Saturday or Sunday Service
Why Sunday, not Saturday going to Church?
There are businesses close on Sundays as their seventh day and rest days for their employees, and there are businesses close on Mondays with the same idea as their rest days. There is also a group of Saturday believers to honor and worship God as their rest day. Churches have their mission and vision for their congregation, and it is the foundational value of the Church that every believer should be in obedience, or they can go somewhere else. However, some churches cater to a smaller group that the leaders ignore to please their members.
Different denominations have some differences in doctrinal views. Some say if it is not written in the Bible, there’s no way they will believe! And to some, even if it is in the Bible, they still don’t believe and bend what was written. The Ten Commandments, which the Protestants and the Catholics suppose to share and obey, have little things to be considered. As believers of the truth of the word, we should be concerned. Since it is the Ten Commandments, we should treat this central command of God that needs to be obeyed.
Day 7 of Creation: The Sabbath-Holy Day, Rest Day, and Remembrance Day
“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day, God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. So then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:1-3).
Parallel to Genesis 2 (Exodus 20)— “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it, you shall not do any work, neither you, your Son or daughter, your male or female servant, your animals, or any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days, the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11 New International Version (NIV)
Sunday generally is Lord’s Day in Christianity and is observed as the victory of Jesus when he defeated death. His resurrection has been witnessed alive from the dead, raised by the Father, and eventually ascended to heaven and seated at His right hand. According to the Book of Exodus, the Sabbath is a day of rest, and God commanded to keep it a holy day of rest, as God, on the 7th day, rested from all His work. Saturday and Sunday, as part of the weekend, are days of rest for most Western countries and even some parts of Asia. For most Christians, Sunday is observed as a day of worship, not even thinking about rest and starting work the next day.
Many countries observed that Sunday is the first day of the week and still part of their rest day, except for those who work the night shift, in which their first day of work is Sunday night, which is technically Monday. The new day starts at 6 pm, so when you attend Saturday Service at 6 pm, it is considered Sunday. Seventh-day Adventists and Messianic Judaism attend church service on Saturdays, which they firmly believe to be the Sabbath according to their interpretation of the seventh-day rest.
Early Christians also observed Sunday as the day Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles after the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, in the 4th century, Emperor Constantine decreed that Sunday be the rest day from labor for all the city workers and artisans.
It is obvious what Paul said about submission to governing authorities—”Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God’ ‘consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.’ ‘For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will be commended.” Romans 13:1-3(NIV)
The Sabbath-Holy Day, Rest Day, and Remembrance Day are all in one to love God and respect His commandments. To worship is to love Him, and to respect Him is to obey His commandments. I do not see why others disagree with these commandments when these are all for our own good. God is good, and His children must also be good. Like Father like Son. Jesus is like God; if we are like Jesus, we are sons of God. Did God give a specific day to love Him, a day to obey His will, and a day to fellowship with Him? Should it be Sunday or Saturday only? Centuries of debate, discussions, and sometimes heated disagreement only lead to new converts getting confused and walking away and not being seen anymore.
Some believers attend the service for one hour, then after the service, go straight home, go to a coffee shop or fast food, and some do a little fellowship in the basement of the church building. Sometimes they may not be not talking about how good the sermon is but instead gossiping. If we sum it up, it will take more hours to get dressed and to drive to Church than the total hours of praise and worship. Do you think that is the intention of the 7th-day rest? People have been continually debating for centuries which day it should be. Saturday or Sunday? Yet, either way, it is only one or 2 hours. One hour could be more than enough if our focus is only on Him. If we devote our time to being closer to the Lord, it will be different and not as spectators entertained by the Preachers.
Matthew 6 says, “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and the corners of the streets, that men may see them.” “But you, when you pray, enter your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.” What does Matthew 6:5-6 tell you? Do you have to wait for the worship day to communicate with God and honor and love Him?
Any day you set aside for Him could be your seventh day, but it should not be for your convenience. We are commanded to fellowship with fellow believers and to do so either by attending a service, doing Bible studies, grouping with them or sharing the living word. It is a fellowship created by the Holy Spirit, guided by the Holy Spirit, and led by the Holy Spirit, not on your accommodation. This is what separates Christians from other religious groups. In other words, Christians stand out because of their uniqueness in fellowshipping. When the believers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit will lead them, and no worries, either Saturday or Sunday or your rest day if you work the weekend.
“A house is not a home when no one is living there.” It is a lovely song and defines that it needs people to live for it to be home. The Church is the same when no believers are gathered, as it only references an empty building. There are no references that a building is a church but rather a body of believers, an assembly, or congregations. One body but many parts as compared to the human body’s many parts and functions in many ways. Due to the lack of knowledge, it is not strange that when you ask people what Church they attend, they either identify the church denomination or the place where the building is located.
In Romans 16:5(NIV), Paul says, “Greet also the church that meets at their house.” “Also the letter to Philemon it says; to our Sister Apphia, and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house.”– Philemon 1:2 Paul refers to the Church in their house—on these two occasions, Paul refers to the body of believers, not a building. The origin or root meaning of the Church as written in the Epistles to Ephesians; the Church as the body of believers Ephesians 1:22-23; Church as a Temple— Ephesians 1:21-22; Church is a Mystery, a Sacred Secret—Ephesians 3:8-10; Church is a New man “New Self”—Ephesians 4:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17; Church is a Bride Ephesians 5:25-27; and Church as a Soldier— Ephesians 6:13. It is not the building that makes a church a church but the believers are the Church itself.
What do you call a church?
Noun- a building that Christians go to worship. Traditional churches usually contain an altar and long wooden seats facing the altar called pews. The place where the priest or minister stands to talk to the people is called a pulpit. A religious ceremony that takes place in a church is called a service. (Source: MacMillian)
Paul warned the people of the danger of disputing the Scripture “Keep on telling everyone these truths. And warn them before God not to argue about words. Such arguments don’t help Anyone, and they ruin those who listen to them.” 2 Timothy 2:14 (ERV), and in Amplified Bible—”Remind the people of these facts, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good, and [upsets and undermines and] ruins [the faith of] those who listen.” 2 Timothy 2:14 (AMP)
The seventh day, Sabbath (Saturday), is the rest day for Israel, and Sunday is the first day of the week. Sunday is a day of rest in most Western countries and is observed as a day of worship, and for many believers, it is the Lord’s Day and the day of resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Monday is the first day of the week according to the international standard ISO 8601, but in other countries, Monday is the second day of the week. In most European countries, Monday was the first day of the week; this made Sunday the 7th day of the week (TimeAndDate.com)
Traditionally, Sunday is regarded as the first day of the week by both Christians and Jews. The Bible clearly states that God rested on the seventh day of Creation, which is the Sabbath, the day of rest according to the Hebrew Bible. The commandment was given to the lost sheep of Israel. In one occurrence, Jesus answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Matthew 15:24. Trust in the LORD- He sees our heart, is an all-powerful and all-knowing God, and is where we are. If you work on Mondays, the seventh day is Sunday, and when your start of work is Tuesday, your rest day is Monday. Many work shift workers, such as medical personnel, cops, and military, security personnel, to name a few. These people cannot be denied access to the Lord. His omnipresent nature made us always closer to Him.
Some countries work six days a week, and the first workday is Monday, which gives Sunday the day of rest. When you have a clean heart longing to find Him and acknowledge His existence and continue good work, He will give you rest— “Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 34-59 (Berean Study Bible).
Isaiah 41:10 says— “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you and uphold you with my righteous right hand.” These will enlighten you that wherever we are, God is with us; whatever we do, He knows it; whenever we ask, He always has an answer to it, and if we show how much we care and love Him, and yet He already loved us before we do. Everything was put together for us to understand how much we have to depend on GOD and that without Him, life is vanity.
The Church is the body of Christ, of which He is the head. Ephesians 1:22–23 says, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” The body of Christ is made up of all believers in Christ. It is either a universal or local church. It consists of people that believe that by going to Church, you may experience and develop a personal relationship with Christ and the true joy of being in one body.
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we have all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Anyone who received Christ as Lord and Savior received the Spirit of Christ and became part of the Church and through faith in Jesus Christ. God’s unmerited favor was given to those who believe—Salvation by Grace. The manifestations of God’s grace always come as a gift. Those who believe will have eternal life. John 3:16
Saturday, Sunday, or any given day is the LORD’s Day. He created it, and He owns it. He is the only one and no one else besides Him, and whosoever believes in the Son will have eternal life.
Whoever believes that the 7th day is Sunday commemorating Jesus Christ’s victory over death, so be it. And to Saturday worship believers, there should be no conflict. It is not a competition about who will win but who worships God to the fullest and shows genuine love and obedience. Do not even bring to the discussion that Sunday worship is based on the worship of the Sun. How about Saturday? Is that worshipping Saturn? Monday, is that worshipping the Moon? We have to knock it out. Make your 7th day holy to the LORD thy God. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God” – “Remember the 7th day by keeping it holy.” “Six days you shall labor and do all your work” – if you work five days a week like in some Western countries, you can have two days to worship the LORD, but God only asks for one day. The seventh day is for the LORD to worship Him, to love Him, and to obey His will is not a command. He cares for us, has a plan for us, will not forsake us, and wants us to spend eternity with Him. Just one day out of seven days. Is it that hard to do in return for His favor?
There are occurrences in that Jesus, and his disciples worked during the Sabbath. Matthew 12:10-11 Jesus healed a man whose hand was withered, and The Pharisees questioned him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Jesus responded, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? In Luke 14:5, Jesus said to them, “Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?” In Luke 13:10-17— Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on Sabbath day, and there was a woman who for eighteen years had a sickness caused by a spirit, and Jesus freed her from sickness. The synagogue official was so furious because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, and the official said to the crowd, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day. Jesus responded, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him?
The Lord cited the case where David unlawfully ate of the tabernacle showbread (Mt. 12:4; 1 Sam. 21:6). Since the Pharisees did not condemn David, whose action was unlawful.” They were hopelessly questioning the Lord’s Apostles because it did not conform to their interests or traditions. This insincerity only exposed them to nitpicking.
Christ signified that not all work on the Sabbath was guilty. In Matthew 12:3-5 “He answered, ‘Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ‘He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.’ ‘Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and any seventh day of the week is Sabbath to the LORD. The full text of the commandment reads: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. The Lord of the Sabbath said it well. In Mark 3:1-6 Jesus said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?”
Sabbath rest was never given to Anyone except the Jews at the time the Law of Moses was given. The commandments were given in detail because of the Jews’ disobedience. Let no one disqualify you. Colossians 3:16-17 is obvious: “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or about a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” Jesus Christ is our advocate that will stand as the faithful witness, the same thing when he defended his disciples from being accused of picking the head of the grain and eating on Sabbath day. He will do the same thing with us.
Friday sunset is the end of the day and the beginning of a new day, so it is Saturday as it coincides with the Gregorian calendar. The same as Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset is one day, then it is Sunday. The Sabbath continued to be observed in the early Christian Church on the seventh day. Monday is the first day of the week to some, and do not get confused, do it for the Lord. The Sabbath is for the LORD, and the seventh day is for the Lord.
There is no written observance of Christian holy days in the New Testament nor written to forbid such observance. Romans 14:5 is clear; “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his mind.” If a Christian is going to observe any holy day, be it known that God and uplifting God to the highest authorize it. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31); do the thing beneficial for your spiritual well being but be mindful that not everything is favorable (1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23).
For the followers of Jesus Christ, like his Apostles, every day should be a holy day. Every day of our lives should be holy to worship God, be obedient to His Word, and live to the wholeness of God. Though it is not written in the New Covenant, as a New Creation born from above, we are not directed for the specific holy day. Perhaps a good way to say it; “For Christians, Seven are the complete perfection of God; one whole week is seven holy days” “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1Timothy2:3-4.
LORD, please give us guidance and mindfulness of how to love and obey you. Teach us to do your will, for you are our God; may your good Spirit lead us on level ground and show us the path to righteous living; we cannot do it without you; we are nothing and helpless with all the deception and temptation in this troubled earth, you are our fortress and our only hope.
If we offend you, please forgive us, and if we offended others, please let your Spirit guide us to be in one Spirit and one mind and unite us as one Body of Christ—The Church.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.