"And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath."
Have you ever wondered why Christians went from worshiping the Sabbath on Saturday to Sunday? This verse I believe explains why.
The Lord rested on the seventh day after having created the world. Before Christ's coming the sabbath was worshiped on the seventh day being Saturday. In the New Testament it went to the "Lord's day" (Rev 1:10) observing the first day of the week, when Christ was resurrected from the tomb. (Act 20:7) Not unlike the Israelites being told to worship on the seventh day to commemorate when they were delivered from bondage. (Deut 5:12-15) It is a similitude of Christ delivering us from bondage through his resurrection.
The sabbath is for man's benefit, a day of prayer and rest, when we are to worship God. Not just any type of worship, but a public worship, dividing the believers from the nonbelievers. Where we can strengthen and instruct one another, and renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament. In fact I can totally understand how the early Christians wanted to separate themselves from the nonbelievers of Jesus Christ. They instead moved the sabbath day to worship on the day of his resurrection. It was sign between them and God that this day was set aside to worship the Father and the Son.
If the sabbath is made for man then it stands as reason to worship when we as a people can best honor him. To God I do not believe the day matters. It is the heart. Though there are conditions. Being a public worship we worship with our congregations on a day set aside every seven days. It is part of the perpetual covenant to worship in this time cycle. It is the time frame God has ordained as our needing rest, and worship, otherwise we cannot feed and heal body and soul. If the congregation is worshiping on Sunday then we cannot change and say oh, but I will worship on Friday this week.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not all worship on Sunday. The majority do, but there are congregations, particularly in the Middle East, that gather other days of the week. It is both in practicality in being able to work, and in order to not give offense to the customs in that area. It is necessary so the meetings can be held when members can be present. It is conditional, for authority is given them by the prophet to meet as a congregation on a day set aside for that area. I have heard of days ranging from Thursday to Sunday, but am not aware of any Monday-Wednesday congregations. Though the possibility could still be out there.
Does it matter if some Christian faiths worship the sabbath on a Saturday or Sunday? For me, this is a matter that needs no contention.
"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." (Articles of Faith 11)
I don't think God is going to ask when I worshiped him, but instead IF I worshiped as a perpetual covenant with Him.
Letter by President Harold B. Lee to the Jerusalem Branch
regarding the Sabbath, dated November 20, 1972.
Day 1534
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