Posted: Fri May 21, 2004 12:49 pm Post subject: Sabbath "etiquette"!
I need some advice! I am a new Sabbath Keeper (only been around for a year!)
A college friend and I have a bail bonding/process serving business. Besides ourselves, we employee a few private contractors when we need some extra help and on the Saturday and Sunday. We've had this business since my pre-Sabbath keeping days and I adore it.
My partner (friend) does not keep the Sabbath and that is Okay with me. We were friends first and we each are entitled to our own beliefs. He works on Saturday. I keep the Sabbath on Saturday. I make up for not working on the Sabbath in other ways.
I was just wondering though, what do you all think about that? Is that wrong for me to allow my partner in crime <grin> and hired contractors (not employees) to work on the Sabbath? Is that violating the Sabbath?
I love this business and can't fathom quitting. But above all, I want to do what is right with The Lord.
"But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates." (Exodus 20:10)
Do you interpret that as if NO one within my control should be allowed to work.
Menservants and maidservants are slaves (Exodus 21:26-27) and I'm sure are comparable in rank to low-level employees (Revelation 18:13). They have Sabbath rights and shouldn't be working on the Lord's seventh day. Many believe that the Lord's commandment doesn't apply to non-Israelites but it certainly does if they are on your property.
Quote:
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, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 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 NIV.
I wish I knew how to answer your very interesting questions.
1. Is there a difference between an independent contractor and a manservant or maidservant?
My initial thought is not always but that it's possible for a Sabbath-keeping businessman to cooperate with non-Israeli and Sunday-keeping independent contractors to keep a secular business running 24x7.
2. Should a Sabbath-keeping entrepreneur exercise his ownership rights and dissolve a mutually beneficial company to keep non-Israeli and Sunday-keeping independent contractors from working on Saturdays?
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 3:29 pm Post subject: Keeping the Sabbath
Well, Sabbath Seven
You quoted it yourself, "neither the stranger that is w/in thy gates", also remember "can two walk together except they be agreed," and if one is not walking in the light with you, I believe we are admonished not to have fellowship with them, and wouldn't that also include being in business.
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 5:24 pm Post subject: Being unequally yoked
Hi reasons?,
I believe that you're not reasoning correctly from the Scriptures. The Bible says, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18). "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7).
It is true that there are cautions for believers to observe. "I do not want you to have fellowship with demons (1 Corinthians 10:20); "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:11). Another is, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14).
I suppose you think that being in business with the United States government is being unequally yoked? Is it wrong, then, to pay taxes and receive State and Federal protections and benefits? Obviously not! Are Christians permitted to work for non-Christians? See Luke 3:12-14. Being unequally yoked must refer to ill-advised spiritual unions such as Christians marrying unbelievers and the practice of tolerating, sanctioning and even approving of open sins by professing Christians within one's own church.
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:47 am Post subject: Sabbath Etiquette
Hi Eugene
No, I do not think it's wrong to work for a non-Christian, unless of course they are requiring you to work on the Sabbath Day, which day we are commanded to keep holy and all those within our household. Could not household be interpreted as any area that a believer may have influence over. Faith does not stop at the threshold door.
With the Sabbath being the distinctive, (and most controversial) characteristic of the Adventist msg, how can one witness in favor of it, and then violate it by one's lifestyle or for economic reasons.
Is it wrong to receive benefits/money from the government, or work for a non-believer. Now you know the answer to that, 'render unto Caesar...and the things of GOD to God.
Thanks,
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