Why do SDAs make such a big deal about Sabbath?

I think these are very interesting and useful questions. Given my lack of mental stamina at the moment, I'm only going to comment on two of your related questions. My comment is really just a clarification question: Does your friend view SDAs as building walls because of some personal experience with SDAS and their "holier than thou" attitudes? Or does he view SDAs that way simply because they are choosing to do something different than the norm? These two situations are very different in my opinion. I am not comfortable with SDA church members making other Christians feel like lower life forms. Neither do I deem it exactly openminded to view SDAs as separatists simply because they are choosing to worship on a different day.

Hey, Christina, I was reading the newspaper a couple of days ago when a paid advertisement caught my eye. It was one of those containing simply verbage, no pictures, just blah. Well, I wouldn't have read it except that my eye caught the word "Sabbath." Hmmm...It started out harmless enough, a children's moral tale of some kind. The end was the turn off. The author, who did put his name, said that if you would like to hear more such stories go to your local SDA church on SABBATh, the seventh day of the week. He then went on to say exactly why this was the right day and how everyone else was keeping the wrong day. Gag me. I was embarressed. For once, I didn't think it wrong for the church to be so protective of its name. I wished that the conference could sue him for using its name without their permission. Not a very Christ-like response on my part, I know. But that kind of diatribe is so counter-productive, not to mention just plain wrong. Anyways...I thought it was a good case in point for your question.

Holier-than-thou goes both ways.  Perhaps your friend thinks Sunday-keepers are better because they don't question tradition.  Isn't it to be the goal of all Jesus's followers to serve Him with their best?  Isn't it naive to think that we can't grow in this experience?  We don't have to be the same to appreciate and love one another.  We all have something to contribute.

Something in the 3rd set of points jumped out at me.  "Shouldn't we as a Christian community be seeking to 'be one' as Christ prayed for us?" Does 'seeking' to be one mean conforming to something we don't agree with to appease those around us rather than being more considerate of what the Spirit has impressed on us? Paul speaks of being considerate of those of stronger or weaker faith than we have as an avenue toward that being one but for some reason a lot of the deciples got killed. Is there a way a Sabbath observer can follow their beliefs without assaulting others? (Speculation-The news paper article was a case of some one using God as an excuse to attack others to boost their own ego.)  It seems misguided. I also notice that SDAs is a VERY broad catagory to find myself in. People have varying views apart from what ever affiliations they may have. I think that a persons relationship with the lover of their soul will be the determining factor in their salvation. What does that relationship inspire you to do? Take time on the weekly anniversery of the completion of creation to spend time with the Creator like He asked? That is on the individual as much as bringing home roses to your( well not you, me if I was married)wife would be. What would happen if  we did step away from the legalistic tilt and put all of the things we do for religous reasons in a relationship context. Can we have differences and still "be one". Should we "be one" as christians or "be one" with Christ?

I have been thinking about this post for a while.  I am not sure that I know really how to answer, but I thought perhaps since it has been burdening my heart I should attempt. 

I think that there is a difference between God's ideal and our attempts at honoring God's law and commands.  As Christians we are to be surrendered to God and His Word.  I have been convicted again recently about the dangers in compromising conviction.  There seems to be a pattern in scripture about compromise with conviction that leads to very dangerous ground.  Pilot came to a place where he was convinced that Christ was God's Son but compromised to appease the crowd.  Balaam knew, Saul knew, Annanias and Saphira knew, Aaron before he made the golden calf knew.  I mention this because Seventh-day Adventist's usually have chosen to be SDA because of conviction.  I believe that conviction is from God and it is a major way that God reveals His will to us.  I am going to use a different example than the Sabbath issue for a moment.  I believe God leads us individually, as we study God's Word, pray and submit to follow what He reveals.  I am responsible for following what God has revealed to me.  There is freedom in obedience.  I have a student at my school who became convicted that her involvement in sports was interrupting her relationship with Christ.  She was one of the top athletes at our school.  She received alot of negative feedback for her decision not to participate this year in the sports' program.  She has chosen to follow her conviction inspite of the negative feedback.  She was told by leaders of the school that she was able to lead within the sports' program.  It appears that she is separating herself from what the established community has sanctioned as okay.  This may cause others to feel that she is judging them, not because she is judging them, but because she is choosing to do something different.  She is not standing up in front of the assembly telling everyone else they need to quit sports.  She is just answering questions as people come to her.  She was present at the the school's major football tournament, not speaking out against sports, just supporting her class.  Now I believe this is a good example of following conviction. Yet, the analogy breaks down because sports are not directly sanctioned or condemned in scripture, but the Bible Sabbath is directly addressed in Scripture.

Seventh-day Adventists need to follow their convictions. Yet, when the established Christian community is knowingly or unknowingly doing things that are specifically addressed in scripture, perhaps there is a greater need for action.  In the new testament Jesus makes reference to the second coming and says why do you say to me Lord, Lord but do not do the things I say. 

In both the old and new testament there is a rebuke against teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.  If the Sabbath is given to us by our Lord, and if we as Christians are to take our orders from His Word, then I think it is very important that we do what He says.  Perhaps we live in a time that knows very little of what it is to be mastered and under Lordship.  The new covenant that we find ourselves under is not the doing away of the law, but the Spirit writing the law in our hearts and causing us to desire, to will and to do of His good pleasure.  We as Christians do not have to answer to other Christians.  We have to answer to God.  I am all for unity.  But we must unite in Christ.  We must seek to love in truth.

Christians are seeking to follow Christ and His example.  However, there is much in Christianity in America that claims Christ but knows very little of submission, surrender, and discipleship.  It is my understanding that we are to stand apart and be different from the world.  We cannot be joined to Christ and the world.  If what claims to be Christianity is no longer set apart, than we must choose be united to the world or be united with Christ. If Christianity no longer takes its marching orders from the Word of God, but tradition or dictates of the authorities within the Church, than if we follow this Christianity we will be compromising with what the Bible has clearly outlined.  While we are not saved by our obedience all who are saved will be in a state of choosing obedience.  We are not saved in rebellion.  God's Spirit works in us the works of godliness.  The works of godliness will not be in contradiction to His Word, His revealed will or His law which is a revelation of His Character.  We cannot be united in Christ if we are uniting in error because Jesus is the Truth.

Having said all that, I believe that Seventh-day Adventists need to be careful to not separate the doctrines from the Christ.  Doctrines are important in that they reveal who we worship. If we are no longer seeing the teachings of the Bible as a revelation of God and who He is we are in danger of legalism.  1st John says that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.  It seems that the danger of false doctrines is that they reveal a false picture of God.  A picture that is a God of darkness or mixed light and dark.  1. They misrepresent God and could potentially cause people to reject God based upon things that are not true about Him. 2. They prepare people to think that the anit-Christ is Christ causing people to follow one who is not God instead of God.  This is the condemnation of the 2nd angel's message.  Babylon has made the nations drunk, drunk people lose their discernment for truth and error. Her fornication, (spiritual fornication is spiritual adultery, which is idolatry) has caused the worship of false gods.  This is a Biblical theme, the skewing of God's image that causes mankind to worship a false god or reject the true.  It leads to calling evil good and good evil.  When we separate the teachings in the Bible from Jesus it makes the teachings pointless.  It might lead to a happier life, maybe (or more stressful if you are trying to obey apart from the One who gives you power and desire to obey).  Yet the teachings apart from Christ are empty.  After all we must receive a love of the Truth. (2 thes. 2:10).  It is hard to fall in love with Truth ( I am the Way the Truth and the Life) when it is being taught as head knowledge doctrine and not as our loving breathing saving Friend.

In closing I am going to mention one concept that seems to have disappeared from most church experiences.  It used to be that love was expected to warn.  When one saw another in danger it was acceptable to go to that person in love and warn them that the path they were on was leading to something bad.  Today we do not want accountability.  God forbid that we call sin sin because we might offend someone.  We want people to be comfortable.  Someone coming to another in the church because of concern for their well being will often be met with an attitude of anger.  It is no longer common to have believers confessing sins and looking for accountability within the body.  We do not share our struggles and true needs are often unknown.  Pride keeps us apart.  It is seen as meddling to warn another.  It is not our place.  Yet the attitude is the attitude of Cain, "am I my brother's keeper?"  Yet we are a body.  If one part is diseased it will affect the whole.  A little leaven (sin) leavens the whole lump.  A little compromise leads to spiritual disease.  God forbid we, for the sake of people's comfort, do not point out error.  If I am worshipping another god, following another gospel, please love me enough to make me uncomfortable.  Do not let me die unwarned or the fate of the watchman (see Ezk.  33:1-7 *vs.6) will be yours and I will be lost. God forbid we shrink back from our duty.

a fellow soldier of the cross,

Kristen Hoover

Hey Christina,

That got super long.  I am sorry.  Hope it wasn't too preachy.  I got carried away.  Forgive me:) 

a fellow soldier of the cross,

Kristen Hoover