Compromising a Commandment?

Home
Free Resources
The Sabbath Blog

It’s the Sabbath—and 12-year-old Jacob has a school baseball game scheduled.

Should he skip the game, completely drop out of the league, or be flexible and attend? In a Deseret News article titled, “Observing the Sabbath takes teamwork for this faithful Little league player,” writer Kelsey Dallas explains how this New York boy “loves his sport and his Jewish faith, but being committed to both requires an unusual compromise.”

Since motorized travel is forbidden in his Jewish community, Jacob walks three miles to his game. The boy’s classmates offer to bring his gear and will even walk beside him. The writer then explains, “His story is a bright spot in what's becoming a contentious debate over the appropriate balance between Sabbath observance and youth sports.” But is compromising God’s law the answer?

The article discusses the challenges that Sunday pastors have with members who opt for sports instead of attending church. It also mentions how some parents hold to their beliefs and either have kids drop out of sports or simply don’t attend on the Sabbath. Sometimes that works for the coach and team, and sometimes it doesn’t.

Others argue that in today’s marketplace, you just have to make adjustments. “When trying to make Sabbath observance work in a modern world, compromise is key,” said Mark Fowler, deputy chief executive officer of Tanenbaum. “The employee can make a request and the employer, looking at the reality of the amount of work, schedule challenges and who can step-in, can counteroffer,” he noted.

But doesn't compromising the Sabbath in this way make the fourth commandment more like an optional “holiday” rather than a sacred “holy day”? For instance, would we make the same trade-off with any other commandment? Is there a time when murder and lying are justified? Would sleeping with your neighbor’s wife “just once” be admissible—or is worshiping other gods once in a while okay?

For those who suggest that of all God’s commandments, the Sabbath is one that can be adjusted, perhaps we should remember Jesus’ words: “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below ...

When God Said Remember

What is a Black Sabbath?

Why don't more people keep the Sabbath if its so important?

Can’t we keep holy any day of the week?

Comments

When you post, you agree to the terms and conditions of our comments policy. Click here to read it.

If you have a Bible question for Pastor Doug Batchelor or the Amazing Facts Bible answer team, please submit it by clicking here. Due to staff size, we are unable to answer Bible questions posted in the comments.

To help maintain a Christian environment, we closely moderate all comments.

Please be patient. We strive to approve comments the day they are made, but please allow at least 24 hours for your comment to appear. Comments made on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday may not be approved until the following Monday.

Comments that include name-calling, profanity, harassment, ridicule, etc. will be automatically deleted and the invitation to participate revoked.

Comments containing URLs outside the family of Amazing Facts websites will not be approved.

Comments containing telephone numbers or email addresses will not be approved.

Comments off topic may be deleted.

Please do not comment in languages other than English.

Please note: Approved comments do not constitute an endorsement by the ministry of Amazing Facts or by Pastor Doug Batchelor. This website allows dissenting comments and beliefs, but our comment sections are not a forum for ongoing debate.

Articles

What other denominations say about the Sabbath

Related Articles

Comments

Articles

What other denominations ...

What day is the Sabbath day?

Creation and the Seventh ...

Early Christians Kept Sunday ...

A Professional Soccer Player ...