Friday, 9 March 2012
Common Ground - European Bishops call for Sunday as a day of rest
Here is an example of where common ground can do good. Most of us live in jurisdictions that no longer honour the Sabbath. Wide open Sunday shopping is carried on without a thought. And we should admit that this came about because of "us" and not "them". Yes, and even "traditional" Catholics wink at this reality. The stores would be closed if no one shopped. Perhaps it is time for an alliance for Sunday to come to Canada?
5 comments:
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Au Contraire,this European Sunday Alliance is a modern example of when common ground is as bad as when the saducees, pharisees, Romans et al classically teamed-up to crucify the Sabbath-creating-keeping-and-prophesying Jesus who was their common enemy midst their divergent/antithetical ideologies.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm a Musketeer whose father was killed, but my Name is Ryan O'Neil Seaton (October 24th 1975....), and I was Christened in the Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church in Jamaica when I was Seven Years Old , yet I would never choose to be a Roman Catholic, however I think their right to worship Sundays should be respected WITHOUT the need for imposition/encroachment via legislation in the Spirit of "Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you" lest the Seventh-Day Sabbath become the sole option for everyone in light of Catholic Irony : 2172 God's action is the model for human action. If God "rested and was refreshed" on the [*]seventh day[*],man too ought to "rest" and should let others, especially the poor, "be refreshed".96 The sabbath brings everyday work to a halt and provides a respite. It is a day of protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money.97 [96 Ex 31:17; cf. 23:12; 97 Cf. Neh 13:15-22; 2 Chr 36:21. -- http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a3.htm . One of two places where the world "protest" appears in your catechism. ]
For this reason I have a facebook group (and page ) called "Optional Sundays ( www.facebook.com/groups/optional/ cf www.bitly.com/bundles/rye/7 ) where I would invite you to share your "enlightening" views.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI would suggest that you re-read Pope John Pauls' letter Dies Domini. It provides a great overview of Sunday from Apostolic times.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_05071998_dies-domini_en.html
Barona,
ReplyDeleteHaving read Dies Domini when if first came out in 1998 and also being a Christian Seventh-day Adventist Advocate who has read and complied our commentary on it here (http://bitly.com/bundles/rye/e ), I still conclude that it is based on faulty premises.
"Though this document has enormous historical significance because it addresses the critical problem of Sunday profanation at the threshold of the Great Jubilee Year (2000)," wrote Samuele Bacchiocchi " it is flawed, both theologically and politically." -- http://www.libertymagazine.org/index.php?id=393 ( beyond the late adventist Bacchiochi and his gold medal from the Pope before JPII,and beyond his record as the only protestant to enter and study at the Prestigious Pontifical Gegorian University in Rome (summa cum laude, with imprimatur on his dissertation defended in Rome), and beyond his videos on youtube--"My Search for the Sabbath at a Vatican University"-- and beyond his works in general, see "The Biblical Sabbath: The Adventist Perspective Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, Adventist-Catholic Conversation Geneve, Switzerland May, 2002, which carries more weight/authority on behalf of the Adventist church.
Consequently I see much of the churches history as documented apostasy and feel it a travesty of justice for this Dies Domini to have influenced the Sunday Shopping Ban Catholics imposed in Croatia in 2009 IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION where approx 3000 SME's were closed and about as many Jobs lost . Thankfully the Supreme Court stepped in and lifted the Ban. God's supreme Court is watching over the affairs of men because " Saying with a loud voice...the hour of his judgment is come" (Revelation 14:6-7) and when those seven-with-a-purpose-last-plagues fall, none shall stand but those who in the truth: " Here is the patience of the Saints : here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12)
Dies Domini makes tragic reference to "the difference of Sunday from the Jewish Sabbath" (Section 23a). To those of you who think so, I hope you dream of that lamb in Rev 5:1,6 with his seven eyes, seven horns etc and recognize the piercing sword of truth in Hebrews 4:4,9,10-12.
ReplyDelete"" -- The Sabbath precedes , includes and transcends the jews.Ryan O'Neil Seaton
"How odd of God/To choose the Jews" -- William Norman Ewer
"But not so odd As those who choose / A Jewish God Yet spurn [HIS Sabbath and] the Jews -- Cecil Brown
"How strange of manTo change the plan" Annoynmous .
Replying to Ernle Gordon
Saturday, May 04, 2002
Dear Editor,
In the least, Revd Ernle Gordon's article "Theology, sabbath and flexi-work week" in the Observer of April 20 can be compared to disheartening cornmeal, filled with so much weevil! Observe one of the weevils: Why is this clergyman still referring to the Seventh-day Bible Sabbath as a "Jewish phenomenon"? The following poem It's Jewish might be prescribed for his poetic injustice:
1 When we present God's holy law,
And arguments from scripture draw;
Objectors say, to pick a flaw, "It's Jewish".
2 Though at the first the Jesus blessed
And sanctified HIS day of rest;
The same belief is still expressed -- "It's Jewish".
3 Though with the world this rest began,
And thence through all the scriptures ran,
And Jesus said 'twas made for man -- "It's Jewish".
4 Though not with Jewish rites, which passed,
But with the moral law 'twas classed
Which must endure while time shall last -- "It's Jewish".
5 If from the Bible we present
The Sabbath's meaning and intent,
This answers every argument.
It's Jewish".
6 Though the disciples, Luke and Paul,
Continue still this rest to call
The "Sabbath day" this answers all -- "It's Jewish."
7 The gospel teachers' plain expression,
That "sin is [Not was]of the law transgression",
Seems not to make the least impression -- "It's Jewish."
[contd]....
8 They love the rest of man's invention,
ReplyDeleteBut if Jesus's day we mention,
This puts an end to all contention -- "It's Jewish."
9 O ye who thus God's day abuse,
Simply because 'twas kept by Jews,
The Saviour, too, you must refuse -
He's Jewish.
10 The Scriptures, then, we may expect
For the same reason you'll reject;
For it is you will but recollect,
They're Jewish.
11 Thus the apostles, too, must fall;
For Andrew, Peter, James, and Paul,
And Thomas, Matthew, John, and all
Were Jewish.
12 So to your helpless state resign,
Yourself in wretchedness to pine,
Salvation surely you'll decline.
13 But when old Earth shall pass away,
And be renewed the Sabbath day
Honoured by all -- one then will say,
"It's Jewish."
14 And while Eternity's glad days
Roll on and on with ceaseless rays,
The theme will be Jehovah's praise,
And that in universal laws -- Not Jewish.
-- R F Cottrell, a Seventh Day Adventist pioneer.
This literay work exudes some type of poetic justice. However, in the final analysis, if one has a passion for eschatology -- the study of end-time events, the doctrine of last things -- as I do, then there will be no such thing as "Flexible work arrangements), no flexible commerce for Sabbath-keepers, as Sunday-keeping will eventually be enforced with draconian zeal.
Suffice it to close here in two points :
1 Note the fact that the Greek word for "war" used in Revelation 12:7 and verse 17 is "polemos /polemon" from where we derive our cognate English word "polemic" -- a theological dispute/debate especially over some [longstanding ] "controverted" point.
2 In keeping with the literary theme, let me conclude with the seven final beatitudes in Revelation (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; 14) which are respectively "blessed" words of challenge, comfort, caution, calling, conquest, cherishing and ultimately conformity :"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Ryan O'Neil Seaton
Kingston 8 -- https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150102884376801
See Samuele Bacchiochi-Sabbath Enrichment Seminar 1/3-"My search for the Sabbath at Vatican University" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVIsblJGmzg