In many books on Spiritual Disciplines, keeping the Sabbath is listed as a spiritual practice. In some Christian traditions, it's still a commandment.
Once when facilitating a session on Sabbath-keeping, I received a lot of "push-back" from some of the students referring to Hebrews 4: 9, "There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God." Because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, we don't have to "keep the Sabbath holy."
However, what if Sabbath-keeping is a good idea? And what would that look like?
Why would Sabbath-keeping be a good idea?
I think many with a secular mindset use Sundays as a day off. Some might bike ride, watch football games, and do no work. For a believer, what would a day different from the rest of the week look like?
Some might see church as a way of making the day different. I think that is a reasonable. What other things could we cut out that would give us a unique, even restful day? How about not using the computer for work or catching up on emails?
There are some excellent books, written in the last twenty-five years about Sabbath-keeping. The first one I read was Keep the Sabbath Wholly, by Marva Dawn. One of the main themes is that when we choose not to accomplish task after task related to our "work," on a Sabbath day, whatever that might be, we are kind of saying, "I am not so indispensable that I cannot take time off from work." I pondered that thought. Being a person who thrives on accomplishing tasks, checking off items on my do-list, giving up a day of "work" feels unnerving. I do not think of what I do as so important but I do like to finish things and get things done.
What would a Sabbath day look like? I think this would vary widely. For some it might mean going to church, sitting in worship and listening to biblical teaching, connecting with friends. For another, that might seem like "work" on some Sundays or might even be "work" for a pastor or person on a church staff.
For a person energized by people, Sabbath-keeping might be having coffee with a friend and talking about vacation plans or something life-giving. For a person who is exhausted by people, Sabbath-keeping might be a day alone, reading and resting.
How about gardening? I am refreshed as I garden but then I am also accomplishing tasks......
How a person makes that one day unique might also change at different times of life. I think of my adult children who are now caring for babies and toddlers. How do parents of young children or even teens practice Sabbath? I would suggest that Sabbath-keeping would be minimal in terms of requirement and maximum on simplicity and refreshment. Taking a nap might be the most "holy" practice for young parents.
Simply, a Sabbath day would be a day different from the rest of the week where the focus is God. When I write "focus on God," I mean everything about God that includes creation, the beauty of the world, Jesus Christ, God's Word. The list could go on and on. Some might find thinking on deep theological issues refreshing on the Sabbath, reading the Bible or a good book that is focused on God.
I thought about Sabbath when I visited Miami Beach last year. On Friday night, I watched groups of Orthodox Jews walk to the synagogue. Some of the men wore the traditional hats (two different kinds actually) and the women wore head coverings and long skirts. No one drove in a car. I wondered if "less Orthodox" Jews wore more contemporary dress during the other 6 days then wore more traditional outfits and did not drive on the Sabbath. Senator Joseph Lieberman wrote a short book on the Sabbath and he wrote how he would not drive or even be in a car after sunset on a Friday night if he had to work late at the Capital. He walked to the synagogue then home along the streets in Washington DC.
For me, including a Sabbath day takes planning. Jews actually do just that, they plan. Starting on Wednesday that week, the faithful begin to plan their work so that they will be finished for the Sabbath.
What is important is finding that balance of truly making the day unique, spending time thinking about God, thinking about things that truly matter and not becoming burdened with self-imposed obligations that result in restlessness, worry and tension. We who believe in Christ and what He did for us have this wonderful freedom in how we live. I wonder how the Orthodox Jews with their clothing requirements and knowing their strict regulations, feel as they fulfill the regulations of their Sabbath. Do they find this a burden or a joy? Possibly the structure they have kept for centuries is attractive and might be life-giving and refreshing.
One wonders too, "What might God think about all this? Does He care?" Is He delighted that we might take time out of the madness of our culture to think of Him, make a day different from the rest and possibly feel more encouraged with the coming week? I write all this because people describe their lives as harried, busy, overwhelming, hectic, exhausting. We cannot be going on vacation all the time and often our vacations are harried and hectic. So maybe God's commandment He gave Moses is ultimately for our health and well-being.
