DOING THINGS ON SUNDAY by A Little One

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 4, 1903

DOING THINGS ON SUNDAY.

By A Little One

Why do I travel on Sunday? Do I not claim to be a Christian?—Yes, by the love and mercy of God, even only by His grace.

Do I believe the Bible?—With all my heart, and life, my all. The question of the grave is dependent for its answer upon the teaching and blessed promises of the Bible. For outside of the Bible we know nothing of the resurrection of the dead.

But does not the Bible teach that it is wrong for pleasure or otherwise to travel or work on Sunday?—No; nowhere, from Genesis to Revelation is any such teaching to be found. O, but does it not say, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God”?

Yes, indeed, friends, it says just that, and in speaking of the same day in the New Testament it says, “The Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28), and in Matthew we read, “But pray ye that your flight be not . . . on the Sabbath day.” That event was to occur seventy years after Christ’s time. “The Sabbath was made [not is or will be made or changed] for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27. Indeed I do believe the Bible. Do you?

“Was the Sabbath not changed from the seventh to the first day?”

Let me ask when? where? by whom? The first has no answer from God’s Word, which alone is our authority. The second has no answer from the Bible. So also the third is without reply from the Scriptures. That is, nowhere are we told that Divinity made the change.

That there are three or more historical statements concerning events which took place on the first day of the week is true—one of which is Acts 20:7, in which we have described a meeting which occurred on the first day of the week, which is Sunday—but it distinctly states that it was the first day of the week. Had it said, “which is the Sabbath,” that would have settled it beyond question. But it is nowhere found.

That Christ arose, and appeared on the first day of the week, is plainly stated. That the disciples and women carrying spices for the body of Him whom they loved, went to the sepulcher on the first day and found it empty, is also true. Praise the Lord that they did find it empty. But the record shows that they had kept the previous day as the Sabbath. See Luke 23:56.

Another oft-quoted passage is one giving the business transaction ordered or suggested by Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 16:2), in which he gave this instruction to them: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” Surely that needs no explanation or elucidation, even to those who would like to make Sunday (the first day of the week) the Sabbath.

And that work was done at home, and not at church.

So your reason for keeping the first day is as a memorial of Christ’s resurrection in which you show your love to him?

He says, “If ye love me, keep My commandments;” and, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:14. “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46. “My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me.” John 7:16.

You think it is right to keep the first day in remembrance of that greatest and most wonderful event?

It certainly is right to remember and honor Him, but in His time and in the way Christ Himself gave. He left a memorial, even the ordinance of baptism. Rom. 6:4, 5. We can in no wise honor Him nor show our love to Him more truly than by obediently doing what God has commanded us to do, and following in our Master’s footsteps. 1 Sam. 15:22, 23; Eccl. 12:13, 14; Rev. 14:12.

Moses did His way instead of God’s, when he smote the rock,—perhaps he thought the occasion merited the departure. What was the result of his deviation?—He was never permitted to set foot in the long-desired Canaan.

“Who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor?” Rom. 11:34. “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.” Job 40:2. For to change God’s way, plan, or law, is certainly reproving Him for failure to do the best according to your judgment. “Wilt thou also disannul My judgment? wilt thou condemn Me, that thou mayest be righteous?” Job 40:8.

Is it your own way or God’s holy will you desire to do? Can you do more and better than Jesus did? “Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God.” Heb. 10:9.

Walk in His meek and holy footsteps. “I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. A LITTLE ONE.