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Note and Comment

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 27, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 48.

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Note and Comment

Sabbath and Lord’s Day

THE Christian Church of Englewood, Ill., publishes a monthly paper called the College Vista Budget. In its issue for September, 1913, under the heading “Sabbath and Lord’s Day,” the following interesting catechetical article is contributed by Pastor E. A. Hibler, of Warren, Ohio:—
1. What is the difference between the Sabbath and the Lord’s day? Answer.—The Sabbath was a day of rest. Ex. 20: 10. The Lord’s day, or the first day of the week, is a day of worship. Acts 20: 7; Rev. 1: 10.
2. What is the numerical difference? Ans.—The Sabbath, the seventh day. Deut. 5: 14. The Lord’s day, the first day of the week. Mark 16: 1, 2.
3. What is the civil name for the two days? Ans.—The Sabbath is called Saturday. The Lord’s day is called Sunday.
4. What do these two days commemorate? Ans.—The Sabbath commemorates the rest day of creation and bondage in Egypt. The Lord’s-day commemorates the resurrection of the Saviour of the world.
It would be interesting if Brother Hibler would tell us on what authority the first day of the week became a day of worship in the Christian church, by what authority he designates the first day of the week “the Lord’s day,” and what appropriateness there is in observing the first day of the week in commemoration of the resurrection of the Lord.
As a matter of fact, as far as the record of the Scriptures is concerned, the first day of the week was used by the Christian church as a day of ordinary labor, and the seventh day observed as a day of holy rest. This is demonstrated even by a critical study of the scriptures which he cites; namely, the twentieth chapter of Acts. Nowhere in the Bible is Sunday called the Lord’s day. Conversely, the seventh day of the week is declared specifically to be the Lord’s day (Ex. 20: 8-11), and of this seventh-day Sabbath enjoined in the commandment the Saviour declares himself the Lord. Mark 2: 27, 28.
In the sixth chapter of Romans the apostle Paul shows that baptism has been given the Christian church as a memorial of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord. Why should the church, without a divine command, observe a second memorial?
Truly, as Dr. Hibler states, the seventh-day Sabbath commemorates the rest day of creation. The Creator first used the day as his rest day, and then gave it to the human family in commemoration of his great creative act. Gen. 2: 1-3; Ex. 20: 8-11. Just as long as we walk this material earth and are surrounded by the handiwork of God, so long will it be proper and right to observe the birthday of the world. Its observation from week to week turns our minds continually to the Creator of all, to our Maker and Redeemer.