Why do 'Protestants' worship on Sunday?

[Christian]

Nowhere within the New Testament do you find mention of the Sabbath being changed from Saturday to Sunday

Not even the Catholic Church would try to reason from the scriptures as to why they keep Sunday holy instead of Saturday. In fact if they were to do so they would contradict their own Catechism which states that the change from Saturday to Sunday is their mark of authority.

"We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemity from Saturday to Sunday."
Peter Geiermann, The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (1946 ed.), p.50

So why then do 'Protestants' keep sunday, if they are truly Protestant

[Granny5]

I don't know what difference it makes.

[Wintermute]

I don't know what difference it makes.

I'm with you granny, if indeed god is universal. Sunday is only Sunday on earth. Other planets have competely different periods of revolutons--a day could be 9 hours while a month could be 1000 earth days. If it exists, I doubt it cares what cycle earthlings decide to worship it on. Then again, I could be wrong.

[Virgil]

I think Sunday was chosen as the new sabbath day because Christ rose from the dead on the third day, which was Sunday. Any Christian should know that.

[bazarov]

I think Sunday was chosen as the new sabbath day because Christ rose from the dead on the third day, which was Sunday. Any Christian should know that.

Exactly. And also I hope you know that Saturday in Jewish calendar is Sunday in western Gregorian calendar.

[ampoule]

Though Sunday is the traditional time, Protestants worship any day of the week.

[Granny5]

I think Sunday was chosen as the new sabbath day because Christ rose from the dead on the third day, which was Sunday. Any Christian should know that.

I've never been good at test. I still don't think it makes a hill of beans worth of difference. We could decide to hold church services Tuesday afternoon and it would be the same. Christ practiced miracles on the Sabbath, he didn't keep ti holy in the traditional sense it had been kept. It's what is in ones heart that makes a difference.

[Niamh]

I think Sunday was chosen as the new sabbath day because Christ rose from the dead on the third day, which was Sunday. Any Christian should know that.

Bang on Virg!

[Virgil]

I've never been good at test. I still don't think it makes a hill of beans worth of difference. We could decide to hold church services Tuesday afternoon and it would be the same. Christ practiced miracles on the Sabbath, he didn't keep ti holy in the traditional sense it had been kept. It's what is in ones heart that makes a difference.

I don't think it matters either, but one of the ten commandments is to keep the sabbath and I guess we need to pick a day.

[Wintermute]

Exactly. And also I hope you know that Saturday in Jewish calendar is Sunday in western Gregorian calendar.

So, did the universe start on a Saturday? Anyone? Am I the only on that is striken by the absurdity of this thread? Sheesh, hehe.

[dzebra]

In Acts 2:46, the Christians were meeting together every day. Granted, this was the time of Pentecost, when people already had some days off, but they treated every day as a day of worship, rather than just one day.
Likewise, when Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman (in John 4), he told her that it doesn't matter where you worship, that the thing that matters is worshiping in spirit and in truth.

Acts 20:7 is an example of an instance when the apostles gathered together on a first day. John 20:19 and 1 Cor. 16:2 allude to the same thing. This makes me think that meeting on the first day of the week isn't bad.

In Mark 2, Jesus declares that the Sabbath was made for men, not men for the Sabbath. Therefore, we shouldn't let a certain day of the week stop us from doing something we need or from something we should do. To me, that sounds like Jesus just wants us to take it easy every now and then.

Also, worship of God is done by loving and obeying his commands, which can be done at any time.

[Mortis Anarchy]

Time back in those days could have been counted differently than today...obviously(I'm thinking as I type...so that was directed towards me:) ) Anyways, so I guess the universe could have been created on a saturday...beats me. And I agree, it doesn't even really matter which day any religion practices their worship...or whatever.

I know that at my Church, there is pretty much mass almost everyday...not completely the same as it is on Sundays...I'm Catholic by the way...

[Virgil]

So, did the universe start on a Saturday? Anyone? Am I the only on that is striken by the absurdity of this thread? Sheesh, hehe.

If you find other people's religions absurd, why do you insist on poking at it? No one is asking you to convert. Or are you just trying to start trouble?

[motherhubbard]

We could decide to hold church services Tuesday afternoon and it would be the same. Christ practiced miracles on the Sabbath, he didn't keep ti holy in the traditional sense it had been kept. It's what is in ones heart that makes a difference.

I suppose we could do what ever we wanted and it would be all the same to us, but not all the same as the Bible, and since that is where christians get the information about when and how to worship it's probably a good idea to go with that. Christ preforming miracles on the Sabbath was not in violation of God's law- but of mans. He asked if it was wrong to do good on the Sabbith and it was not.


In Acts 2:46, the Christians were meeting together every day. Granted, this was the time of Pentecost, when people already had some days off, but they treated every day as a day of worship, rather than just one day.
Likewise, when Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman (in John 4), he told her that it doesn't matter where you worship, that the thing that matters is worshiping in spirit and in truth.

Acts 20:7 is an example of an instance when the apostles gathered together on a first day. John 20:19 and 1 Cor. 16:2 allude to the same thing. This makes me think that meeting on the first day of the week isn't bad.

In Mark 2, Jesus declares that the Sabbath was made for men, not men for the Sabbath. Therefore, we shouldn't let a certain day of the week stop us from doing something we need or from something we should do. To me, that sounds like Jesus just wants us to take it easy every now and then.

Also, worship of God is done by loving and obeying his commands, which can be done at any time.

this is actually just what I was going to say :thumbs_up

[AdoreroDio]

Who said the first day was Sunday? Or Saturday? Who said the third day was Sunday? The bible never says anyways the words Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday or Saturday that I am aware of, it's all guess work. All I know is we should worship God everday regardless what you call the day and it just happens we gather once a week on certain days to worship together, but that it really makes no difference. I worship the same on Sunday as I would on Saturday or Thursday for that matter.

[bazarov]

From Genesis,2


1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [a] from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Seventh day in Jewish week calendar is Sabbath, in Gregorian is Sunday so thats the only reason.

[Niamh]

If you find other people's religions absurd, why do you insist on poking at it? No one is asking you to convert. Or are you just trying to start trouble?

No virg they are not trying to start trouble, they are merely making a point which they are intitled to make.:)

[Granny5]

I think that if it made a real difference what day worship was held on, then the Bible would be very clear about when that day was. There would be no doubt left about it. I mean, it's very clear that we shouldn't worship false idols or kill others or commit adultery, so if it were that important, it would be spelled out in a way that leaves no doubt. Otherwise, I think it's just a matter of tradition and what works for that church. I don't know that being a good Christian or Jew or any religion believer is a matter of attending church on any given day, it's a matter of how one lives their life and treats others and whether your love for God is consistent with what you are told in your Holy Book.

[Virgil]

No virg they are not trying to start trouble, they are merely making a point which they are intitled to make.:)

Niamh these are the words he used in post #10:

So, did the universe start on a Saturday? Anyone? Am I the only on that is striken by the absurdity of this thread? Sheesh, hehe.
He's not just making a point, he's calling a religious practice "absurd: and then he's laughing at it: "Sheesh, hehe". I'm not Protestant, but I might be offended by his gratuitous ridicule. Plus I've seen some of his other posts on religious matters and he brings a derogatory tone most of the time.

[Wintermute]

If you find other people's religions absurd, why do you insist on poking at it? No one is asking you to convert. Or are you just trying to start trouble?

Hi Virgil,

If I have offended I apologize. Being agnostic, it is definately not my intent to judge anyone's religion. If voicing my thoughts is not wanted I will certainly refrain from doing so. I, like many, find discussions about the universe and what's going on in it to be wonderful and fun.

Once again, I think this particular thread is kind of silly. That in no way is meant to imply that anyone's religion is silly. If anything, I'm envious of folks that have faith.

Doug

[Wintermute]

Niamh these are the words he used in post #10:

He's not just making a point, he's calling a religious practice "absurd: and then he's laughing at it: "Sheesh, hehe". I'm not Protestant, but I might be offended by his gratuitous ridicule. Plus I've seen some of his other posts on religious matters and he brings a derogatory tone most of the time.

Honestly, I really had no intention of ridiculing anyone. However, I don't want to be the cause of anquish on a board that I find interesting and fun. I'll stop posting. And once again, my apologies to anyone who feels I've been derogatory.

[Virgil]

No voicing your thoughts is fine and appropriate, smirking at other people's customs and religions may be offensive. You come across as ridiculing people's beliefs. I don't think that's the intent of these religious threads. There are plenty of atheists and agnostic threads to voice your ideas.

[Pendragon]

We would have to agree that the Sabbath is Saturday, because the Bible records they had to speed up the crucifixions when Christ was crucified lest they defile their Sabbath. So they broke the thieves' legs, but Christ had already expired.

A Jewish day is begins at sundown. Christ died on Friday, and rose early on the first day of the week, Sunday.

Protestants worship when they will, I grew up on Twice on Sunday and Wednesday night, many weekend revivals, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and week long ones as well.

What is the point you are trying to make? Jesus said to worship God in Spirit and in Truth, no day given. He said there remains a rest (the actual meaning of Sabbath) for the people of God, and we are to enter into His rest.

God Bless

Pen

[Niamh]

Virgil, i read that post and am aware of what it says, but i think you have some what over reacted and that was the point i was trying to make. Maybe if i had said in my original post that he is merely stating that the thread is absurd and not the religion it would have been clearer. And as i said, they are intitled to post their opinion on the matter, as they arent breaking any of the forum rules by doing so.:)
After all it is a thread asking why "protestants" worship on a sunday. They are not the only ones that do. Catholics do too. I think the thread should be "why do christians worship on a sunday".
And no one is insulting anyones religion or causing offence. (and hopefully it will stay that way!:p )

[Petrarch's Love]

As to the OP, Virg. and Pen are right that the reason all Christians celebrate the sabbath on Sunday is that it was the day Christ rose again. Christ was supposed to have died at the start of what we now think of as the Jewish sabbath (for Christ it was just the sabbath), which begins on Friday at sundown and lasts through Saturday sunset. Since we know He then rose on the third day, that would make resurrection day the day after the end of the sabbath. Since sabbath on our calender is traditionally Saturday, that makes the resurrection Sunday, and Christians decided to move their celebrations to commemorate the resurrection (why Saturday was the day chosen for shabbat on our calendar, I don't know). This is the source for the Catholic Church's decision quoted by the O.P.

As for Wintermute's post, I agree with Niamh, Virg. I didn't read his post as saying that religion is absurd. I thought he was just saying that the question itself is absurd. The post could easily be interpreted to mean that it is absurd to be talking about something as small as a question about days of the week when there are much bigger religious questions to be addressed. Frankly I myself thought both the placing of "protestants" in quotes (is this suggesting real protestants don't celebrate on Sunday?) and the suggestion of the OP that the reason Christians celebrate sabbath on Sunday is because the Catholic Church was on a random power trip were a bit absurd (though only in the sense of being mis-informed--I'm sure the OP meant no offense). Perhaps I am missing something that's been going on in another thread though?

[Pendragon]

I'm going to have to agree that the question actually is moot, from a Biblical standpoint:

Colossians:2

[16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

That's as about as black and white as you can make it. I didn't say it, I quoted it from Paul's writings to the Colossians.

That was KJV. Diaglott: (closer to Vatican Manuscript) Let no one therefore rule you in Food, or in Drink, or in respect of a Festival, or of a New Moon, or of Sabbaths.

[hellsapoppin]

See also Romans 14:5,

One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be persuaded in his own mind.

[Pendragon]

See also Romans 14:5,

One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be persuaded in his own mind.

Excellent. Thanks, Popeye!

God Bless

Pen

[Christian]

I'm sorry I have not been able to post for some time as many assignments have been due

I'll just try and answer as many posts as I can

There have been some posts which quote paul concerning feast days and sabbath days. Granted if one takes this verse alone it would appear to contradict, but really it does not. There were two sets of laws given at Mount Sinai, the Ten Commandments which were placed within the Ark of the Covenant and Law of Ceremonies which were placed beside the Ark. Everything within the ceremonies and temple structure pointed to Jesus Christ as it's ultimate fulfilment just as John said 'behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world' the lamb was the sacrifice of the temple and Jesus was this sacrifice. The Law of Ceremonies regulated these sacrifices and when Paul speaks of the Law being done away in Christ it is this Law which met it's final fulfillment.

The Ten Commandments however were not and are still valid and it is within them that we find the fourth commandment to say 'keep the seventh day holy'

The statement made that the Jewish Sabbath is our Sunday is rediculous, you had better go tell the Jewish nation then for they keep the Gregorian Saturday and our therefore transgressing the law they claim to follow.

No change of calender can ever disrupt the weekly cycle, you simply have more or less days within a month but still the cycle of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 remains unaltered regardless.

If one were to look in a dictionary you would find that Saturday is the seventh day of the week, universally acknowledged.

What I said was the reason 'Protestants' keep Sunday is because the Catholic Church changed the day, as it did and freely acknowledges it, this is the reason why the day was changed. Sorry I can understand that this was a bit equivocal saying 'the reason protestants keep', it could be interpreted as where it originated from or the reason they give now. What is meant is where it originated. Incidentally the change is a fulfillment of prophecy 'and he shall think to change times and laws' speaking of the Catholic Church

The point being that the change does not originate with scripture, simply because it wasn't changed. God speaks of the Sabbath as his 'perpetual covenant' it would be rather foolish if it was then changed.

And please don't speak of their coming together to break bread and this is the sign of a change of sabbath. This cannot be proven from the text, and it is the text(with context) that has the final authority.

The point is that Law of God is still valid that states that we must 'remember the sabbath day and keep it holy' and that we are not because the prophecied Antichrist changed the day to his own. (See post: Antichrist)

[Christian]

Just one more point :)

I would say that the fact that Jesus after saying 'it is finished', referring to his work, his sacrifice, did then die before the Sabbath started and rested through the entire Sabbath being fully capable to rise on any day speaks louder of his keeping the Sabbath day in his death than his creating a new one at his resurrection. The notion that we can just create our own Sabbath in contradiction to the Bible is not a sound one, if your religion is based upon the Bible.

[Thinkerr]

I would argue that it is not a matter of reality, just expediency. Jews had the Sabbath on Saturday. Christian believers in the early church wanted to go to synagogue, on Saturday, and church, on Sunday. Originaly the church was not at odds with the Jews, but the fufilment of the Jewish faith.

[Virgil]

I would argue that it is not a matter of reality, just expediency. Jews had the Sabbath on Saturday. Christian believers in the early church wanted to go to synagogue, on Saturday, and church, on Sunday. Originaly the church was not at odds with the Jews, but the fufilment of the Jewish faith.

Interesting. I had never heard that the early Christians also were attending synagogue on Saturday. How out of curiosity is that documented?

[Thinkerr]

Read through the New Testament. Even Jesus attended synagogue, to teach.
Paul mentions it many times throughout his letters.

[Virgil]

Read through the New Testament. Even Jesus attended synagogue, to teach.
Paul mentions it many times throughout his letters.

Well, Jesus was Jewish. Christianity can't possibly start until at a minimum the Ressurection. I will check Paul's letters, thanks.

[Christian]

Thinkerr: Where in the Bible do you see the early church going to church on Sunday?

[Christian]

Virgil: Judaism at it's core is Christianity the teachings of Christ were to direct their minds to his being the fulfilment of their scriptures and his apostles using the Jewish scripture showed how he was that fulfilment. It was their prime concern. All their feast days their sanctuary laws, customs their writing of histories and the writing of the prophets pointed directly to Christ

Let me take one of their festivals for example: The Passover

On the 10th day of the first month they were to separate a firstborn lamb that had no blemish(this being an important point, no blemish)

Then on the 14th day they were to kill and eat it in the evening

So there was a period of 3 and a half days between separating a killing

Jesus' ministry from when he was baptised to when he was crucified was 3 and half years

He was killed in the evening, he was without blemish

and remember the cry of John the Baptist 'behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world'

Their culture and religion reflects Christianity and compliments it so astoundingly and so logically that upon studying you have little choice but to admit it's grandeur and hopefully to accept him as your saviour

[Pendragon]

Just a note here, that there are those outside of the Catholic Church who keep church on Saturday, not Sunday, The Seventh Day Adventist. I have no arguments with them on the subject of when they worship, as you say, Saturday is manifestly the Sabbath day.

Christ did want us to show for His Death until he comes: as He said at the last supper, which is why we take communion, so I see no reason not to honor His resurrection, for Paul said if He did not rise our hope is vain. But fighting over the worship of God becomes foolish, Jesus himself told His disciples, "He that is not against us is for us."

I couldn't say when the change from Saturday to Sunday was made, but I know the Bible says not to judge observance of holy days.

Try this link, and see what you get from it. Maybe I don't quite get it:

http://www.biblehistory.com/The%20Origin%20of%20Sunday%20Worship.html

[weepingforloman]

Nowhere within the New Testament do you find mention of the Sabbath being changed from Saturday to Sunday

Not even the Catholic Church would try to reason from the scriptures as to why they keep Sunday holy instead of Saturday. In fact if they were to do so they would contradict their own Catechism which states that the change from Saturday to Sunday is their mark of authority.

"We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemity from Saturday to Sunday."
Peter Geiermann, The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (1946 ed.), p.50

So why then do 'Protestants' keep sunday, if they are truly Protestant
Because it is the Resurrection Day.

[Granny5]

I'll tell you all the truth about the Sunday worship thing. We are all so busy with getting ready to go out and party and doing the actual partying that we have to put off worship until Sunday.

[hellsapoppin]

``I know the Bible says not to judge observance of holy days.``


And the key is that it is not the strict letter of the law that matters most as it did under Mosaic law. Under Messianic law it is the spirit of the law that is paramount as it gives liberty: II Cor 3:6-17.

Therefore, spiritual flexibility is allowed in the New Testament so that no one is to judge anyone else for their choices in religious observations.