I received another question from a reader of the blog. This question was regarding Sunday or Saturday worship. The question also shows how anti-catholicism is alive and well.
Here is the question from Derek:
I had a local Adventist Doctor show me a film full of anti-Catholic sentiment. It explored past Church abuses and showed a film of Pope John Paul the whole time. They are certain that the Pope is the anti-Christ, the Catholic Church is the whore of Babylon, and that worship on Sunday constitutes no less than the Mark of the Beast. I realize these are old gripes, but I was very distressed with what I consider bigotry coming from a health care professional. They tell me that the Catholic Church changed the day of the Sabbath from Saturday. Can you please explain this to me and why don’t we all go back if that is the true day of Sabbath?
Here is my response:
Derek,
Did the doctor give you the film in his office while on business? This seems very unprofessional. I would consider another doctor if this is the case. If the doctor gave me the tape I would kindly give him some Catholic material out of gratitude!:-)
There are several Bible passages that show a change from Saturday or the Seventh Day worship to Sunday worship in the Bible. I will list some of these, but I would also like to quote some early Church writings that show clearly that the change to Sunday worship came early in the Church.
Acts 20:7 shows us that the “Lord’s Day was being celebrated on the first day of the week or Sunday early on in the Church.
7: On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 continues the idea that worship had been moved from the seventh day to the “Lord’s Day”.
1: Now concerning the contribution for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2: On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that contributions need not be made when I come.
Revelation 1:10 speaks of the Lord’s day:
10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
Colossians 2:16-17 strongly points to the sabbath as a foreshadowing of the Lord’s day.
16: Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. 17: These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Now I want to look at a couple early church writings that point to the fact that the Lord’s day took the place of Saturday worship. The first writing I want to look at is from the Didache. The Didache is an first century writing. It is one of the oldest non Biblical Christian writings.
On the Lord’s Day of the Lord gather together, break bread and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure.(The Faith of the Early Fathers:Volume 1:pg 4)
Ignatius of Antioch writing in the second century in his letter to the Magnesians writes:
If, then, those who walked in ancient customs came to a new hope, no longer sabbathing but living the Lord’s Day, on which we came to life through Him and through His death. (Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 1 pg:19)
The Lord’s day has replaced the sabbath, as the Lord’s day is on the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This practice was not started by Constantine. This practice was started in Biblical times and we see witness to it in the writings of the early church Fathers. There are many other examples that I could point to. I always recommend catholic.com if you want more information on these subjects.
Would you rather take the opinion of people writing in the first centuries over those who came up with new “traditions” in the last couple of hundred years? I know who I would look to!
God Bless,
Chris
Great apologetics Chris! (both posts)
Glory to Christ and His Church!
Thanks Tim
nativity scenes…
yes thank you…
Greetings,
I have been studying several christian religions…. I did a study regarding the Sabbath day. When you state that they worshipped on the “Lord’s Day” suggesting it is Sunday, you have to know that Jesus said he was” Lord of the Sabbath. Also, the women who came to annoint Jesus at his tomb waited until the Sabbath was over before they came to their Lord&Savior. Genesis tells us (long before the 10 commandment’s were given) that God sanctified the 7th day and hallowed it…meaning God made it Holy. Then God wrote it with His finger onto stone tablet’s again (the 4th commandment…Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy. Then we see that many times in the New Testament it states that “as it was their custom….they reasoned with the people every sabbath. Jesus said pray that your flight may not be on the Sabbath or in the winter. Isaiah states that we will come to worship God from Sabbath to Sabbath in the new Jerusalem. Also, in Revelation it say’s that the preservation of the saint’s will be that they keep the commandment’s and their testimony of Jesus. So what do you think about this? I would like a reply if you can. Thanks. Sincerely, Lori
The way I understand it, that the Sabbath was not a comandment in the New Testament, ie Serman on the Mount in Matthew and that everyday we are to honor our Lord. That does not mean we don’t hold to traditions of the church in which the apostle Paul speaKs of. What do you think?
Lori and Mark,
Thanks for the comments.
Lori,
The Bible and the Early Church Fathers clearly show that the day of worship was moved to the first day or Sunday to commerate the resurrection of Jesus. We clearly get the idea that the sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath in the New Testament.
It is very striking that Paul indicates that the sabbath was a foreshadowing of things to come. That foreshadowing was Jesus’s fullfillment of the old testament in his resurrection. This all makes perfect sense when you take into account the worship now occuring on the Lord’s day or the first day which is Sunday.
We clearly have first and early second century eyewitnesses of the Apostles that give witness to the change in Ignatius and the Didache. The evidence clearly shows a change was made by the early Christians with the authority that they were given by Jesus Christ. This evidence shows what the Lord’s Day referred to. The Bible speaks of these practices occuring on the first day.
Paul clearly says that they gather to break bread on the first day of the week. The Didache says that they break bread on the Lord’s day. You can put two and two together that this refers to the First day which is the Lord’s day.
Ignatius clearly indicates that they do not sabbath but rather celebrate on the Lords day.
I take these eyewitness accounts and the Tradition of the Church over modern revisionist’s versions as proof of what the Lord’s day referred to.
God Bless,
Chris
Thank you for your answer…I am on a journey….I don’t want to believe any thing false about God. Thanks again, Lori
Lori,
No problem. I hope this was helpful for you on your journey.
God bless,
Chris