Bishop Aaron Hooper of St. Luke Church of Opportunity in Morganton, North Carolina, had a problem: The Bible, he discovered, didn’t support a longtime practice of his congregation, namely, going to church on Sunday.
The News Herald reported that the issue was brought up by Russell Corpening, Sr., the church’s trustee chairman, during a weekly Wednesday night Bible study. Hooper, who was also present at the study, stated that its attendees had been raised in different Christian denominations and had all been taught to attend church on Sunday because that was the day of Jesus’ resurrection. There was only one major problem: The Bible says otherwise.
Bible Evidence Plain
The church proceeded to review God’s Ten Commandments, the fourth of which in Exodus 20 plainly states:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (vv. 8–11)
As they continued to study the Scriptures, the evidence became too clear for them to deny. “Nowhere is it recorded in Scripture that God said, ‘Go to church on Sunday,’” Hooper concluded. “Understanding that the God-given time of public convocation is Sabbath (as stated in) Leviticus 23:3, and that both Jesus and his disciples observed the holy Sabbath, (as stated in) Mark 1:21, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:16, Mark 2:27, Luke 6:6, Acts 13:14, Acts 18:4, Acts 20:7, we were moved to do the same.”
The 26-year-old church has now begun to experience the joys of keeping the Bible Sabbath. As Hooper explained, “During the Sabbath service, one can expect spiritual renewal. Praise, worship, word and rest are the key things that I’ve heard from Sabbath attendees. We’ve seen souls saved, heard testimonies of deliverance and had great fellowship. I’ve come to find myself leaving service anticipating the next one. Sabbath observance gives us time to break and enjoy what we have until sundown. We enjoy God and our family for the full Sabbath.”
Every indication suggests that Bishop Hooper and the St. Luke Church will continue to grow in their observance and understanding of the Bible Sabbath. Though not yet attached to a Sabbath-keeping denomination—a choice that remains with the congregation—they are reaping the benefits of following what the Bible says.
God’s “Stop Sign”
If you have ever driven a car—or at least been a passenger in one—you’ve probably seen a red, often octagonal sign alongside the road. In English, we call it a “stop sign.” But whatever the language inscribed on it, the stop sign universally means that drivers must brake their vehicle and wait for traffic to clear before proceeding. To do otherwise is to court disaster!
In much the same way, the people at St. Luke Church of Opportunity might well have seen those verses in Exodus 20 as God’s stop sign, a command to “hit the brakes” and rest. More important, those who observe the Bible Sabbath know that they are following God’s command to keep the seventh day “holy” or separate from the secular work of the other six days.
When, as Bishop Hooper suggests, the Sabbath is viewed as an island in time where one can take refuge from the everyday grind, blessings follow. He has testified to the benefits his own congregation has received in the past few months since making the switch. If you are not currently observing the Bible Sabbath, why not try it and see what the Lord unfolds in your life?
Maybe you are asking what the big deal is. Maybe you are thinking that it doesn’t matter which day we worship God as long as we are worshipping Him. Our free article “Sabbath Is a Day of Rest and Worship” can fill in many of the “blanks” that you might be wondering about. You might be surprised to learn that what you’ve been taught isn’t in the Scriptures at all!
Moreover, did you know that the Sabbath is meant to be, also like the stop sign, a kind of protection? It even has relevance to Jesus’ second coming! Are you wondering how? We also offer two free online Bible study courses that will give you vital, overlooked information about the Bible Sabbath and other key doctrines.
And if you want to view a fascinating presentation of both sides of the Sabbath/Sunday argument, check out this video featuring Pastor Doug Batchelor and Pastor Steve Gregg. You’ll hear conclusive evidence for the Bible Sabbath!