Expert: Bruce Gourley - 8/15/2007

Question
I have read the National Sunday Law by a. Jan Marcussen and it would appear that this book is fact based on Bible scripture. It even has excerpts from different denominations that acknowledge there is no justification for Sunday worship. It also mentions that Sabbath keeping is NOT just for the Jews. It was established in the Garden of Eden after creation. There is even a scripture quoted that says the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So how can Sunday worship be explained when the Sabbath was made before a Jew existed?

Answer
I've not read Marcussen's book, so I cannot comment on it. I would simply say that Jesus repeatedly taught against legalistic religious worship. If you wish to worship God on Saturday, or Sunday, or Monday, or Tuesday, or whenever, Jesus, based on His New Testament teachings, would undoubtedly be pleased. Legalists (known as Pharisees in Jesus' day) got caught up in observing the Law in order to be right with God.  Jesus taught that righteousness comes from the heart, not from observing the Law. So if Marcussen is a legalist about Saturday worship, she is not following Jesus' example of what true righteousness is. And if Marcussen does observe the Old Testament Jewish law of worship on the Sabbath, no doubt she also observes OT dietary laws, cleanliness laws, and the like. If she does not, she is being inconsistent in claiming to follow OT law.

Worship should be from the heart, whenever it is done.

Bruce Gourley
www.baptistlife.com
www.brucegourley.com