SDA
Conference Says Sunday Keeping SDA Churches
“No Big Deal!”
“Sunday is a child
of the Papacy, exalted by the Christian world above the sacred day of God’s
rest. In no case are God’s people to pay it homage.” {Mar 178.5}
“Sunday
is a child of the papacy, exalted by the Christian world above the sacred day
of God’s rest. In no
case are God’s people to pay it homage.” {Lt132-1902.12}
“Men in responsible
positions will not only ignore and despise the Sabbath themselves, but from the
sacred desk, will urge upon the people the observance of the first day of the
week, pleading tradition and custom in behalf of this man-made institution.
They will point to calamities on land and sea—to the storms of wind, the
floods, the earthquakes, the destruction by fire—as judgments indicating God’s
displeasure because Sunday is not sacredly observed. These calamities will
increase more and more, one disaster will follow close upon the heels of another;
and those who make void the law of God will point to the few who are keeping
the Sabbath of the fourth commandment as the ones who are bringing wrath upon
the world. This falsehood is Satan’s device that he may ensnare the unwary.”
{ST January 17, 1884, par. 12}
“The Sunday idol is
set up as was this image. Human laws demand that it be worshiped as sacred and
holy, thus putting it where God’s holy Sabbath should be. Men speak great
swelling words, and exalt their power, placing themselves where God should be.
Sitting in the temple of God, they strive to make themselves as God, showing
themselves to be God. When Pilate said of Christ, “I find no fault in Him,” the
priests and elders declared, “We have a law, and by our law He ought to die.”
{12MR 219.2}
How can we present the solemnity and sacredness of
the Sabbath, while we are keeping Sunday sacred as well.
'Sunday can be used for carrying
forward various lines of work that will accomplish much for the Lord. On this
day open-air and cottage
meetings can be held.....Whenever it is
possible, let religious services be held on Sunday. Make these meetings
intensely interesting. Sing genuine revival hymns, and
speak with power and assurance of the Savior's love." 9T, page 233.
Open air and cottage meetings
suggest Evangelistic meetings not the sacred service of the Sabbath, for if
this is done, it surely detracts from the sanctity of the hallowed and Holy Seventh
ady Sabbath
“The Lord has a controversy with his professed people in these last days. In
this controversy men in responsible positions will take a course directly
opposite to that pursued by Nehemiah. They will not only ignore and despise the
Sabbath themselves, but they will try to keep it from others by burying it
beneath the rubbish of custom and tradition. In churches and in large
gatherings in the open air, ministers will urge upon the people the necessity
of keeping the first day of the week. There are calamities on sea and
land: and these calamities will increase, one disaster following close upon
another; and the little band of conscientious Sabbath-keepers will be pointed out
as the ones who are bringing the wrath of God upon the world by their disregard
of Sunday.” {RH March 18, 1884, par. 8}
“The law for the observance of the first day of the
week is the production of an apostate Christendom. Sunday is a child of the
papacy, exalted by the Christian world above the sacred day of God’s rest. In no case are God’s people to
pay it homage. But I wish them to understand that they are not doing
God’s will by braving opposition when He wishes them to avoid it. Thus they create prejudice so bitter that it is impossible
for the truth to be proclaimed. Make no demonstrations on Sunday in defiance of
law. If this is done in one place, and you are humiliated, the same thing will
be done in another place. We can use Sunday as a day on which to carry forward
work that will tell on the side of Christ. We are to do our best, working with
all meekness and lowliness.” {Lt132-1902.12}
“You understand that the Sunday has no foundation as a sacred institution,
and you have no respect for the first day of the week, and in refusing to obey the Sabbath you dishonor
God before all the worlds—unfallen—which He has created. You dishonor
Him before the heavenly universe, and before the world that is in open
violation of His commandments. Every
Sabbath transgressed is giving to the world your influence on the enemies side
of the question.” {Lt72-1893.9}
“Sabbath day what a burden was upon my soul for the
[Brown] family! We had services. I spoke most earnestly from (Isaiah 58),
bringing out the Sabbath question, dwelling upon (verses 12-14) and on Exodus
31:12, 17. I presented the foundation of the Sunday—its being converted by the Roman power into a sacred
day, and how nearly all
Christendom had turned from the holy commandment, the fourth precept of the
Decalogue—the day upon which the Lord rested, the day He sanctified as the day
of His rest. He instituted the seventh day as the Sabbath, the memorial of
creation, that the Lord God should ever be reverenced and worshiped on the
seventh day and no servile work should be done therein.” {Ms59-1893.19}
“No haphazard advice should come from the lips of
any ambassador of Christ. He should fear the Lord and have his words in
accordance with the will and ways of God. This is a time for much praying and
less talking. This subject is not a matter to which to give an off-hand assent
or dissent. It is wonderful, sacred, solemn ground on which we stand and we cannot move recklessly without dishonoring God
and ruining souls. All the universe of heaven is astir, looking to us to see
what course we will pursue in this matter. While all Sabbathkeepers
are anxious and troubled, seeking to penetrate the mysteries of the future, and
to learn all they can in regard to the correct
position they shall take, be
careful that they are advised correctly in regard to Sunday observance.
Action cannot be taken in regard to this matter here,
and our people of all classes of minds and of varied temperaments should treat
it wisely. There will ever be danger of going to extremes. Christ says, “Ye are
My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:14). Then to your
knees in prayer, have far less of self and depend wholly on the counsel of God.
Then, if all would be under the control of the Spirit of God there would be
nothing to fear, for all would adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour.” {1888
475.1}
“Sunday is generally made a day of feasting and
pleasure-seeking; but the Lord would have His people give the world a higher,
holier example. Upon the Sabbath there should be a solemn dedication of the
family to God. The commandment includes all within our gates; all the inmates
of our house are to lay aside their worldly business and employ the sacred
hours in devotion. Let all unite to honor God upon His holy day.” {Ms3-1885.15}
“These principles are made known by the third
angel’s message, which declares that the Creator had always required and always
will require obedience to His royal law. But this law has been disregarded and transgressed, and is now being ignored by the churches.
Human enactments are placed where God’s law should be. Sunday, a child of the Papacy, has taken the place
where God’s law should be. Sunday, a child of the papacy, has taken the place
of God’s holy Sabbath. As Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image, and set it
up to be worshiped by all, so Sunday is placed before the people to be regarded
as sacred. This day
bears not a vestige of sanctity, yet it is held up to be honored by all.”
{Ms88-1897.19}