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Few Biblical
doctrines have been under a constant crossfire of
controversy during Christian history as has the Sabbath. A
bibliographic survey indicates that since the
sixteenth-century Reformation, over 2000 books, besides
countless articles, have been published on this subject.
In recent times,
the controversy has been rekindled by at least three
significant developments: (1) Numerous doctoral
dissertations and articles have been written by Sunday
keeping scholars who argue for the abrogation of the Sabbath
in the New Testament and for the apostolic origin of Sunday.
(2) The abandonment of the Sabbath promoted by former
Sabbatarian organizations like the Worldwide Church of God
and other independent congregations. These former
Sabbatarian Christians who in the past championed the
observance of the Sabbath, now reject the day as a Mosaic,
Old Covenant ordinance, no longer binding upon "New
Covenant" Christians. (3) The newly released Pastoral Letter
Dies Domini of Pope John Paul II that calls for a
revival of Sunday observance.
Dies Domini
is a historical
document of enormous significance because the Pope grounds
the moral obligation of Sunday observance in the Sabbath
Commandment itself, by making Sunday the embodiment and
"full expression" of the Sabbath. By making Sunday
observance a moral imperative rooted in the Decalogue, the
Pope calls upon all Christians to "strive to ensure that
civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy."
In The
Sabbath Under Crossfire, Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi
examines the recent attacks against the Sabbath within the
larger historical context of the origin and development of
the anti-Sabbath theology. An understanding of how the
abrogation view of the Sabbath began and developed through
the centuries, is essential for comprehending why the
Sabbath is still under crossfire today.
The book
analyzes in a systematic way the most common arguments used
to negate the continuity and validity of the Sabbath for
today. With compelling Biblical reasoning, it unmasks the
fallacies of the attempts made to reduce the Sabbath to a
Mosaic institution, fulfilled by Christ and condemned by
Paul.
The final
chapter, "Rediscovering the Sabbath," offers an informative
update on the rediscovery of the Sabbath by numerous
religious groups, scholars, and church leaders. Most
important of all, this book will enrich your understanding
of how the Sabbath can enable you to experience the
Savior’s presence, peace, and rest in your life. |
