Jamaica Gleaner
Published: Tuesday | October 13, 2009
Home : Letters
Only the Sabbath is sacred
The Editor, Sir:

I note Pastor Devon Dick's article of October 8 and I humbly ask him if the fact that God made the moon or the trees, whether that makes them sacred? Only the Father can declare that something is holy and it is so. Man's opinion is not relevant as "there is a way that seems right to a man but the end thereof is death".

The issue is this: Is Sunday a sacred space or is it the seventh-day Sabbath, the only day declared to be holy by God. To say that " the only command for Sabbath keeping is emancipation from Egyptian slavery" is misleading. In understanding the issue, the pastor and others need to appreciate that "if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise", Galatians 3:29 and all need deliverance from the prison of sin.

The Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27) and it is also a sign that the Lord is our God and that He sanctifies us (Ezekiel 20:20). 1 Cor 1:30 says that Christ is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Therefore, it is through the Sabbath that the Christian is closely united to Christ. Jesus said, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" and also "if you love me keep my commandments". So we don't have to be commanded to keep His day holy as it is a privilege and delight to do so as we love Him.

Despite the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church not signing the statement to say that he believed Sunday to be sacred, it is true that the Sunday newspaper article (on the gambling issue) tried to tie the Seventh-day Adventist Church to Sunday sacredness. To be faithful to God's mandate, every leader of His Church must oppose Sunday sacredness as well as any attempts to tie it to that mode.

I am, etc.,

STEPHEN CHANG

changstephen777@gmail.com

27 Hope Road

Kingston 10

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