Argument XI
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W hen defending the practice of dining out on the Sabbath, the United Church of God claims that the scriptures are silent on this issue. Therefore, this prominent COG group contends that God's people may now go out into spiritual Egypt where the Sabbath is being desecrated by slaves to sin and actually purchase the fruit of this sacrilege. Here is how they express this point, followed by our response.
United Church of God:
Our Response: Here is what the UCG conveniently omits when advancing their point. When God gave the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel, He had already introduced them to His Sabbath. Furthermore, it was not by accident that when doing so, the Eternal presented very specific instructions regarding their Sabbath meals. In short, God prohibited them from: 1) acquiring their meals on the Sabbath, 2) preparing their meals on the Sabbath, and 3) going outside their place (the camp) on the Sabbath (see Ex. 16). A few weeks later when presenting these emancipated slaves with His great moral law, the Ten Commandments, God reinforced His position concerning Sabbath labor. Simply put, it was NOT to be done, under penalty of death--even livestock were to be released from labor.
God's Sabbath law was clear and resolute. The Israelites were not to come into contact with profane labor on holy time, let alone purchase the fruit of it. Furthermore, everyone INSIDE the camp was bound by that law. In other words, no one could labor on the Sabbath or sell the fruit of that labor on God's day--PERIOD.
At this point, it is interesting to note that when Nehemiah powerfully addressed the profaning of God's Sabbath by the Jews in Jerusalem, he locked non-believers (men of Tyre) out of the city. He also rebuked the nobles of Judah for allowing them access to Jerusalem on the Sabbath in the first place. Nehemiah also made it absolutely clear that God's people were not to engage in labor on His Sabbath, nor were they to patronize labor on this day. He commanded them, in no uncertain terms, to not buy ANYTHING (Neh. 10:31). There was no limitation to this directive.
For the UCG to claim that the there is nothing in the fourth commandment regarding going to restaurants is a disgraceful attempt to manipulate language. God's law addresses Sabbath meals in a way that leaves no room for the scriptural trickery employed by UCG's doctrinal committee. Furthermore, these men would be well advised to take their own advice about making up "rules for Sabbath observance that are outside the bounds of what God has given." And make no mistake about it: teaching that going to restaurants is acceptable with God falls into that category.
Counter Argument United Church of God Advisory Committee for Doctrine
Dear Mr. Fischer, We would conclude that you are the ones guilty of making up rules for Sabbath observance that are "outside the bounds of what God has given" and that defining eating out on the Sabbath as not acceptable with God falls into that category. We do not feel that you have proven your points in your paper for the reasons that we have presented. If Scripture were as clear as the Blow the Trumpet paper states, then the disciples would not have plucked heads of grain on the Sabbath-and the Blow the Trumpet paper would not conclude that public transportation "may be unavoidable under certain circumstances." There are certain Sabbath-keeping dynamics today that are not clearly addressed in Scripture. Sincerely, Advisory Committee for Doctrine
Response from Dennis Fischer
Dear Friends, Although the UCG offers the example of the disciples picking and eating grain on the Sabbath as a norm, it was no such thing. Jesus described it as the rarest of exceptions. He likened it to David eating the shewbread, an act the Messiah Himself referred to as "unlawful" (Mt.12:4). The point Jesus was making was that although God will extend mercy when mercy is due, it should never be exploited. In the case of David eating the shewbread it occurred once in his life. In the case of the disciples eating grain on the Sabbath, it occurred once in their lives. However, the UCG now claims that God should hold them guiltless when they willingly profane God's Sabbath on a regular basis. Sadly, what the UCG argues is that what happened to David and the disciples now allows them to make Friday night dinner reservations at a fine restaurant two weeks in advance, as well as to pile their family into the car and go out to Saturday morning breakfast before getting ready for services that day. Do you really believe that this was the lesson Jesus was teaching. To me this is a HUGE distortion of God's Sabbath law and mocks our Savior's compassion. Meanwhile, as these COG leaders twist the clear meaning of some scriptures, they reject other verses altogether. They claim that God's prohibition against going out to acquire and prepare your Sabbath meals (Ex 16) is no longer in effect because God no longer provides manna for His people. Here are their exact words.
At every turn the UCG piles on mounds of utter nonsense in defense of a practice that shows total contempt for God's Sabbath. Throughout the scriptures God's people have made the mistake of treating the Sabbath with indifference. And they have paid a dear price for it. This is exactly what the UCG does and teaches today. Whether they believe it or not, there is nothing holy about seeking out unbelievers on the Sabbath and paying them to labor on their behalf. Of course the UCG can argue: "There not really serving me," or, "I'm not really buying the fruit of their sin," and a host of other self-serving excuses, but in the end they too will find themselves on the wrong end of God's warning. Respectfully, Dennis Fischer Counter Argument continued United Church of God Advisory Committee for Doctrine
Dear Mr. Fischer, Blow the Trumpet states:
This is a broad assertion-going to movies, sporting events and doing family errands are outside the realm of eating a meal in a restaurant. The United Church of God has never equated such activities on the Sabbath with eating a meal in a restaurant. Sincerely, Advisory Committee for Doctrine
Response from Dennis Fischer
Dear Friends, A few years ago I was invited to the home of a UCG member who was hosting a reception for a visiting elder. The reception was to take place Sabbath afternoon. I was very honored to receive the invitation and looked forward to fellowshipping with people I genuinely loved. I also looked forward to discussing God's word in a more informal way. Those who know me would testify to my passion for talking about the Bible. It is such a wonderful book. About an hour after I arrived, the UCG elder suggested that we all play a parlor game. I don't recall the name of the game, but it had absolutely nothing to do with the Sabbath. It was a nice family game to be sure, but clearly not appropriate for the day, in my view. After about twenty minutes I decided to excuse my family by informing our hosts that we had a long drive home and needed to go. I didn't want to offend them or their guests and thought this was a discrete way to withdraw from this activity. As we were gathering our things and saying "good bye," the elder asked if I was offended by the game. I responded by saying something to the effect of, "It is not what I would do, but I am not judging you." I then repeated that we had a long ride home in an attempt to deflect any potential debate on this. The elder then said, "You know Dennis, the Sabbath is about family and there is nothing wrong with doing family things on this day. I suppose you're one of those people that think it is wrong to eat in restaurants on the Sabbath too." I concluded the dialogue by wishing him and the guests a pleasant day without commenting on his last statement. At no time did I think that this would be a good time to engage this UCG elder in discussing this issue. The point I am making here is that the elder immediately linked my opposition to playing generic parlor games on the Sabbath to not going to restaurants. Furthermore, it was clear he felt disapproval by my answer although there was nothing in it that showed any disrespect. By the way, every guest who later spoke to me about this, mentioned that they were embarrassed by the elder's comments. In closing, I realize that the intent of the UCG doctrinal group is not to encourage a more casual approach toward Sabbath observance, but that is what their teaching on dining out fosters. Scores of their members apply the same self-serving logic to defend a host of practices that go totally contrary to God's law. I do agree with the UCG that the Sabbath is HOLY. However, their belief that God's people may somehow seek out those who profane this day and pay them for their sin, with God's blessing, is nothing but wishful thinking. Respectfully, Dennis Fischer
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