Sabbath Dress

“How should we dress for the Sabbath?” This is another aspect of Sabbath-keeping that has been liberalized and watered down among God’s people. Many have forgotten that they are coming before God. While you may not have a large congregation to meet with, and are keeping the Sabbath in your home (or the home of just a few other brethren), you are still assembling in God’s presence. Even if no one else sees how you are dressed, God does.

Remember Herbert W. Armstrong’s example when travelling abroad, visiting world leaders: If he had two shirts—one to wear for his Friday meeting with a king, president, prime minister, etc., and one for the Sabbath—he would reserve the nicer of the two for the Sabbath. He knew he would be coming before God.

Your Sabbath attire should not be loud and extravagant, drawing attention to yourself. Our focus should be on God and how we can serve others.

Men should wear a suit and tie. For women, dresses or skirt-and-blouse ensembles are appropriate. Modesty is the rule in determining such things as proper skirt length, etc. We should never base our clothing choices on current Hollywood standards, which are set by worldly (and in many cases, homosexual) fashion designers.

A Delight

The Sabbath is a time to put aside the previous six days’ events and more squarely focus on the importance of our calling. It is the time God has given us to assemble and fellowship with those of like mind (Phil. 2:5). We should use it to encourage one another (Heb. 10:25).

It should not be spent simply “downloading” all our problems and difficulties on brethren. While we should mention certain trials we are enduring, so that others can pray for us, that should not be the main focus of our conversation. We should focus on the positive.

Remember, the Sabbath is a weekly reminder of the millennial rest and rejuvenation that the entire world will enjoy after Christ’s Return (Heb. 3:11; 1 Pet. 3:8).

Recall the Exodus 3:1-22 account of God speaking to Moses from a burning bush. Most professing Christians are familiar with this passage. But there was the overlooked lesson in it pertaining to the Sabbath. In Heb 3:5, God had commanded Moses, “Draw not near here: put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place where on you stand is holy ground” (Exod. 3:5).

What is the connection here to the Sabbath? We saw that Isaiah was inspired to write, “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure [business] on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shall honour Him, NOT doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words: then shall you delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it” (Isa. 58:13-14).

The Sabbath is holy time that points to God; we must not profane it. It is our weekly opportunity to rehearse the coming millennium—the 1,000-year Sabbath rest for all mankind, when all people will learn God’s Way.

By keeping the Sabbath as God intended, we express our desire, “Your kingdom come” (Matt. 6:10).

But Only With the Living, Active, One True Church With whom should I assemble on the Sabbath? The subject of the Sabbath is inseparable from that of the identity and location of the true Church, introduced earlier. Of course, many groups claim to be God’s true Church. Some of these observe the Sabbath to one degree or another, or in one form or another. Yet, in every case, all “Sabbath-keeping churches”—there are no exceptions—teach a great many false doctrines.

When individuals first learn about the Sabbath, they often believe that they can assemble with any Sabbath-keeping organization or group. But just because a church meets on the true Sabbath does not mean it is the TRUE Church of God.

Jesus said that He would build “His Church” (Matt. 16:18). He called it “a building” that is “fitly framed together” (Eph. 2:21), and built with Himself as the foundation. Jesus Christ is literally “building a building” consisting of brethren whom He calls “lively [living] stones” (1 Pet. 2:5). Psalm 127:1declares, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”

Christ is continuing to build His Church today, and you have come in contact with it!

Lives are changing every day due to the Work of God, the Work that Christ is doing through His human instruments in HIS Church.

God commands you to assemble with the Body of Christ—a single, unified organization of Spirit-begotten sons of God! There is only ONE such group. Just any organization will not suffice—no matter what men may say! To those who are unsure about which “Church of God” to attend, do not misunderstand! You cannot please God and assemble with those who compromise God’s truth. That does not please God! Read 2 John 7-10, Titus 3:9-11 and Romans 16:17.

You are urged to carefully study my thorough and fascinating book Where Is the True Church? – and Its Incredible History!

The Choice Is Yours!

Some might fear to step out and obey God’s Sabbath command, saying, “It’s impossible to keep the Sabbath. I would lose my job. I would lose my home. My family would starve!”

But consider. It takes real, active FAITH to obey the living God—and to trust in His ability to take care of you. Do you have enough faith to trust Him with your job, and by extension your home and family’s well-being?

If you find yourself in a situation in which you are working on the Sabbath, ask God to help you approach your employer. Ask God for wisdom! But be sure you do not ask your employer if you can have off from work on Saturday. Instead, very politely—and in a quiet, non-confrontational tone—inform your employer that you are no longer able to work on this day. Let him know you have learned that God has set apart Friday sunset to Saturday sunset as holy time, and that you are commanded by Him to abstain from work of any kind, not just your job. Sincerely mention you are truly sorry for any inconvenience this may cause him or the company. And if it applies to your type of work, tell your employer that you are willing to work on Sunday or any other day of the week on which you do not normally work.

It has been my experience that those who approach their employers in this manner—and beforehand earnestly ask God to grant them favour—do NOT lose their jobs! Most companies prefer not to interfere with a person’s religious beliefs. But even those who have lost their jobs usually found better ones.

So what will YOU do? Will YOU believe God? Will YOU obey His clear instruction to keep the Sabbath holy? Never forget. God decides what is and what is not sin. You do not have this power. But you do have the power to OBEY!

You must choose between obeying God and obeying man, even when obeying God is not popular—and it almost never is! Rebellion ultimately ends with eternal PUNISHMENT of everlasting DEATH.

It is possible to trust—BELIEVE—God! But you must mix FAITH with OBEDIENCE (James 2:18-26). Are you willing to do this? Sadly, the fact of history is that most are not.

You have seen that the weekly cycle has remained unbroken through the ages. You have also seen that Christ was not crucified on Friday, nor was He resurrected on Sunday. You have learned about the Sabbath connection to Israel and Judah going into captivity, along with verses showing the New Testament Church kept the Sabbath. You read that Sunday-keeping, along with observing Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, etc., is the MARK of the BEAST. You have been shown and seen crumble one so-called “proof” after another of why many observe Sunday. These have collapsed under the weight of facts from history and from your Bible.

It is my responsibility to inform you of the truth of what God’s Word says about the Sabbath. I have done this—I have “cried aloud” and “lifted up my voice like a trumpet” (Isa. 58:1)! You have been made aware of your sin in regard to the Sabbath command. All aspects have been thoroughly covered throughout this book. Now you know the truth.

Responsibility comes with knowing the truth. Carefully consider all that you have learned. You will be judged by what you do with knowledge given (James 4:17; Heb. 10:26).

The all-powerful living God calls YOU to repentance (Acts 2:38; 17:30), which means change. All excuses for inaction have been removed. Now you must decide for yourself whether you will obey God’s command. You cannot avoid a decision—and realize that no decision IS a decision! God will not force you into obedience.

Will you OBEY God—or men? You alone will decide!

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