"Remember the Sabbath..."

A couple of interesting posts about the Sabbath appeared on my feed this morning, neither of them arguing for its observance on the seventh day.

Jimmy Akin, a Catholic, provides his answer to "Did the Catholic Church "Change the Sabbath"?"

First, let's clear away a potential source of confusion. While it's true that people sometimes speak of Sunday as "the Christian sabbath," this is a loose way of speaking. Strictly speaking, the sabbath is the day it always was--Saturday--though it should be noted that traditionally Jewish people have celebrated the sabbath from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. Sunday is a distinct day, which follows the sabbath. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains:

2175 Sunday is expressly distinguished from the sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the sabbath. In Christ's Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish sabbath and announces man's eternal rest in God. For worship under the Law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ. [more]

And Ray Ortlund, who is affiliated with The Gospel Coalition and with Acts 29, asks "Is the Sabbath still relevant?"

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8

Let’s not dictate Sabbath observance today. The point of the Sabbath is a dress rehearsal for a future eternity of glad rest in God. So, for now, every one of us can work out the details personally. But in our frantic modern world, the Sabbath offers wisdom that has lasted since the beginning (Genesis 2:2-3). It is not written on our calendars as much as we are built into its calendar. It seems to be part of the God-created rhythm for weekly human flourishing.

If we did set apart one day each week for rejuvenation in God, we would immediately add to every year over seven weeks of vacation. And not for doing nothing but for worship, for friends, for mercy, for an afternoon nap, for reading and thinking, for lingering around the dinner table and sharing good jokes and tender words and personal prayers. .... [more]

Did the Catholic Church "Change the Sabbath"? |Blogs | NCRegister.com, Is the Sabbath still relevant? – Ray Ortlund