Why Sunday Worship?
Why would the United States of America put a law into effect that enforces all people to worship on Sunday? It seems incredulous, especially in the land of religious freedom; this country was founded by pilgrims who sought religious freedom for those who have forgotten US history.
But a study of Revelation 13 shows that the symbolic beast coming out of the earth (USA) will take orders from the first beast coming out of the sea (papal Rome), and enforce all to worship the sea beast. If you are not familiar with Bible prophecy, please study the books of Daniel and Revelation, in order to understand where we are in earth’s history. There are many online prophecy studies to choose from, such as Amazing Facts and It is Written.
Here is one of many statements in Spirit of Prophecy that shows the work of political and religious powers of the earth that are under the control of the dragon, Satan. “Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience” (Great Controversy, p. 588).
Thus, it will be the Christian churches of America that will work in union with the government to present a bill to Congress, requesting the enforcement of Sunday worship. Do you believe that the National Sunday Law will be upon us very soon? Just observe the meetings of religious powers and secular leaders coming together with the Vatican, in order to be in full agreement of the need of a day of rest for the good of our worldly environment. The May meeting was postponed due to covid, but has now been rescheduled for October 15, 2020. Here is the article on the Global Pact meeting:
However, the purpose of this article is to share with you about a Bible verse in the book of Romans where it seems that the apostle Paul is indicating that it doesn’t matter what day you regard holy, everyone can pick for themselves however they feel. Many Christians use this Bible verse to support the reason for Sunday worship. This Bible verse will be examined through a study of an article by Dr. Robert Johnston, Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, Andrews University. There are other Bible verses that seem to indicate that the 10 commandments were done away with at the cross. Thus, many Christians claim, the 10 commandments are no longer binding for us. Those Bible verses will be examined in other articles to come.
Through a study of these Bible verses, which Sunday Christians use to claim that the Sabbath was done away with at the cross, you will be better equipped to share the truth of God’s word and help your friends discover God’s true Sabbath.
Dr. Johnston has a special connection to my family, and possibly to some of you, whose parents studied under Dr. Johnston when he was a professor of theology at Sahmyook University in Korea during the 1960’s. My father was unable to continue his studies because he had run out of money. When my father was not in class, Dr. Johnston went to the registrar’s office and inquired. He was told of my father’s financial situation, and he personally helped my father’s tuition from his own pocket. So my family is forever grateful for the Christ-like love displayed by a missionary to a poor student.
One Day or Another, Doesn’t Matter!
“One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5, NASB). This is the Bible verse which many Christians use to support their belief that God does not care what day we worship on, as long as we worship God. Maybe you have heard this argument from someone you know personally. Let us look at the background to the book of Romans and see why the apostle Paul is writing such a letter to the Christian church in Rome.
Paul had founded many of the Christian churches through his missionary travels. However, the church in Rome was not one of them. He had yet to visit the church but expressed desire to visit and have fellowship with the brothers and sisters there (Romans 1:9-15). The letter of Romans was designed to prepare the way for his visit because Paul had been informed of the issues going on within the congregation.
The church in Rome may have been started by some believers who were at Pentecost (Acts 2:10), and went back to Rome with the gospel message. Paul does mention some of the members at Rome by name in chapter 16. The main issue that arose in the Roman church centered around the differences between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. It seems that our issues in society of racial disparity were present back in Bible times, even within the church! So Paul attempts to address these issues of racial divide by pointing to the cross of Jesus. Paul teaches all his churches that all need salvation, and we are all saved in the same manner. There is no Jew or Gentile, there is no slave or free, there is no man or woman; we are all the same in the eyes of God! (Galatians 3:28)
The Historical Background
In 49 AD, emperor Claudius expelled all the Jews out of Rome. The Roman historian Suetonius explains why this happened; the Jewish community was in chaos because some accepted Jesus as the Messiah, while others did not. In order to get rid of the problems within the city, the emperor threw all Jews out, regardless of their beliefs.
Aquila and Priscilla came to Corinth and met Paul at this time (Acts 18:1,2). By the time Paul wrote the letter to the Roman church six or seven years later, the Jews had returned to Rome. We can see that Priscilla and Aquila had arrived back in Rome in Romans 16:3.
Dr. Johnston fills in the blanks at this point by describing the situation of what occurred in the Roman church. He says that the church leaders in Rome would clearly have been Jewish. There would have been Gentile believers as well, but they would not have been given leadership positions due to the racial walls set up by the Jews. When the Jews were cast out of Rome by the emperor, the Gentile believers naturally stepped up and took leadership of the church.
However, when the Jews returned to Rome several years later, there arose conflict due to the returning Jews expecting to have their old positions restored. The accusations that began to fly centered on how one’s beliefs led to their lifestyle and practices. Paul addresses these issues in chapter 14. Some Jews claimed that members had to abide by all Jewish practices, while the Gentile believers said “no.” There were many “Jewish” requirements (such as circumcision) floating around by “legalists” at this time, placing undue pressure upon Gentile believers. One of the issues between the Jews and Gentiles had to do with foods found in verses 1-4. Paul also brings up the issue of food in 1 Corinthians 8, advising not to be a stumbling block to a weaker brother when it comes to food.
Thus, we come to the question of which day you regard above another in verse five. A common superstition in ancient times centered around lucky and unlucky days. But Paul would not have dealt so gently in regards to superstition. Another thought of interpretation of verse five has to do with days of fasting. The Pharisees fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, as well as the Day of Atonement and other Jewish occasions. But again, Paul would have dealt directly on the topic of fasting if it were the case here.
The Sabbath or Feast Days?
Could the apostle Paul be referring to the Sabbath here in verse five? Is Paul saying, let each person choose which day is the Sabbath for themselves? The Sabbath was an important boundary marker for Judaism as well as other dietary rules. However, the Sabbath was one of the requirements of the Ten Commandments, which all Christians upheld, not only the Jews. Dr. Johnston notes that the New Testament contains more references to the Decalogue than the Old Testament does. Thus, Paul could not be suggesting in 14:5 that the seventh-day Sabbath is up to whatever day a person chooses.
When we examine the Jewish regulations that were set forth by Moses, there were many special days of the Jewish calendar apart from the weekly Sabbath. Leviticus 23 lists the festivals in the Mosaic law- Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets and Tabernacles as well as post-Mosaic festivals such as Purim and Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah). There was also the observance of the New Moon, which was on the first day of each lunar month.
These special days on the Jewish calendar were observed as sabbaths, which are simply days of rest from work. These sabbaths were distinctly different from the Sabbath in the Decalogue. These sabbaths were not weekly, but rather annual events, or monthly as in the case of New Moon.
Dr. Johnston notes, “that meant regarding as no longer obligatory those Jewish customs that served as boundary markers but which had no moral significance. These included certain dietary scruples and the numerous festivals that were tied to Jewish history and reinforced Jewish identity.”
Therefore, the best interpretation of Romans 14:5, on which days one should regard above another has to do with the Jewish feast days that were done away with at the cross of Jesus. The seventh-day Sabbath is eternally binding from the beginning of Creation.
In Christ, We are One
Throughout the writings of the apostle Paul, we can clearly see his high regard for the 10 Commandments and the cross of Christ. When Paul uplifts Christ, he also uplifts the Law of God as eternal and binding within our hearts (Deut 6). While teaching the law of God to his Christian converts, Paul also needs to break down the walls of racial segregation that was built up by the Jews against the Gentiles.
Isn’t this the same message for our Christian churches today? How does God feel when our churches are segregated due to racism; walls built up by our own devices? The message of Paul to the Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians is the same message for us today in America: we are all one in Christ!