Christian dishwasher fired by hotel because she refused to work Sundays awarded $21M

Christian dishwasher fired by hotel because she refused to work Sundays awarded $21M

https://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-dishwasher-fired-by-hotel-because-she-refused-to-work-sundays-awarded-21m.html

I find this gratifying that a court is recognizing a Christian has a right to live out his conviction. It will be interesting if subsequent rulings will uphold this one.

I know some will take issue with the refusal of working on Sunday's....but I have talked to a fair number of backsliders who attribute their employers demand they work on Sunday to their own spiritual decline.

Sandra

I work on Sundays but my Sabbath is Saturday. My employer knows I won't work Saturdays, even though it's automatic double-time.

I think it was D. L. Moody who said your Sabbath can be any day of the week. (I agree)

I know some will take issue with the refusal of working on Sunday's....but I have talked to a fair number of backsliders who attribute their employers demand they work on Sunday to their own spiritual decline.

Sandra

I do agree I need to be in the fellowship of the Church, but so for everyone I've tried has become more of a distraction in my spirit, than a help. What matters to me is, not what man thinks, it's that God knows my heart, and I'm sure one day I will be in a wonderful fellowship, where my spirit is aligned and encouraged.

Very interesting headline although from my studies of God's Word I don't personally believe in a "Sunday Christian Sabbath" being binding on Christians today (or a Saturday one).

I know many moderns give little credence to the importance of keeping the LORD's Day holy, but I beg to differ - this was something that had its origins in the creation. We have learned from experience how beneficial it is to take a reprieve from unnecessary work one day a week, using this day to focus on worship and fellowship with other Believers.

Many years ago a tornado swept through our community in the wee hours of a Sunday morning destroying a home, hog barn and other out buildings. Our brotherhood went out there as soon as it became common knowledge and the men worked to move the hogs, the women to cook for all the disaster workers. At the day's end we were tired. No one had a day of rest for two weeks and we could tell it physically. Never again unless it is a serious emergency. It ain't worth it. Then I understood why God set an example for us to take one day a week for rest. And I applaud this lady for sticking to her conviction. In a time when Christian convictions are marginalized, discounted as irrelevant, outdated, antiquated it is refreshing to read of someone who will stand up for her convictions even when it is inconvenient.

Sandra

Sadly, we can see where this is headed.

How can one worship God, and work, at the same time?

It's either work or worship.

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."

Isaiah 58:13,14

Romans 14:5

One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.

Romans 14:10

But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

-Daniel

To paraphrase Leonard Ravenhill:

"Why should your unconverted neighbor be concerned about breaking the Ten Commandments when you don't keep the Sabbath holy? You can break that one and he can break the other nine!"

Also, Leonard said one condition of revival was keeping the Sabbath (his words, not mine, and I think he knows what he is talking about).

This is one of the reason I really don't post here much anymore. I'm not on any side of this debate, and I could care less of what any pastors opinion is, I just need scripture, could we please just stick to God's Uncompromising Word on this subject, opinion is not absolute truth, I'm interested what God say's.
Thanks!

Actually, Christians who don't observe the Sabbath are not breaking it. Whether they are Jews or Gentiles, they simply are not under the Mosaic law.

The book of Galatians documents Paul’s argument regarding those who were misled into thinking they had to obey the law of Moses.

We who are Jesus' disciples are not under the law of Moses; we are under the law of Christ (1 Cor 9:21, Gal 6:2).

Those who attempt to keep the OT law and the law of Christ are adulterers (Rom 7:3-4).

That being said I do think it’s a good idea to go to church and generally take it easy on Sunday if possible but there is no condemnation on those who can’t or don’t want to.

I am not justified by keeping the law of Moses, but that does not mean I throw it away. I can't go sleep with my neighbour's wife because I am not under the law anymore.

Remember, God instituted the Sabbath at creation; He reiterated it in the Ten Commandments. Even Jesus kept the Sabbath (not the traditions of men, mind you).

Remember what Paul said in Ephesians 6:2? "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise." Imagine Paul telling people to keep one of the commandments?

And the writer to the Hebrews: "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." 10:16

Amen Daniel. This is something Christians can and should agree to disagree on without dividing over it.

A few things to add to what Todd shared.

The Sabbath was an ordinance given to the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant.

"Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”-Exodus 31:16-17

"And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”-Deuteronomy 5:15

"Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.”-Ezekiel 20:12

In the New Testament, there is no mention of any sabbath day being binding on Christians today. To the contrary, Colossians 2 tells us we are not obliged to keep any sabbath days, which would include Saturday or "Sunday Sabbaths.”

"16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”-Col. 2:16-17

As Todd shared, the sabbath was part of the Old Mosaic Covenant. The New Testament teaches us that the Old Mosaic Covenant was made obsolete with the establishment of the New Covenant in Christ. Hebrews 8:6-13 makes this very clear. I'll share verse 13 here:

"In that He says, "A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.-Heb. 8:13

A common objection to this viewpoint is, "But what about the Ten Commandments? Aren’t we still commanded to keep them? And isn’t the Sabbath a part of them? How can we tell people they are under obligation to keep the Ten Commandments while telling them they are not under obligation to keep the 4th of those Commandments?"

The Ten Commandments were a summary of the whole Mosaic Law, they were "technically” a part of that whole system of law. With the "discarding” of the Mosaic Law, the Ten Commandments were also "technically” made obsolete as being part of that whole system. I’ll try to clarify because I do believe 9 of those Commandments are still in force today, I do not advocate antinomianism (immorality or lawlessness).

But first I’ll share a New Testament passage that seems to teach that the Ten Commandments "passed away” with the establishment of the New Covenant in Christ:

"8 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.”-2 Corinthians 3:8-11

Paul says that the "ministry of death and condemnation" was "passing away." And that "ministry" was "written and engraved on stones" at mount Sinai, clearly referring to the Ten Commandments.

So how can nine of the Ten Commandments be binding today if they were all made obsolete? Because 9 of those Commandments are also part of God’s eternal, unchanging, universal Moral Law. That universal moral law is taught throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The Old Mosaic Covenant (including the Ten Commandments) also contained that universal moral law code. But the Mosaic Covenant, as a "whole system of law," was made obsolete by the New Covenant in Christ.

All the moral laws taught in the Old Covenant (including nine of the Ten Commandments) were carried over into the New Covenant. As Todd shared, God's moral law which is binding on Christians today is called "The Law of Christ.”

"To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.”-1 Corinthians 9:21

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”-Galatians 6:2

I know it can get confusing at first. What I’m proposing here is termed New Covenant Theology. Three major Theological systems are Covenant Theology, Dispensationalism, and New Covenant Theology.

All that being said, I do believe it is good for us to rest from work at least one day a week because our bodies need it to function well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43wrkiXLjPA

"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Isaiah 58:13,14

"God has hinged revival onto keeping the Sabbath."

I have a deep respect for the ministry of the late Leonard Ravenhill as I've benefited much from his writings and audio sermons. But I do believe he was wrong on this issue. I don't think we can or should expect for any preacher to have 100% perfect theology, no matter how solid he is or was.

This sabbath issue reminds me of another Old Covenant law that some Christians teach is for today, namely tithing.

"I don't think we can or should expect for any preacher to have 100% perfect theology, no matter how solid he is or was”.

I agree 100%

Also, in regard to the story in the OP, the cross this woman had to bear for staying true to her religion is decidedly gold-plated.

To reiterate my position, the Sabbath day was instituted before the Mosaic law. "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it..." Genesis 2:3

I agree that no preacher has perfect theology, but I trust Ravenhill; he saw revival, we have not. I put a lot more stock in experimental theology rather than academic theology.

Nigel-

To what "extent” do you think the Sabbath should be kept?

In other words, what should we do and not do on the Sabbath?

Nigel, Ravenhill lived in very, very different times. Read 2nd Timothy 3:1-5 as we get closer to Christ returning, we can't expect to relive the old school days, I didn't say this God did in 2nd Timothy.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”” 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

It is often pointed out by Seventh Day Adventists and others that the Sabbath was instituted at the creation of the world, before the Mosaic Covenant, according to Genesis 2:2-3. However, we do not read of Adam, Noah, Abraham or any other patriarch keeping the sabbath before the Exodus. The earliest mention of the Sabbath after Genesis 2 is in Exodus 16. We’re told there that Israel was commanded to keep the Sabbath about 2 and a half months after the Exodus.

But how can we account for the fact that Genesis says God "sanctified” the seventh day when He rested from creation?

I’ll say first that resting from work at least one day a week can be a wise and needful principle to observe due to our bodies needing some rest to function well enough and to be productive. We were not meant to be workaholics and work seven days a week with no days of rest.

Also, God’s resting on the seventh day was symbolic of a few things. Firstly, it was symbolic of the future Sabbath instituted through Moses. Secondly, it was symbolic of the future rest Israel would have from their enemies in Canaan.

"The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”-Joshua 21:44-45

Hebrews 3 and 4 mentions that "earthly” rest which many Israelites failed to enter because of their unbelief.

And thirdly, it was symbolic of the spiritual rest we experience as believers in Christ, as Jesus declared in Matthew 11:28-30,

"28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Hebrews 3 and 4 teaches that the rest God gave Israel in Canaan was symbolic of the spiritual rest we experience in Christ (see Hebrews 3:16-19 and the whole of Hebrews 4). Hebrews 4 also teaches that God’s resting on the seventh day was also symbolic of that spiritual rest in Christ and ceasing from our own works. I’ll share the pertinent portion of Hebrews 4 here:

"1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: "They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”-Hebrews 4:1-10

Oracio, thank you so much for using scripture to show your point/points, this is what we need more here everyday, more scripture, and less opinions. I know it's hard to believe, but most Pastors express a lot of opinions, just listen real carefully to any sermon, and compare the scriptures mentioned in any sermon, to the opinions, especially these days.
God Bless!

Hi Bill, thanks for the encouragement! It's a privilege to share from my studies of God's Word. God bless you too brother!

When I was young and my wife and I were newly married we both kept a Saturday Sabbath. For about the first 7 years of our marriage we didn't work on Saturday, but attended a Church and witnessed on the streets.

While I was doing this, I was in the Marine Corp. It was rare I had to break the Sabbath. The majority of the time I was in, I didn't work Saturdays but Saturday night till Thursday night. I was able to keep the Sabbath, I know the Lord made a way for my wife and I all through this.

Only occasionally on a special duty or detachment I had to work. Even then I was blessed to be able to have my Sabbath uninterrupted. You would think the Marine Corp would make this impossible, but God always made a way.

I was not seventh day Adventist, neither was my wife, we were more seventh day Pentecostals (Im sure there are a few left)

We never made it a 'law' to anyone outside of ourselves because under the new covenant Sabbath keeping is not commanded (you wont find Gentiles commanded to keep the Sabbath). Some Churches did and they judged others as inferior to them because of it. When I spoke up and said "Their righteousness is imputed, the Sabbath does not add to righteousness"...you would have thought I just introduced Baal worship into the mix.

But, I appreciate and understand those who keep a Sabbath...and I think they are better off and I was better off.

Ravenhill's quote "To paraphrase Leonard Ravenhill:

"Why should your unconverted neighbor be concerned about breaking the Ten Commandments when you don't keep the Sabbath holy? You can break that one and he can break the other nine!"

Be careful at taking these at face value... Decades past the Church considered Sunday the Christian's Sabbath and spoke of Sunday as a Sabbath. I do not ever recall Ravenhill being a sabbatarian, but I do know men like himself would rebuke for Sunday Church absence = Sabbath breaking.

I hope no one took offense to my posts, as they were not written to pass judgment on anyone. I appreciate differing viewpoints, even if I strongly disagree.

Todd, I would quote Jesus when He said "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." It's a rest day, meant to refresh a person after a hard week's work (I would burn out pretty quick if I didn't rest one day a week). I'm not going to follow a bunch of legalistic rules like the Pharisees did.

Marvin, I don't think Ravenhill would rebuke me for keeping the Sabbath on Saturday; I've heard him quote D. L. Moody and Moody advocated keeping the Sabbath on another day if you have to work Sunday.

If I could have one tenth the effectiveness Ravenhill did (or Finney, or Wesley etc.) I would consider my life a smashing success. We would do well to listen to what they had to say. Give me the old paths.

Nigel said "If I could have one tenth the effectiveness Ravenhill did (or Finney, or Wesley etc.) I would consider my life a smashing success. We would do well to listen to what they had to say".

Brother you cut yourself and the Holy Spirit that resides in you short. You don't think at some point in their young ministries Ravenhill, Finney or Wesley might have said the same as you in reference to their peers?

Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Mark 9:23 ESV And Jesus said to him, "‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Cheer up Brother! You give man to much credit, with the power that resides in you, you could make Ravenhill, Finney and Wesley look like Sunday School Teachers.

Amen Bill! Of course that goes for all of us.

Yes! of course Todd. :-)

First, I'd like to say that I am very happy for this person who no longer has to wash dishes in a restaurant. I myself did so as well. And I can't say I sang hymns in the kitchen even once. Maybe I should've. But then again, I couldn't, because I was a Christ-hating wicked criminal at that time.

Secondly, I have brothers in Christ who are dear to me on both sides of this issue. One of them will not work from sunset on Friday through sunset on Saturday. Another refuses to wash dishes on Sunday (I'm not joking), nor will they go to a restaurant on Sunday.

That said, I thought some may be interested in the following link which hits this subject head on.

https://youtu.be/AtzNcDU-h3M

I myself do not believe that either Saturday or Sunday must be kept as a Sabbath in obedience to God.

Undeniably, Friday at sunset through Saturday at sunset was the Sabbath which is mentioned in the Scriptures.

Undeniably, no man nor group of men may change that Sabbath day to Sunday.

May God give us Light. Jesus Himself is Light.

REST in PEACE.

The reality is that I have never heard anyone say how blessed they were for not keeping the LORD's Day holy. We abstain from unnecessary labor to remember Him, assemble with other Believers to encourage them. This is a formal act of honoring the LORD.

Sandra