Jesus said
"The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath"
Mark 2 v 27
London Theological Seminary Visit
Colin D Jones
On December 13th 2012 I had the great privilege of visiting the London Theological Seminary in Finchley North London. DayOne had been invited to deliver a guest lecture on the subject of the “Sabbath and Lord’s Day”.
After sharing lunch with the student body, I was given a very generous two hours, to firstly make a brief presentation on the work of DayOne and then deliver the lecture. I have a well-used PowerPoint presentation outlining the work in all its aspects: advocacy; publications; prison work; children’s and youth etc. this was followed by an open question time. Some students were aware of the publications work but very few of the full range of our activities. This led to some excellent conversations.
In the lecture I sought to deal with the main issues from both a Biblical and theological perspective ending with some social and pastoral concerns arising from the current neglect of the Lord’s Day.
· The Sabbath as a Creation ordinance.
· The Sabbath in the Old Testament.
· Jesus and the Sabbath Day under which heading I quoted this perceptive passage from Robert Candlish written in 1865
“For my part, I am altogether at a loss to imagine how Christ,— I say not as a divine teacher, but simply as a fair teacher,—could so often discuss points of debate about the manner of keeping the Sabbath, without uttering so much as a single word to indicate that, in his kingdom, the very bone of contention itself—the institution to which the controversy related—was to be materially modified at least, if not to be taken bodily out of the way. If a change of that sort had really been in contemplation, I cannot conceive how He who is “the faithful witness,” could say so much about the Sabbath and the way of keeping it, without the shadow of a warning that, under his reign, the Sabbath is to cease, or its character is to be changed.[1]
· Paul and the Sabbath
· The future Sabbath rest of Hebrews
The lecture was deliberately interactive and as one might imagine there were some difference of opinion and debate on the interpretation of Scripture, nevertheless, it was a very welcome opportunity to expose a group of men headed for ministry to what I passionately believe to be doctrine of not only great theological importance but of great pastoral relevance. Finally I was able to leave them with detailed notes of the lecture, and a pack each outlining the work of DayOne as well as a copy of Iain D Campbell’s book “On the First Day of the Week: God, the Christian and the Sabbath”
Colin D Jones
London Theological Seminary Website
[1] Rob. S. Candlish, Man’s Right to the Sabbath: The Sabbath Made for Man; The Son of Man Lord of It; A Sermon (Edinburgh; London: Johnstone & Hunter; Nisbet & Co.; Groombridge & Sons, 1856), 10.