Something as important as the 7th-day Sabbath was not kept by many Christians for almost two thousand years. Yes, there were pockets here and there, e.g., the Waldenses, but here's the problem.
Christianity was blessed with the rest of the commandments during the time the Sabbath was not as widely kept as it is today. 12 million Adventists, as well, as others, keeping the Sabbath can be considered a mark of popularity for the 7th-day Sabbath when compared with the centuries when it was seldom, if ever, kept. Perhaps not until the Reformation, were one or two other commandments not kept either, e.g, the first and the second commandments. (See Exodus 20)
It sometimes bothers me that something as important as the 7th-day Sabbath should have been re-introduced back into mainstream Christianity earlier than sometime in the 19th century. Jews, of course, continued keeping the 7th-day Sabbath as they had done during their entire history whether by the nation as a whole or by a remnant during periods of captivity by other nations.
It is almost as if for some reason, the gift of the Sabbath was removed from the world until modern times. Why would something apparently so important as the fourth commandment be withheld from Christians the world over? Of course, it really wasn't withheld since humans themselves decided to worship on another day. Had they wanted to they could have taken a long hard look at the 4th commandment with different eyes. Was all of Christianity blinded so they couldn't see the mystery of the 7th-day Sabbath? Are there cases where one wants to see something familiar in a new and essential way, but is kept from doing so? By circumstances, by people, by over-familiarity with the status quo?
This set me to thinking if some other nameless blessing that humanity once had access to and, with nothing more than restudy of the Bible, could once again be brought to light? Perhaps I'm hungering for new light or rediscovery of old, forgotten light? Perhaps we have to await Present Truth as it brings something equally important to Christians and humanity as a whole, at some point in the near future.
Let's hope our wait for this now hidden light or truth is a short one.
Thanks for the post...
ReplyDeleteperhaps just as with the Sabbath, the places you look are not in the mainstream or where the majority are, but the backwoods and the small to find that kernel of forgotten truth...perhaps God always has a remnant, however small, who holds on to and cherishes neglected truth...
by the way...thanks for commenting on my blog...
Dear Raul,
ReplyDeleteThe wait is a short one indeed. One of the great truths is that praying to the departed spirits is displeasing to the Lord. As you know, the Adventists, as a church, promote witchcraft and spiritualism:
http://adventistsnotcult.blogspot.com/2008/08/adventist-journal-promotes-spiritualism.html
A great truth is that witchcraft and spiritualism should be avoided.
Always enjoy your fine blog!