Preview of suggested preface for SDA Sabbath Observance guideline

[current occupant]

Following is a partial text for a suggested new preface to the SDA Guideline for Sabbath Observance  that should soon be released.

1) The choice between days for one’s personal day of worship is one of the tragic dilemmas of human fallenness. The Church should offer gracious support to those who personally face the decision concerning such a quandary. Attitudes of condemnation are inappropriate in those who have accepted the gospel. Christians are commissioned to become a loving, caring community of faith that assists those in crisis as alternatives are considered.


2) The Church does not serve as conscience for individuals; however, it should provide moral guidance.  Failure to observe Saturday, Sabbath, by worship and rest on that day is not condoned by the Church.  The believer, at times however, may face exceptional circumstances due to job requirements. The final decision whether to worship and/or rest on Saturday should be made by the believer after appropriate consultation. They should be aided in their decision by accurate information, biblical principles, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, these decisions are best made within the context of healthy family relationships.


3) Christians acknowledge as first and foremost their accountability to God. They seek balance between the exercise of individual liberty and their accountability to the faith community and the larger society and its laws. They make their choices according to scripture and the laws of God rather than the norms of society. Therefore, any attempts to coerce a member or potential member, either to keep the 7th day or any other day should be rejected as infringements of personal freedom.


4) Church institutions should be provided with guidelines for developing their own institutional policies in harmony with this statement. Persons having a religious or ethical objection to observing a definite day of rest should not be pressured to participate and attend services.


Adding the above text to this guideline would be a definite improvement.

Whatchya’ll think?

[current occupant]

What?? No comments from the SDA forum members?

I would think that they would jump at the chance to approve a more relaxed day of rest under the Law of Moses.

Now that people have read this first post, I should tell you all that if an SDA supports their denominations abortion guideline then they should also support this addition to the Sabbath observance guideline because the 4 points in the OP are taken right from the abortion guide. 

If the abortion guideline makes sense as instruction on partial observance of the 6th commandment then the suggested changes to the Sabbath observance guide make sense as additional instruction on observing the 4th.

Let’s look at them.

1) The choice between days for one’s personal day of worship is one of the tragic dilemmas of human fallenness. The Church should offer gracious support to those who personally face the decision concerning such a quandary. Attitudes of condemnation are inappropriate in those who have accepted the gospel. Christians are commissioned to become a loving, caring community of faith that assists those in crisis as alternatives are considered.


2) Abortion is one of the tragic dilemmas of human fallenness. The Church should offer gracious support to those who personally face the decision concerning an abortion. Attitudes of condemnation are inappropriate in those who have accepted the gospel. Christians are commissioned to become a loving, caring community of faith that assists those in crisis as alternatives are considered.

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2) The Church does not serve as conscience for individuals; however, it should provide moral guidance.  Failure to observe Saturday, Sabbath, by worship and rest on that day is not condoned by the Church.  The believer, at times however, may face exceptional circumstances due to job requirements. The final decision whether to worship and/or rest on Saturday should be made by the believer after appropriate consultation. They should be aided in their decision by accurate information, biblical principles, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, these decisions are best made within the context of healthy family relationships.

4) The Church does not serve as conscience for individuals; however, it should provide moral guidance. Abortions for reasons of birth control, gender selection, or convenience are not condoned by the Church. Women, at times however, may face exceptional circumstances that present serious moral or medical dilemmas, such as significant threats to the pregnant woman's life, serious jeopardy to her health, severe congenital defects carefully diagnosed in the fetus, and pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. The final decision whether to terminate the pregnancy or not should be made by the pregnant woman after appropriate consultation. She should be aided in her decision by accurate information, biblical principles, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, these decisions are best made within the context of healthy family relationships.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


3) Christians acknowledge as first and foremost their accountability to God. They seek balance between the exercise of individual liberty and their accountability to the faith community and the larger society and its laws. They make their choices according to scripture and the laws of God rather than the norms of society. Therefore, any attempts to coerce a member or potential member, either to keep the 7th day or any other day should be rejected as infringements of personal freedom.

5) Christians acknowledge as first and foremost their accountability to God. They seek balance between the exercise of individual liberty and their accountability to the faith community and the larger society and its laws. They make their choices according to scripture and the laws of God rather than the norms of society. Therefore, any attempts to coerce women either to remain pregnant or to terminate pregnancy should be rejected as infringements of personal freedom.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


4) Church institutions should be provided with guidelines for developing their own institutional policies in harmony with this statement. Persons having a religious or ethical objection to observing a definite day of rest should not be pressured to participate and attend services.

6) Church institutions should be provided with guidelines for developing their own institutional policies in harmony with this statement. Persons having a religious or ethical objection to abortion should not be required to participate in the performance of abortions.