Seventh Day Adventist and working on Sabbath???

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I was curious, I am a Seventh-Day Adventist and am struggling with the concept of working on Sabbath when your job, whether it be being a cop, firefighter, or someone else who is saving a life. The Bible is not always black and white and even though the Ten Commandments DO say to rest on the seventh day from all your labors, there are other instances in the Bible where helping others during time of rest are the right thing to do. What about those Nicu babies??? What about those who need constant care??? I would like input from a spiritual standpoint on how you all respect your Sabbaths and do it as a nurse.

Institute for Christian Teaching

Education Department of Seventh-day Adventist

TEACHING STUDENT NURSES SABBATH KEEPING

By Ina Longway

Adventist International Institute Of Advanced Studies

Bangkok, Thailand

Prepared for the Faith and Learning Seminar Held in Singapore

August, 1989

054-89 Institute for Christian Teaching

12501 Old Columbia Pike

Silver Spring, MD 20904, USA

Principles of Sabbath Keeping

The results of the review of literature are summarized into 14 principles of Sabbath keeping. These principles, and the resource material suggested in the next section, became the basis for the unit of instruction for teaching student nurses Sabbath keeping.

These principles are:

1. Sabbath keeping involves the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.

2. Sabbath keeping involves a whole week of planning for appropriate Sabbath keeping.

3. Sabbath keeping is sign of loyalty to God and to His laws and a recognition of God's creative and sanctifying power.

4. Work on Sabbath is approved and even required by God when it is a means of relieving suffering. Such work is not an exception to keeping the fourth commandment but fulfilling God's law. The nurse is thus in the privileged position of sharing God's love in a special service.

5. No unnecessary work should be done on Sabbath. Unnecessary is that which could, with careful planning , be done on a day other than the Sabbath with no harm to patients.

6. Those who work on the Sabbath to support individuals providing direct care are also carrying out God's will. These persons include kitchen workers, laboratory workers, and others.

7. Work that is tainted with selfish and self-serving motives is not approved by God. All work for economic gain on Sabbath is wrong in the sight of God.

8. Those who work on the Sabbath run high risks of endangering their Christian experience and experiencing physical, spiritual and mental fatigue.

9. Celebration of the Sabbath in the way God intended brings joy, peace, and spiritual power.

10. Those in leadership positions in SDA health institutions should promote Sabbath observance and should support workers.

11. SDA health care institutions should be visible in their Sabbath keeping. There should be a distinction between SDA and worldly practice on the Sabbath. These differences should relate in part to the power and healing from God.

12. Tact should be used in working with others in the acts of Sabbath keeping. The true keeper of the Sabbath will seek to promote spiritual growth in others in persuasive and tactful ways.

13. Students in nursing schools should be taught principles of Sabbath observance by both precept and example.

14. True Sabbath keeping is a vital component of spiritual reformation.

15. Before the Sabbath, the Christian nurse should make right any wrongs committed in both the home and work setting.

E. G. White. Sabbath work is an obligation for some individuals. Persons in this group do not live above the law, are not exempted from its requirements, but fulfill the law in the highest sense. God will not hold the person guiltless who fails to relieve suffering on any day of the week (DA 207). SDA health institutions are established to relieve the sick, to awaken a spirit of inquiry, to disseminate light, and to advance reform (7T 104-105). These then, should be in the forefront of observing the Sabbath and upholding God's laws. Those who minister to the sick are doing God's will, for He Himself did not neglect suffering persons on Sabbath (7T 106). The persons who do not give direct patient care are also serving God, including those who prepare and serve meals to others in the institution (7T 122). The priests in the temple worked hardest on the Sabbath to God (DA 285). God works on Sabbath, upholding the universe and answering prayer (DA 206). Those who work to relieve suffering, those who support by their labors the ones who are engaged in direct care of the suffering, and those who lead out in worship are honoring God by their Sabbath activities.

Section Five: Keeping Sabbath While Working.

The Bible does not give specific instructions for keeping the Sabbath holy while working on Sabbath. Except by example that will be covered under Section Seven. E. G. White specifies activities that are not appropriate as well as the attitudes and helps that will maintain allegiance to God while working on Sabbath.

Labor on the Sabbath to relieve suffering and to comfort the sorrowing are not only approved by God but are obligatory (WM 77). Helping the sick is keeping the Sabbath as much as leading a division of the Sabbath school, both are services to God (3SM 259).

God does not approve of doing unnecessary activities on the Sabbath, such as dwelling on worldly thing laying plans for the week ahead, discussing business (PP 307), or doing one's own pleasure (MM 215). Just as in managing one's own private life, the worker and the leadership in the institution, should plan ahead to avoid unnecessary work. No treatments or surgeries should be done on the Sabbath unless these are needed to relieve suffering or are of an emergency nature (MM 214-215).

Mere acts do not fulfill God's will. The Christian working on Sabbath should bring an attitude pure toward God and a heart willing to give Him service. Keeping Sabbath does not imply somberness or gloom. The worker should manifest a bright and cheerful face (6T 365) while at the same time showing a spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice (MM 216). The worker should keep the mind uplifted to God in prayer and trust Him in a special way on Sabbath (3SM 265). "It is the service of love that God values" (DA 286).

TEACHING STUDENT NURSES SABBATH KEEPING

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Specializes in ER.
Hmmm...good points... I had not thought of things that way. ....but in a "perfect" world, wouldn't there still be death from old age? And wouldn't it be important to take care of the dying? --And what about the minister who works (preaching) on the Sabbath?

I enjoyed your thoughtful post, Poeboy, and was wowed by the Deuteronomy item... Compelling thoughts... I have also enjoyed writings from others on this thread. Interesting stuff.

Death and dying are part of life, again if you want to be a part of His healing ministry-do it for free on sabbath. Yes pastors, priests, bishops, popes, rabbi's, etc. do preach on sundays and saturdays and other days alike. Remember from your bible, the jewish and all the new converts all assembled on sabbath to hear the "torah" (law/scripture) being read. Even the Messiah would read and continue his ministry on sabbath, the difference between then and now is MONEY. In my opinion whatever is to be done on sabbath should never revolve around money. When Yeshua/jesus went into the congregation on a sabbath and saw the money changers, and all the other tables with items being sold for offerings- He overturned the tables and drove them out with a type of whip He hand made.

I look forward to all your thoughts and suggestions. I am never closed minded to shut out a good idea!!

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(From the ESV.) Jesus kept the law perfectly, and healed this man's hand on the Sabbath. :yes:

That said, if you want to be cautious about practicing employment, here are some thoughts.

1.) Weekday job, such as clinic or school nursing.

2.) Is it the same as Jewish Sabbath--sundown on Friday through sundown on Saturday? See if you could negotiate a Saturday-Sunday 8-hour noc shift weekend. So go in at 2300 on Saturday, well after sundown. Or if it's just Saturday period, then see about a Friday/Sunday weekend.

3.) More frequent Fridays and/or Sundays to offset being off on Saturdays. Again, something you'd need to ask about. Honestly I can't see most managers being eager to accommodate weekend requests even for religious reasons. There's no nursing shortage after all. But you could ask.

4.) Any Protestant/Catholic/Orthodox Christians really want every Sunday off? See about a permanent trade for your Saturdays.

5.) Do you need benefits? If not, per diem could be the way to go! Depending on the place, you can get pretty good hours...or you could get more than one per diem job to get your hours in. But typically you pick up the shifts that you want to pick up. The places I did per diem at did have a minimum weekend and holiday commitment, but in your case you could pick up 2 Sundays to equal one weekend. Hourly pay was extra to offset the lack of benefits given w/ these jobs.

It is just as the Jewish sunset to sunset sabbath.

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Hmmm...good points... I had not thought of things that way. ....but in a "perfect" world, wouldn't there still be death from old age? And wouldn't it be important to take care of the dying? --And what about the minister who works (preaching) on the Sabbath?

I enjoyed your thoughtful post, Poeboy, and was wowed by the Deuteronomy item... Compelling thoughts... I have also enjoyed writings from others on this thread. Interesting stuff.

From what I understand, if we lives in a perfect world there wouldn't be death. Death only came by the sins of Adam and Eve. Or they would not have KNOWN death. As for pastors, working for God and to act up praise Him is the idea of rest that God IMO is applying. He wants us to rest from our labors of the world and save the time He even set for Himself for us to all rest and admire His work.

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Not act up.....sorry I'm on my phone. Hate auto correct lol

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Institute for Christian Teaching

Education Department of Seventh-day Adventist

TEACHING STUDENT NURSES SABBATH KEEPING

By Ina Longway

Adventist International Institute Of Advanced Studies

Bangkok, Thailand

Prepared for the Faith and Learning Seminar Held in Singapore

August, 1989

054-89 Institute for Christian Teaching

12501 Old Columbia Pike

Silver Spring, MD 20904, USA

TEACHING STUDENT NURSES SABBATH KEEPING

your answer was so uplifting and informative. THANK YOU and GOD BLESS!!!

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Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

What does Jesus say? What did He do? We can get so bogged down to legalism in our faith, and I don't think that's what God intends. Yes, it would have been nice to have the Sabbath off (for me, it is Sunday) when I was a hospital based nurse. But, babies were still being born, mothers still needed care, people still get sick, and it wasn't fair for me to ask every Sunday off. So, my boss allowed me to come in on Sunday evenings or nights when I needed to work a Sunday. I'm sure you'll find a good solution. He'll show you how best to honor Him in your work.

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I am a SDA and to expect others to work on the Sabbath on essential work, but not us,is hypocritical. The Sabbath is God's not ours. This reminds me of Orthodox Jews who hire people to light their fires and turn on their lights on Sabbath. And as we have the largest Protestant health care system in the world, to think none of us work on the Sabbath seems pretty unlikely.

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Happywife77..God tells you it's permissible to be rude and disrespectful? Go live in a convent?

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Dear Sister in Christ. I was in the middle of a night shift and a little grumpy. I have been a church member since 1975 and understand your concern. But the best place for you to discuss this, I feel is with people who share your belief. Not this nursing forum. They are well meaning, most of them, but don't understand this issue. It is unique in this world. We have a very high number of health care professionals and you should be able to get many views. What it really comes down to is a matter between you and God. But how would you want your loved one cared for, a full staff or a skeleton one because everyone wants the Sabbath off.

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Although I am not a bible scholar, I grew up with a religious background. Many of my family members are involved in the church. I myself, attend church when I am able. I am also involved in a bible study group. However, I don't have a problem working my fair share of Sundays, because it is necessary. I knew when I went into healthcare, that it would be required of me to do so. Many professions are required to work on Sundays. Even if you have the "day off", you are still working in some capacity. Cooking dinner, washing dishes, laundry, childcare, and walking the dog, are all forms of work. Life doesn't stop just because it is Sunday. And these are all necessary things to do.

I don't use religion as an excuse not to work on Sundays. For me personally, it would seem hypocritical. I eat pork products and lobster. I don't live in a menstrual hut for a week every month. There are probably many other bible teachings that I don't adhere to, but I was just trying to make a point. I don't pick and choose which teachings I want to abide by, just because it's beneficial to me.

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Probably a bit of a delayed response but the SDA church believes what is stated in the bible that it is "good to do good on the Sabbath". Therefore this sda nurse only ask for sabbaths off if there is something special she needs to attend - otherwise, sabbaths are taken off as given in the rota. Never mind working a sabbath because this is a part of her mission for The Lord - helping the needy. Now where working on the sabbath becomes a problem is when you are given off on the sabbath and you go in search of extra shifts for the money. This I believe is no more about the sick client but the staff making more money. Just my 2 pence worth :)

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