Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. Mark 3:1-6
I remember seeing a documentary about a zoo. About how on Christmas Day the animals still had to be fed, watered and cared-for. About how there was no “Sabbath” when all work ceased and a multiplicity of religious laws forensically judged who was holy and who was not.
I remember when Sunday trading came into law. The outrage. The furor. The religious venom directed at all who shopped on the Day of the Lord. Church was the acceptable activity. Sunday trading was an abuse of God and the shop-workers who were no longer able to be in church or see their families or have a day of rest or …
I remember on Christmas Day having no cranberry sauce. We had either forgotten to buy enough or had already used it. I popped to the local Asian shopkeeper who was very happy to serve me and wished me a very Merry Christmas as I dashed in and out again. Thank God for Muslims!
I remember Christian Sundays being really boring after church was done and dusted. Dad slept. Mum read books. We had to keep quiet. No playing out on Sunday. It was “Sunday”. I don’t remember it being a particularly great day. Stuck in the house with not much going on.
I recall reading about potential saints. How the church goes to investigate. Determines if the show is indeed miraculous enough for their endorsement. I always think it nice of God to oblige on cue so the church finders find enough evidence.
Religion hasn’t dropped many laws over the years. Different denominations and faiths dismiss the opposition but carry-on with the legal frameworks to differentiate one brand from another. I do wonder what God thinks. Does he ever feel he should withdraw his endorsement?
Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?
I have a problem with “believers” and “unbelievers” … Christians or atheists … Hindus or humanists … Muslims or secularists … I have a problem if your version of “belief” (or “unbelief”) tells me whether me “doing good” is actually “doing good” or not doing good.
Thank you.
🙂
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Just me being curious 
I couldn’t agree with you more Paul. I remember the outrage when Sabbath trading started as well. We have to keep our minds on Christ at all times, not just on the Sabbath. Unfortunately many see the Sabbath is the day to worship God and the rest of the week they can do whatever they want. This is not God’s heart.
My prayer is that Christians all-around will wake up and realize that God is always working in their lives not just on Sunday. And that means we should be working every day to bring more into the kingdom. Weather this means physical work or just studies and Devotion to him depends on your interpretation. For me I just want to serve him
Be blessed
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Pete, apologies – I missed your comment!
Thank you.
My journey is one I would never have imagined years ago. One wherein it seems to put me at odds with much i was taught, much I accepted as true, and much I never even thought about.
One of the things I see now is many who have stopped journeying. And (now) I am not sure how one “follows” if ones beliefs and behaviours have become “static”.
🙂
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That can be a difficult place to be in. I have certainly been at point in my life when my beliefs and behaviors either became static or went backwards. Like many others in like the nation of Judah I have had my ups and downs with the Lord through the 40 years that I’ve been saved. With me it often takes a serious trial to pull me out. My experience with pride and sexual send that took me to Pure Life Ministries was one such trial. This cancer was another. In both cases I have to run so much closer to the Lord to the trials that came to my life.
Of course I don’t wish trials upon anybody. But those who have stopped journeying do you need something to get them going again. It takes encouragement for the Believers but often we are afraid to speak up to them in fear of being seen as judgmental. So we leave them be and that is sad.
I pray but you will continue to seek out God’s wisdom. Perhaps you have spent the time in Psalm 119 in the past. Maybe you are regularly in the Bible and maybe at this time in your life you’re not. But I would suggest a hefty reading in Psalm 119. If you wanted to go even further write it out in your own words little by little. I have just finished at 8 weeks study in this book and it is extremely fascinating.
I’m glad we are in discussion my friend and I hope that weekend help one another grow as we travel these roads with our Lord and savior. May you be blessed
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I love more and more how journies intersect. Strangers become fellow travellers for a moment, a time, even for ever. More and more I welcome each as a welcome part of our individual journies.
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So true and so needed.
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