Greetings Mindbender, and welcome to the forum!I totally agree with what you say. I think many of us do not have a high enough concept of what it means to keep the Sabbath. I have noticed that conversation before and after church services and at potluck, for example, often does not indicate that we are "remembering" the Sabbath to keep it holy, but instead we are talking about the same things that concern us during the rest of the week.
I totally agree Larry. I attend the only conservative church here in the mountains where I live. This church is at a ski resort so we get many visitors and many conference workers and "important" people because of the location of the church. The conversations right before the church service, after the church service in the sanctuary and during potluck are about skiing, working, construction work, cars, sporting activities, etc. etc. This type of conversation even comes from conference workers and pastors besides the regular members. It makes me wonder how many have read Vol. 5 Testimonies on "Behavior In The House Of God." Often I hear... "As long as the person means well, or has good intentions, that is all that matters." One person went on to say that there is a story about a man who worked on the Sabbath doing plumbing. A job in which he performed during the other 6 days of the week. As long as his heart or intent was good, God would accept his working on the Sabbath because he was trying to witness to those while working. So to them, if I was to work at a gas station, factory or grocery store on the Sabbath, I am ok then if my intentions are good.....I am hearing quite a bit of this type of talk lately. As long as your own intentions are good, God will accept those good intentions. It amazes me how intentions now play the deciding factor in many peoples lives instead of obedience to God and what God asks us to do. There is a difference in "my best intentions in what I think" compared to "doing my best in what God thinks" and has asked me specifically to do. My best intentions might go against what God wants, and what pleases Him. It should be, what can I do to the best of my God given ability in honoring and glorifying Him in what He has asked me to do according to Scriptures.
Arnie, your description (apt, by the way) made me think of an old saying that shows the very fallacy of the idea that God accepts anything, as long as the intentions are good. Interesting that even the secular world sees the problem!"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
I was wondering if one or more of our forum search hounds could help me find a SOP quote. I thought I had it saved but cannot find it and do not recall where iin the the SOP we are told that those doctors and nurses that must necessarily work on Sabbath give the money earned during Sabbath hours to the church.I appreciate any help.
Physicians need to cultivate a spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice. It may be necessary to devote even the hours of the holy Sabbath to the relief of suffering humanity. But the fee for such labor should be put into the treasury of the Lord, to be used for the worthy poor, who need medical skill but cannot afford to pay for it.--Health, Philanthropic, and Medical Missionary Work, page 42. {MM 216.2}
It's interesting to note that God Himself testified that in keeping the Sabbath, Israel (and us) was to be reminded that it is God Who sanctifies us and makes us holy. In other words, rather than being a legalistic relic of the Old Covenant, the Sabbath, properly understood and observed, is a safeguard against legalism.
