Adventist Practice of Sabbath Observance

8/11/2019 Adventist Practice of Sabbath Observance

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The Adventist Practice

of Sabbath ObservanceDoctrine and History of the Sabbath

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Adventist International Institute of Advanced

Studies


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Seventh Day Baptists were a branch of the

puritan separatism. Both seventh day and first day sabbatarians

adopted the puritan view of the Sabbath.

The main documents of the way of Sabbath

observance in this period of the Adventismcame from Ellen White

Sabbath Influences in Adventism


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How Shall We Keep the Sabbath

Testimonies for the Church,Volume 2, 1871.

1. The Sabbath was set to rest from labor, includingbusiness and transactions;

2. It is not allow to reflect upon things of a worldly character;3. Sabbath is not celebrated if the person enclose within

walls, listening long sermons and tedious formal prayersshould be avoided;

4. It is a day to contemplate the goodness and glory of God;

5. To assemble is with the purpose to talk of God, of HisWord, and praying; and

6. Parents should spend time with children outdoor, not inplay, but in company


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The Observance of the Sabbath,

Testimonies for the Church,Volume 6, 1890.

1. Preparation for Sabbath should be made all through the week,Friday is to be the special preparation day, including boots,baths, and clothes;

2. All family members should have a special Sabbath suit;

3. The keepers of the Sabbath are to be neat and trim, thoughwithout adornment;

4. All the cooking prepared in advance;

5. Sabbath is not for pleasure seeking;

6. All secular papers be put out of sight;

7. Employers should give their workers the hours from Friday noonuntil the beginning of the Sabbath;

8. On Friday evening the family should have a sundown worshipand on Sabbath morning the family should be astir early;


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The Observance of the Sabbath,

Testimonies for the Church,Volume 6, 1990 (cont.)

9. With reference to the food, on this day should not be provided agreater variety of it, should be simple, in order the mind may beclear;

10. Concerning traveling on the boats or cars, she advices to planmore carefully and make every possible effort to plan so as toavoid reaching destination on the Sabbath;

11. The preaching on Sabbath meeting should generally be short;

12. Meetings should be more focused on prayer and testimony;

13. There should be no sleeping in the house of God;14. Medical institutions shall stand as witnesses of God on this day;

15. Ministers should save physical and mental strength for Sabbathin order to bring vivifying messages to their congregations; and

16. It should be the most joyful day


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Coincidences

Ellen White - Puritans

Sabbath is a day ofJoy

Previous daypreparation: Cooking,bath, boots, clothes,Family meeting.

Rise early

Prepare hearts forworship

Eat sparingly

Eat sparingly a simplemeal, but a treat.

Not spendingafternoon in uselessidleness, but promotethe interaction ofparents and children.

Be careful with lightand triflingconversation.


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Differences

Ellen White - Puritans

She was in favor ofheating food.

Puritans opposedrecreational walking.Ellen Whiteencouraged it.

Ellen White was lessstrict about travelingin Sabbath.


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SDB-SDA Comparison

Seventh Day Baptists Seventh-day AdventistsPublic Worship Public Worship, Including testimonies, and

prayer.

Charities Help the needed

Physicians and Surgeons can assist Medical Institutions shall stand as witnesses of

God (T9, 234)

Minister may and must labor Save physical and mental strength for Sabbath

to bring vivifying messages (T6, 361)

Selected Conversations Selected Conversations

Reading Reading of the Scripture.

Meditation Meditation on God deeds and in contact with

nature.


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Seventh Day Baptists Seventh-day Adventists

Journey on Sabbath is up toconscience Avoid to arrive to destination onSabbath, plan ahead

Soldiers can work No use of armament

Not to sacrifice Sabbath in marriage Silence

No celebration of marriage on

Sabbath

Silence

Sabbath begin at sunset Sabbath begins at 6:00 PM (until

1855)

Silence Cook prepare in advance

Silence Preparation with the family,

spending special time with children

Holy Day Part of the Preaching of the three

angels messages

Sabbath is the Day of the Lord Observance will be a climatic issue

in the final controversy.


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New outlooks in Adventism

In Adventism Sabbath took a new eschatologicalperspective.

Seventh-day Adventists emphasized the doctrine of theseventh-day Sabbath in a comprehensive manner, notonly focusing on the seventh-day as such, but in livingthe week with Sabbath as center; the Sabbath was notan appendix of the week, rather the hub of a sanctified

live Due to its growth, Adventist have face new challenges

about this topic, which have allowed the development ofprinciples that have been set in official documents.


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Official Document about Sabbath

Observance

In 1983, an ad hoc committee was formed to tracesome guidelines about Sabbath observance.

The report of this committee was voted in theGeneral Conference Annual Council in 1984, andthen presented in the 54th General ConferenceSession at New Orleans the next year, but withouta vote.

The same document, slightly edited, waseventually voted in the next 1990 Session atIndianapolis, which is still the official declarationabout the topic.


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Official Document inhttp://www.adventist.org/information/official-

statements/documents/article/go/0/sabbath-observance/
http://www.adventist.org/information/official-statements/documents/article/go/0/sabbath-observance/http://www.adventist.org/information/official-statements/documents/article/go/0/sabbath-observance/http://www.adventist.org/information/official-statements/documents/article/go/0/sabbath-observance/


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The document

The document briefly presents a theological basis forthe principles involved, then gives some general

guidelines about work, recreational activities, takingcare of matters such as the cultural aspects and theproblems of health workers.

This document follows in essence the Adventisttraditional view of the Sabbath observance, but avoid

being too specific in what to do or not to do on Sabbath. In this sense, it shows a clear difference from Puritan

antecedents, which lead to a more balanced newapproach of the topic.


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Comparing Puritan, SDB and Adventist observance of Sabbath, itis undeniable that there is many coincidences. This is due to boththeological as historical reasons.

Theologically, all of them identify Sabbath with the biblical day ofrest. Therefore, both look for biblical ordinances to keep it.

Historically, it is to say that Adventists embraced the Puritanheritage of their times about Sabbath through SDBs.

However, Seventh-day Adventist view is slightly less strict thanpuritan one.

The development of Adventism have bring it to enrich and deepenits understanding about Sabbath observance, but now is its neweschatological perspective about it.

Conclusions

Adventist Practice of Sabbath Observance

Documents

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