Teaching on the Sabbath: A Reflection
I retired two years ago after nearly 40 years of pastoral ministry. I spent nearly 38 years of that ministry at a Presbyterian Church in America congregation in Connecticut (USA).
I look back fondly on those years. I grew to dearly love that flock and was glad to preach, teach and counsel them in God’s Word. By God’s grace in the hearts of His people, my ministry was well received and much appreciated. I can only give thanks to our God and, in a derivative way, to the congregation.
It would be embarrassing for me to reflect on how my ministry was fruitful. I can speak to a way in which it was less fruitful than I would like.
Specifically, I am disappointed that I was unable to guide my flock into a more joyful embrace of the uniqueness of the Lord’s Day.
I wrote this article in response to an interaction I had with Josh Rieger. He posted a quote from Ian Hamilton who said “Teach people to love the Sabbath not by preaching on it. People will only delight in the Sabbath when they delight in the God of the Sabbath.” I responded to Josh that I wish I had been better at that. He suggested I might write up some reflections.
The God of the Sabbath
I see the Lord’s Day as a great gift of rest and worship to the people of God. I have often said that one reason we see so much burn out and spiritual exhaustion these days is that we do not keep the Sabbath holy. I stand by this conviction.
Furthermore, I see an assault on the Lord’s Day as one of the world’s attacks on the Lord and His people. You probably know what I mean. Sunday sport, both professional and for youth, draw many away. Sunday shopping and popular entertainments are very convenient. A corporate world demands 24/7 service of some employees.
And while we may have a degree of righteous anger about this, a pastor’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.
Too often, I think I was angry or peevish about this. “Some of you are no different from your neighbors in your approach to the Lord’s Day”, I chided from the pulpit. This observation was true in many ways, but I may have been too negative. “If the football coach wants Sunday practice just say, ‘No’”. No. No. No. Was I approaching the issue moralistically rather than communicating the Gospel? I found that people didn’t really warm to that message. Looking back, perhaps I don’t blame them.
It is complicated by the fact that most ministers in my communion take exception to the Westminster Standards on the Sabbath. It is very common for men to say that they are not opposed to recreations on the Sabbath. Therefore I came across as a dinosaur from outer space. Yes, it would fuel my irritation to be told that Pastor so and so is fine with Lord’s Day recreations.
What might I do differently? I would continue to affirm the goodness of Sabbath as a Creation ordinance and a good gift of the Creator. I would continue to clarify the ongoing need for Sabbath keeping since “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.”
However, I would tone down the negative statements. I would preach the Gospel and God’s moral commandments. I would seek to wait upon the Lord for His gracious work in establishing the beauty and rest of the Lord’s Day both in their hearts and in my own.
Brad Evans served as the minister of the Presbyterian Church in Coventry, Connecticut (PCA) for 38 years until his retirement in 2018.
