was to make an offering to God.

“He then bought a parcel of land where he pitched his tent from Hamor, Shechen’s father, for a hundred male lambs. There he set up an altar and called on the God of Israel.” (Genesis 33.19-20)

Fast forward to Moses and the Temple…You get the idea, right? With a tradition of making an offering to God to express gratitude for blessings and salvation, it was only natural that Moses would establish a beautiful system of sacrifice offerings in the Temple. You MUST understand; each offering was made AFTER God had blessed or saved the offerer. The offering was NOT made to secure God’s loyalty, NOR as payment on some grand deal.

Fast forward to Jesus Christ on the night of “The Last Supper”…Jesus turned to the Holy Tradition of our Fathers and made an offering of Thanks and combined it with an offering of communion, thus sealing what we call Holy Communion (Holy Eucharist from the Greek Θεία Ευχαριστία) in which WE combine our thanks to God for the blessings AND salvation while uniting ourselves to Him.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26.26-28)

So when the Holy Apostles, in the manner of Moses before, established the Way of Life for the early Church, and building upon the Holy Tradition of their Fathers, established the Eucharist as the weekly and ULTIMATE way to give thanks to God.

Now concerning the Thanksgiving (Eucharist), thus give thanks. First, concerning the cup: We thank you, our Father, for the holy vine of David Your servant, which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory forever. And concerning the broken bread: We thank You, our Father, for the life and knowledge which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory for ever. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so let Your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom; for Yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever. But let no one eat or drink of your Thanksgiving (Eucharist), but they who have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, Give not that which is holy to the dogs. Matthew 7:6  (Didache Chapter 9)

So how will you give thanks to God tomorrow on Thanksgiving Day? Will your heart be pure or selfish?

This post is written for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers Institute. You may find other blogs participating in this challenge. I hope you enjoy this year’s Advent journey.

Vestments

As a general rule of thumb, I don’t spend a lot space on my blog dealing with deep theological issues, as they tend to distract from living the faith. It isn’t that I don’t believe they matter; they DO matter. They matter at a level I don’t normally have as the focus of my blog. Today’s topic, as given for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers’ Institute, is vestments. I’m quite sure there are many other more talented bloggers who can fill your brain with the details of exactly which piece of vestment symbolizes what and from which scripture quote. Again, I believe these things matter, but I’m not in that sort of mood today.

MOST people look at a member of the clergy and think one of two things…

Either “WOW! Where can I get me some of those cool duds?”

Or… “Why do they wear such funny clothes in this Church?”

Some MIGHT say, “I wonder why they dress like that.” (which is why I’m writing about the finer details)

But I’m sure NOBODY says, “Oh, that reminds me of heaven!” (and this is why I AM writing about the essence of clergy vestments)

When God established His Temple, and instructed Moses how to construct it, how to furnish it, how to decorate it, and how to operate it, He also instructed Moses to have the clergy dress in a certain fashion. For all these details, I suggest reading Exodus and Leviticus. God didn’t go such extreme lengths just for fun. He ALWAYS has a purpose for what He asks us to do. The Temple, and therefore temple worship, décor, and operation was to remind His people of Heaven. God has always had one thing in mind for us humans; to be with Him in Heaven. So the next time someone asks what Heaven will be like, tell them to visit an Orthodox Church (since there is no more Jewish Temple and we Orthodox Christians have inherited the fullness of the Temple Tradition) and watch the Orthodox Christian worship in action.

You see Orthodox Christian worship in and Orthodox Christian Church, and you see Heaven. The clergy attire was all part of this “foreshadow” of heaven. You can read for yourself in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 1. In both instances, we get a glimpse of God being worshipped in Heaven.

So, the next time you see an Orthodox Christian clergyman, dressed for worship, you will know that God has blessed you with a glimpse into Heaven. What remains is whether you are living with the understanding of that blessing or not.

This post is written for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers Institute. You may find other blogs participating in this challenge. I hope you enjoy this year’s Advent journey.

You are “A” Holy of Holies

Today is the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos (Bearer of God) in the Temple. According to the Holy Tradition of the Church, when she was about three years old she was brought to the temple by her aged parents Joachim and Anna to live. You might compare this practice to the Virgin Mary becoming a “Temple Virgin” and living among the other virgins within the Court of Women. Upon entering the Temple, according to the ancient Holy Tradition, she dwelt within the Holy of Holies and was fed by the hand of the Archangel Gabriel. Much of this story is included in the Protoevangelium of James, commonly attributed to Jesus’ half-brother, a son of Joseph. I encourage you to read the whole selection. You will be inspired. Most, including so-called cradle Orthodox, are not totally aware of the depth of the Holy Tradition about the Holy Virgin, most of which, though not Scriptural, helps us better grasp the awesomeness of the “Christmas Story.”

So the Most Holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, entered into the place reserved ONLY for the High Priest (and then only once per year) to offer the Atonement Offering. It was within the Holy of Holies that, by the grace and permission of God, humans and God could commune. It was only natural that the Most Holy Virgin, who was chosen by God as the first human to physically commune with God through the mystery of the Divine Incarnation, would be welcomed into the Holy of Holies.

But YOU too are a Holy of Holies of sorts. When you were baptized (if you have been) you became the Temple of the Living God. (2 Corinthians 6.16) Since that moment, God has lived in you through His Holy Spirit. Every time you receive Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, you commune physically with the Incarnate Word of God.

When God commanded Moses to construct His Holy Temple, He commanded that only the finest materials be used. The Temple was the dwelling place of God where humans and God would interact. It was a place of reverence and holiness. You can read about the construction of the Temple in Exodus 25-31.

If God commanded respect and reverence for the Temple made of stone, how much more should we care for the Temple not made with hands? We seem to forget that our bodies ARE temples of God. Would we desecrate the Temple of God with graffiti? Would we use the Temple of God to store tools for cleaning out sewers? Yet, every time we treat our human body with anything but the utmost respect, we are desecrating the Temple of God – the Holy of Holies.

Something to think about…

This post is written for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers Institute. You may find other blogs participating in this challenge. I hope you enjoy this year’s Advent journey.

The Unseen Benefit of the Sabbath

Since I am participating in the 40 Days of Blogging, sponsored by the Preachers’ Institute, and today’s topic is “Blogger’s Choice,” I have decided to blog about a topic I have been considering lately.

The idea of a Sabbath (day of rest) has its roots in the Old Testament Command of God for the People of God to work only six days and rest on the seventh, paralleling the “work” of Creation and rest on the seventh day.

Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. – Genesis 2.1-3

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed – Exodus 20.8-11

While the Sabbath is Saturday, the Holy Apostles established Sunday (the Lord’s Day) as the day to gather for the Divine Liturgy, forever linking Sunday, which is the Day of Resurrection, with the pinnacle day of Christian worship.

But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord: In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations. – Didache of the Apostles to the Nations

However, the purpose of my blog today isn’t for the purpose of defending Sunday vs. Saturday, or even whether Christians should keep the Jewish Sabbath. My purpose, as implied in the title I have chosen for this post, is the UNSEEN benefit of a Sabbath, whether Jewish or Christian. Of course, this blog is dedicated to living a new life in Christ, and focuses upon the Christian life.

So what is the hidden benefit?

Living in the South, the deep South of South Carolina, I live in a town in which many business still close on Sundays. It was only in the past few years, where it became legal to sell/purchase alcohol on Sunday, and THAT was legitimized based upon the sales tax revenues that had increased associated with tourist income. Here in Florence, South Carolina, “Blue Laws” are still a fresh memory, and some still exist.

When the Jewish community kept the Sabbath, it wasn’t only the Jews who benefited with rest. The servants, whether Jews or not, and animals (not even human), were blessed, by the Commandment of God, with a day to rest from work. I don’t think we can take this reality too lightly. Still, the Jews had to care for and feed their work animals, without this “work” being considered a violation of the Sabbath. In fact this point was highlighted by our Lord in His rebuttal to the Pharisees who challenged His “right” to heal on the Sabbath.

And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" -- that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? "Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." – Matthew 12.10-12

We don’t have servants (technically speaking) and work animals have been replaced (at least in industrialized countries) with machines. Yet, we do have a working class (so-called blue collar workers) who accomplish much of the hard labor that the servants of old accomplished. So, when a society keeps a Sabbath today, those workers who may be Christians or may not be, are blessed with a day they can rest and spend time in prayer. If they choose not to pray, at least they can strengthen their family ties, a point which would result in a near-universal benefit to society.

You might be asking why this is on my mind lately…well, there is a “movement” making its way through the internet to stop shopping on Thanksgiving Day, as a sign of protest against our commercial-driven society. As a part of this discussion, many on the “shopping is ok” crowd suggest that workers may want the extra income by working a holiday shift, and therefore receiving holiday pay.

I think the deeper issue of working on the Sabbath is DIRECTLY related to the pressure society places on keeping up with the Jones’. We have created society which elevates wealth while casting doubt on any “holy roller” who would choose to stay home or close his business on Sunday, “just” to spend time in Church or with his family. The pressure to pursue happiness (guaranteed in the founding documents of our Nation) has been equated with pursing wealth.

It is the pursuit of wealth that becomes the issue. There is a saying in business, at least the restaurant business as it has been explained to me, which states, “If you can’t make it in six, you won’t make it in seven.” Living in the South where many restaurants are still closed on Sunday, except the national chains, I have seen this saying hold true. The possession of wealth is not considered sinful; rather it is the pursuit of wealth which creates sin. The Lord says, “Seek first the kingdom…,” rather than seeking wealth.

So what about those who “have” to work on Sunday vs. those who desire to work on Sunday? With the exception of professions such as police/fire/EMT/nurses/ER Doctors, etc I would be hard placed to identify a single profession that, if closed on a Sunday, would bring our society to a screeching halt. So, unless someone works in such a profession, the only need to work on Sunday is a financial one.

I’m not about to question each person’s motives for desire to work on Sunday. I will, however, point out that in MOST cases, the need to work on Sunday is either a perception, OR a result of poor financial priorities in the past. Both can be corrected through repentance, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to help reprioritize life to coincide with living a new life in Christ.

BUT if Christians continue to expect services on Sunday, such as after Sunday brunch or Sunday afternoon shopping trips to the mall, simply because we know there are workers willing to work on Sunday, then we continue to ignore the hidden benefit of the Sabbath; the benefit that the Lord specified in the Old Testament, when He commanded that ALL work stop. The least we could do is allow workers time to rest for the busy week ahead.