The Sabbath

Recently we had a guest Evangelist speak at our church. This gentleman is of the "old school" which taught that getting people emotionally involved in what was being said required various body and vocal manipulations to insure his audience did not go to sleep. He exhibited an array of gestures, some of which were so studiously applied they distracted from anything he could have said.

Apparently however, his style worked. I listened to what he had to say. What I remember is his closing remark that he was shortening his harrangue (he chewed us out for complaining, which could only be a result of "insider" information - some call it gossip) because he was hungry and wanted to get to Max and Erma's.

This was spoken on a Sunday Evening to an audience which in this day and age can be assumed to be Christians only. Contrary to popular "christian" belief, lost people are not breaking down the doors "seeking" this Jesus we talk about.

Anyway, the thought struck me: If this gentleman is such a gung-ho Christian why does he insist the folks at Max and Erma's break the Sabbath to wait on him and feed his ego as well as his stomach? Wouldn't the best example, for a Christian to show a fallen world on the Sabbath, be the example of absolute resting from all non-essential activities? I wonder if the wait-person, dishwasher and cook at Max and Erma's might be attracted to a religion which actually believes no one should work on a Sunday?

I'm just sayin'. But, lest you think me overly picky, here's what Spurgeon said on the subject in his Cathecism:

"Question 51

How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?

Answer 51

The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days, (Leviticus 23:3) and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, (Psalms 92:1,2; Isaiah 58:13,14) except so much as is taken up in the works of necessity and mercy. (Matthew 12:11,12)

Chew on that Mr. Evangelist the next time you  preach on how hungry you are. And, on whom you are going to demand break the Sabbath to feed you.