My Mother
For years, even in childhood, my mother was convinced that we were all going to hell because we did not honor the Sabbath on Saturday. For over a year now, I have been trying to convince her that since Christ rose on Sunday, the apostles and early Christians met on Sunday to honor that. Much like unclean meat and circumcision, the Sabbath day was washed in Christ’s blood and we were free to do what we needed to do on Saturday, and worship God when we wanted, honoring Him always, not just setting aside one day to worship Him, but essentially keeping all days holy. Ok, so maybe my interpetation was not quite right, either, but that is the beauty of learning and studying God’s Word. He teaches you.
Yesterday, while talking to my mom she read to me a scripture that really popped in her mind.
Colossians 2:16-17 (NLT): 16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
Being led to do more research when I got home, I read it in the Living Bible. You remember that one, right? Well, I do not open mine very often, because in my mind it is more of a commentary, since it was translated by one man, but this is not about translations, it is about these verses. Anyway here is how the Living Bible reads:
Colossians 2:16-17 (TLB):
16 So don’t let anyone criticize you for what you eat or drink, of for not celebrating Jewish holidays and feasts or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
17 For these were only temporary rules that ended when Christ came. They were only shadows of the real thing — of Christ Himself.
Other versions say the same thing, but this spells it out, in such plain English. My mom was almost in tears. She was so happy to learn the Truth, and to be honest, I am too. We are not sinning by going to church on Sunday. We sin when we let the “laws of religion” interfere with with Blood of the Lamb.
