Today's Sabbath

2009 February 25

by Tyler

Call me crazy but I think the focus and idea of Sabbath is needed more today than it was even for first century Christians.

I say this coming from a Western culture perspective, because that is all that I know. It has been so overly stated but yet remains true; people today are bombarded with busyness that is masked by calling the busyness “entertainment.”

Looking at my own life, the joys of the Internet can easily become work for me when they over run my life.

The allure of today’s culture is to do more with the same amount of time.

We have gotten away from what it means to be humans outside of work. We have gotten away from what it means to be Christ followers outside of the busyness we call “life.” I love how Marva Dawn puts this:

“Though we who devote our lives to God’s service might know in our heads that grace frees us from having to earn God’s love, we are sometimes the worst at living what we know…Consequently, our Sabbath ceasing has to begin with an honest assessment of how much we keep depending upon ourselves instead of God – so that we can give up and let everything go for a day.”

When I am honest with myself, so much of my busyness comes from a reliance on self rather than God. It is like I’m trying to prove to the world that I can do it.

From creation until now God has designed for a day to be set a part for fellowship with himself and those nearest to us.

Can a Sabbath rest relate to today’s culture?

Filed under: the rest...

http://ash-nits.blogspot.com ash

I assume you say these things in light of the fact that it’s Ash Wednesday? Maybe not. But ashes to ashes and dust to dust…so we return…in spirit and in truth- I think this applies in the spiritual sense when we humble ourselves and rest in the presence of our Maker we are able to see a little clearer what is next or sometimes it is fascinating to just “be.” ….the “lifestyle” of Lent, which is probably practiced more seriously by Catholics than other groups, is a beautiful period of sacrifice, fasting, prayer, and rest….and I think the symbolic nature of it all is something we can all use and be reminded of…sorry to be jumping a little….but that’s my initial response
http://shapingthespace.net David

The gradual erosion of Sabbath-like behaviour as the world has become more and more secularised has made it harder to observe and understand the Sabbath, but I remember when nothing was open on Sundays except churches (yeah, I’m that old…); now look at the place.

I agree with all the noise of life a Sabbath day is vital…we just have to be self-disciplined enough to implement it, remember why we have done so for longer than 5 minutes, and consistently use that time to glorify God by being still in His presence.

For our own good, we need to understand how to make that relevant in today’s culture…it’s the periphery thing again, we need to be the influencers.
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

Actually I didn’t even know it was Ash Wednesday until you mentioned it. But I guess that is a similar type of topic.
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

Yeah I dig what you are saying David. As Christians, part of our lives needs to be lived counter culturally. I think this is one way that we can do that.
http://www.aworshipfulheart.typepad.com jan owen

i agree that it’s needed desperately today. i take most fridays as a sabbath and i am not good at it. when i truly step back from busyness on that day it is so refreshing.