The Russian Church on the Commandments by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · May 23, 1907

The Russian Church on the Commandments

By William Ambrose Spicer

Some years ago there was issued from Moscow a “Longer Catechism” of the Russian or Eastern Church, prepared for the use of schools. It was published under the direction of the Holy Synod. Like most of the church standards, it bears witness to the departure of the church from the commandments of God in the matter of the Sabbath. On the ten commandments, it says:—

491. Did Jesus Christ teach men to walk by the ten commandments?

He bade men if they would attain to everlasting life to keep the commandments; and taught us to understand and fulfil them more perfectly than had been done before he came. Matt. 19:17.

Of the fourth commandment it is written:—

536. Why is it commanded to keep the seventh, rather than any other day, holy to God?

Because God in six days made the world, and on the seventh day rested from the work of creation.

537. Is the Sabbath kept in the Christian Church?

It is not kept, strictly speaking, as a holy day; but still in memory of the creation of the world, and in continuation of its original observance, it is distinguished from the other days of the week by a relaxation of the rule for fasting.

That is, “strictly speaking,” the Sabbath is not kept at all in common practise. The catechism anticipates the question that would naturally arise in the student’s mind after such a reply, and the next question is:—

538. How, then, does the Christian church obey the fourth commandment?

A better question would have been, Why does it disobey? But here is the answer:—

She still to every six days keeps a seventh, only not the last of the seven days, which is the Sabbath, but the first day in every week, which is the day of the resurrection, or Lord’s day.

Thus the Russian Church confesses that the Sabbath of the commandment is set aside for a day of human substitution, as if men could honor Christ’s resurrection by transgressing his holy law, to maintain which, and yet save the transgressor, he died and rose again.

“As one other question and answer is of interest, coming from the catechism of a state church:—

572. How ought we to act, if it fall out that our parents or governors require of us anything contrary to the faith or to the law of God?

In that case we should say to them, as the apostles said to the rulers of the Jews: “Whether it be right in the sight of God to harken unto you more than unto God, judge ye;” and we should be ready, for the sake of the faith and the law of God, to endure the consequences, whatever they may be. Acts 4:19.

It is the answer many of our brethren have had to give in Russia in times past, when the state church had full power. Now better days have come in Russia, as regards religious freedom.

W. A. S.