Volume 2, Number 4
May 7, 2002
RECLAIMING
THE SABBATH - As the new century dawns, the practice of
Sabbath keeping may be a gift waiting to be unwrapped, a confirmation that we
are not without help in shaping the renewing ways of life for which we long.
This practice stands at the heart of Judaism, but it is also available to
Christians. For many of us, receiving this gift will require first discarding
our image of Sabbath as a time of negative rules and restrictions, as a day of
obligation (for Catholics) or a day without play (in memories of strict
Protestant childhoods). Relocating our understanding of this day in the
biblical stories of Creation, Exodus, and Resurrection will be essential if we
are to discover the gifts it offers. – Dorothy C. Bass,
“Rediscovering the Sabbath,” Christianity
Today, September, 1997
The initial ten-week leadership training in unwrapping these gifts at
Resurrection Lutheran Church, Spring, TX. came to an end on April 16. During
most of the weeks we had thirty people from the congregation in attendance.
What follows is a brief summary of the process to date and some of the work
anticipated by the congregation in the weeks and months ahead The issues
below are under discussion. If you would like to discuss the possibility of
this process for your own congregation let us know.
NEEDS WE DISCUSSED AS THE PROCESS BEGAN
- included the following.
· Church members re-centering their lives in the Word - We recognized that we are tempted to center and focus our lives on work, on family, on health issues and hundreds of other things. Anything or anyone who becomes the center of our life becomes an idol, a false god, controlling us, even enslaving us. This is why the Christian is called each week to gather with fellow believers to confess his/her sins, receive forgiveness and grow in the peace and hope that is ours in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
· Renewal, rest, re-creation, obedience to the Lord - The emphasis in our culture is upon work, accomplishment, success and pleasure. This is radically different from the call to stop for one day in seven to be renewed by our Creator and Redeemer and then, empowered by His love, to renew our relationships with family and friends. And then begin the week again in the power of His Spirit to serve the Lord in all we say and do.
· Breaking established patterns - Easier said than done, whether in our personal, our family or our congregational life. This is true of sinful patterns particularly. The whole idea of "repentance" in the Bible implies a careful re-thinking of who we are, whom we serve and why we are here in the light of the inspired Scriptures and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The various sytems in which we work, play and live will always resist such change, however. The tearful words of Jesus spoken over Jerusalem still echo across our cities and villages: "How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" Luke 13:34 .
· Rethinking our priorities - Related to the above. Actually, many wander from day to day and from week to week, unable or uninterested in developing priorities. When we do not set aside time to do that re-thinking, we soon find ourselves pushed and controlled by other people's priorities, or the unexplored desires of our sinful hearts. The example of Martha comes to mind and the rebuke of Jesus is in order: "Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42. In many ways our Lord Jesus calls us to observe the first priority of all, to love the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind.
· Refocusing our lives on Christ and His will - "We love," writes the Apostle John, "because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19. The movement is from God to us. It is necessary first of all to hear the Call of Christ to sinners, burdened by fear, anxiety, hate, hopelessness and sorrow. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. We who have found this rest, this Sabbath, in Christ, hear His Call to follow Him and rejoice, because we are learning that He is our King and we are His servants. He is leading and we are free to follow. So, practically speaking, what shall we do?
· Reclaim the Sabbath - This rhythm of six days of work and one day of Sabbath rest is critical for our life in Christ, our lives with one another, our homes, our families, our work and our nation. Knowing that, we set off on a journey to discover what that means for us who live in the post-Christian era of twenty-first century America.
PROCESS NOT PROGRAM - We
realized that programs come and go, but we are talking about growth, maturity,
development. So we knew this must be
· A Walk of faith - Walk is here understood as an analogy for living. The Hebrew letter encourages us to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter (that is, the One who completed) our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2.
· Led by the Spirit - The Spirit teaches us that this is a walk of joy and peace. He calls us to turn to the Lord and look upon Him. When we do, He changes us. The Biblical word is "transform." The image of Christ is formed within us to replace the fallen likeness of Adam. 2 Corinthians 3:15-18.
· Focused on and empowered by the Word of God - This Word is both Law and Gospel. The tension can not be released. We cannot know the joy of the Gospel until we know the sentence deserved: the soul that sins shall surely die. Ezekiel 18:4 . But the joy comes from knowing that "at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6 . This Word must guide every step of the process.
· Independent action vs. group pressure - In every generation there is the Call of Christ to decide. There is a cost to that. Jesus' chosen Apostles discovered that. Every disciple today discovers that he or she is called upon the carry a cross. But with that comes many promises. The King will lead and you and I will walk together as brothers and sisters in the family of God. This hundred times blessing is awesome to experience. Mark 10:29-31.
THE FOLLOWING PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS - for our common life together as believers gathered in a worshipping congregation flowed from the studies. There are, undoubtedly, many others. This list is intended to be catalytic. This is part of what we are discovering it means to unwrap this gift of Sabbath.
· Emphasize the Biblical Narrative (from Creation to the Second Cominfamily and congregation life g) as the Master Narrative for our lives as disciples of Christ.
· Focus around the Church Year and the Life of Christ all family and church life.
· Explore the possible use of certain Old Covenant Festivals, e.g. Tabernacles, Passover, weekly family Sabbath gatherings.
· Emphasize Sunday as the Eighth Day celebration of the Resurrection and the New Creation in Christ. Eliminate all activities other than morning Bible study and worship.
· Restore weekly celebrations of the Lord’s Supper to all scheduled worship services.
· Provide careful and detailed teaching about “The Mass” as it has been preserved in our midst. Restore The Mass to all Sunday Worship Services. The word "Mass" is found in the Lutheran Confessions and refers to the Order of Service developed and passed down across two millenia. Lutherans agreed to retain the "Mass". It does not belong to any one branch of Christendom.
· Critically evaluate all practises - all liturgies, rites, rituals, paraments, banners, symbols, worship and educational spaces in the light of Biblical guidelines and make appropriate adjustments. Provide on-going education for members of all ages on the meaning and proper use of such.
· Evaluate the hymns and spiritual songs we are using in our worship to be certain that they serve the proclamation of God’s Word and the Gospel. Encourage the discovery and usage of appropriate present-day hymns and spiritual songs, together with those used across the centuries.
· Stress worship, Bible study, rest, re-creation and family activities on Sunday. Do not schedule any other “busy-ness” in the congregation’s life.
· Assist individuals to discover family in their local church family.
· Providedetailed Biblical studies of rest, recreation, retirement and leisure.
· Assist families to preserve and remember “kairos” events in their lives, e.g. birthdays, baptisms, anniversaries. "Kairos" is the Biblical Greek word for those times that have on-going significance for our lives. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus is a "kairos" event that has changed all of Creation for this time and for all ages to come.
NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS :
· Choose “Reclaiming the Sabbath” process leaders - an initial group of a dozen men and women will guide the process throughout the remainder of this year and into the next. They will work with Pastor Ric McMillian, the congregation's director of leadership training.
· Describe the task - this process can go in many directions. The leadership team will have to describe carefully what they intend now to accomplish.
· Commit to the task for a specific period of time - In some ways, this process will never end. However, every task must have a beginning and an end, even if it is a smaller part of a larger whole.
· Process the resource material provided by CrossTies and agree on the language as well as the theology - class members have in their hands a four-inch notebook full of Bible studies, readings and lessons. There is much to be discussed. The material was presented as resource.
· Establish one, two and five year goals for the congregation - In the ancient pattern, every seventh day was a Sabbath, every seventh year was a Sabbath and every seven times seven years led to the Jubilee. What patterns guide our lives?
· Recruit and train a second round of leaders and trainers - Just as the Twelve became the seventy-two, so must the congregation leaders multiply themselves in order that the process may continue.
· Review the process to date - Hitherto the Lord has led us. Now where do You want us to go, Lord?
· Begin the process for the larger congregation - Every man, woman, child and every family will be assisted to make the journey.
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