Sabbath Keepers In Government (Part 1 of 2)

By Bill Lussenheide

Currently the newswires and the media are abuzz about the Presidential election in the United States to be held in 2016. Speculation abounds about the candidates  and what will be their platforms. As Christians serving as God’s ambassadors, we face interesting questions in regards to what level of participation we should have in regards to political activity, voting, and serving in office.

Should Sabbatarians be serving in civil government? It is a question that many seventh day observing groups have attempted to tackle over the last century, with differing opinions on the appropriateness of doing so. The issue has been debated down to the point of whether or not Christians should even vote.

This article will take an overview of Sabbatarians who have served in office, or have been involved in politics over history. We will discover that seventh day observers have a long history of serving in a Godly fashion in secular government, and in being very effective in doing so.   

Political Service In The Bible

Early in the Bible we can take note of Lot. In Genesis 19:1 we can see that Lot is sitting at the city gates. This was a position of honor and rulership according to most commentators. We can take note of Proverbs 31:23 for insight on this. It reads “Her husband is known in the gates, where he sits among the elders of the land”.  Lot is regarded as “righteous Lot” in 2Peter 2:7. Although Sodom itself was wicked, there is no evil report of Lot serving in a civil capacity from scripture.

Joseph rose to be in virtual power over the leading state of its era, Egypt. Joseph considered his position in Egypt’s government to be a direct result of God’s will. As he tried to calm his brothers’ fears after their father’s death, he said to them, “God hath made me lord of all Egypt” (Gen. 45:9). He “[sent] me before you to preserve life” (verse 5). Obviously God can, and does work through righteous Sabbath observers in political office.

Likewise, Moses was a chief prince in Egypt as well. Daniel and his three Hebrew companions were selected from among captives in Babylon for training in government. There is no inference of them refusing this task, or being reluctant about it.

After Daniel was promoted to “ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon,” he asked that his three friends might be “set . . . over the affairs of the province of Babylon,” and Daniel’s request was granted (Dan. 2:48, 49). He volunteered for the task! The three companions were promoted again after going through the amazing trial of the fiery furnace (chap. 3:30). Again, they did not refuse to serve.

When Belshazzar became ruler of Babylon, he made Daniel an important ruler after he interpreted the handwriting on the banquet wall, and just hours before Belshazzar was defeated by Darius (chap. 5:29). Darius, the Mede, recognized leadership in Daniel and made him first of three rulers of the whole kingdom (chap. 6:2).

Even after Daniel’s ordeal in the lions’ den, and his meeting of this test successfully, he “prospered in the reign of Darius” (verse 28). Yet again, Daniel did not refuse civil responsibility when he was called upon to serve.

In the book of Esther is the story of Mordecai the Jew, who “sat in the king’s gate” and was one of King Ahasuerus’ “servants” (Esther 2:19; 3:3). The king’s gate was a place where the affairs and business of the kingdom was carried on. When Haman was hanged, Mordecai did not refuse the chance to replace him. In Esther 10:3 we see that Mordecai was placed right next to the king in power.

A Sabbath Keeping American Founding Father

Samuel Ward was born in Newport, Rhode Island, May 27, 1725. Newport Rhode Island is the location of the first Sabbatarian church in America, which was founded by Stephen Mumford in 1671.  Both of Ward’s parents were keepers of the Seventh Day Sabbath, and his father was governor of Rhode Island and a descendant of Roger Williams through both his paternal and maternal family lines. He also can lay claim in his lineage to John Ward, a Calvary officer in the service of Oliver Cromwell, who fought against the tyranny of the English crown. On his parent’s tombstones is carved the testimony of their faith to the Sabbath day.

The lineage of Samuel Ward, through Roger Williams gives another strong clue into who he was. Williams the founder of Rhode Island, was a maverick pioneer of religious freedom in America who we owe much. He was one of the first advocates of the concept of “separation of church and state” and for religious freedom. An Anabaptist, Williams can be thanked for creating the first colony that practiced religious freedom. The first Jewish synagogue in America can also trace its history to Newport Rhode Island and only existed because of the freedoms found there.

With this rich bloodline of faith, Samuel Ward served in many political offices in Rhode Island and like his father, was elected to the office of governor in 1762.  These were pivotal times for America, and in 1765 the infamous Stamp Act tax was thrust upon the colonies. Of all the governors in the colonies, there was only one who had the courage to refuse an oath to enforce and sustain this law. Samuel Ward, a man of conviction of the scriptures, was also a man of conviction in the secular world. He refused to swear an allegiance to either the crown, nor to enforce the stamp act, at great personal peril to himself.

Through the early 1770’s, Ward was a key man in the organization of the Continental Congress. In fact the first delegates to the Continental Congress came from fellow Rhode Islander Stephen Hopkins and Ward himself. Yes, a Sabbath keeper can lay claim to being a “Founding” –“Founding Father” of the greatest nation in human history!

He had many works to help forge the freest country in the history of the world. Only in America could God find a place where the Sabbath could find free practice and blossom and to be an exporter of that truth to the world. Samuel Ward was the one who nominated George Washington to be the Commander of the Continental Army. Before Ward’s untimely death in 1776, he helped collaborate with Thomas Jefferson in the writing of the “Declaration of Independence”.

His legacy and influence includes his son Samuel Ward Jr., who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Revolutionary army, a grandson who was the President of the New York stock exchange and his great granddaughter, Julia Ward Howe, who was the composer of the well known, historic and beloved “Battle Hymn of the Republic” in 1862. Like many Sabbatarians of that era, she was a staunch anti-slavery abolitionist. In later years, she was instrumental in creating the first “Mothers Day” as a reaction to the carnage of both the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian war.

We will finish this two-part series next week!

Bill Lussenheide has been a first generation Sabbath keeper for 42 years. He and his wife Terri reside in Menifee, CA.

Who were the Nazarenes?

by Kelly McDonald, Jr.

As we discuss early Sabbath history, we must also mention the name Nazarenes or Nazoreans. Did you know that the earliest church was called by this term? When Paul was brought before Roman officials, he was accused of being a Nazarene. “For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5).

In Paul’s confession, he affirmed that he belonged to this group and that he believed in everything written in the Law and the Prophets. “But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets…” (Acts 24:14).

The early church was based out of Jerusalem. When the city and Temple were destroyed in 70 AD, the church was scattered. Before the attack commenced, God’s people fled to the mountains. Just before the Passover, Jesus instructed his disciples: “20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein” (Luke 21:20-21a).

We have a few historical sources that tell us about the church fleeing Jerusalem.  We also learn about their way of life. Eusebius, who wrote about 340 AD, said this about the Nazarenes:

“3 But the people of the church in Jerusalem had been commanded by a revelation, vouchsafed to approved men there before the war, to leave the city and to dwell in a certain town of Perea called Pella. And when those that believed in Christ had come there from Jerusalem, then, as if the royal city of the Jews and the whole land of Judea were entirely destitute of holy men…” (Eusebius, Church History, Book 3, 5:3, [NPNF: 138])

The earliest believers followed Christ’s instructions to flee to the mountains. They specifically traveled to a place named Pella, which is located in modern-day Jordan. We also learn more from a writer named Epiphanius, who wrote in the late 370s AD. He tells us about their practices.

He wrote that all Christians in the beginning were called Nazarenes or Nazoreans, which is in agreement with the Bible. He recorded that these believers fled to Pella before the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, which is in agreement with Eusebius. He also told us that they still existed in his day, dwelling at “…Coele-Syria, Decapolis (Pella) and Basanitis (Cocabe).”

Lastly, he wrote that they still practiced the Sabbath and other observances of the Law (11^th edition: Nazarenes; see also Epiphanius, Heres., Section 29).

Jerome, who lived from 340 to 420 AD wrote: “The adherents to this sect are known commonly as Nazarenes; they believe in Christ the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary; and they say that He who suffered under Pontius Pilate and rose again, is the same as the one in whom we believe. But while they desire to be both Jews and Christians, they are neither the one nor the other” (Jerome, Letter 112/ Augustine Letter 75, chapter 4, sec 13).

These ancient accounts inform us that the earliest believers in Jerusalem fled to Pella, which is a mountainous area. Here they were protected and fed. This original group of believers still existed into at least the late 300s AD!

These accounts also testify that the original group of Christians still practiced aspects of the Law such as the Sabbath centuries after Jesus. Thus, there can be no argument that the earliest Christians gave up the Sabbath commandment from God.

Kelly McDonald, Jr. BSA President www.biblesabbath.org

The Waldenses: Sabbath Keepers or not?

By Kelly McDonald, Jr.

In recent years, a bit of a controversy has surfaced regarding the Waldenses. Some people have denied that they ever kept the Sabbath. The modern Waldenses deny any connection to Sabbath observance. At the same time, a modern denial does not erase the pages of history.

We also know from history that the Catholic Church has worked hard to exterminate anyone who opposed their agenda. If the Waldenses were not that much different from the Catholic Church, then why were they vigorously persecuted? The pages of history will clarify the situation for us. Below we have some primary source quotes describing this fascinating group.

There was at the very least a significant minority of Sabbath keepers that kept the Sabbath, although not all of them did. We have some quotes about this below:

In the 1100s-1200s AD, we learn about a group connected to the Waldenses known as the Passagani. “…They say that Pope Sylvester was the Anti-Christ of whom is made mention in the Epistle of St. Paul as being the Son of Perdition,  who extolls himself above everything that is called God, for, from that time, they say, the church perished…He lays it down also as one of their opinions, that the Law of Moses is to be kept according to the Letter and that the keeping of the Sabbath, circumcision, and other legal observances ought to take place. They hold also that Christ the Son of God is not equal with the Father and that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost these three persons are not One God and one substance….” (Peter Allix, Ecclesiastical History of the Ancient Churches of Piedmont. London: 1689. Page 154).

In the 1400s, Louis XII of France sent people to learn more about them. He wanted to find fault so he could persecute them. Here is the eye witness account that his scouts brought back: “…they found no images, nor signs of the ornaments belonging to the mass, nor any of the ceremonies of the Romish church; much less could they discover any traces of those crimes with which they were charged. On the contrary, they kept the Sabbath-day, observed the ordinance of baptism, according to the primitive church, instructed their children in the Christian faith and the commandments of God. The king having heard the report of his commissions, said with an oath that they were better men than himself or his people” (William Jones, Jones Church History, 1832, Page 348; In the 1824 version, it is found in Vol. 2, page 68).

Robinson, in his Ecclesiastical Researches, quotes two primary sources that identify the Waldenses as Sabbath keepers. Gretzer, a German Jesuit who accused the Waldenses in the late 1500s/early 1600s, and Bishop Usher from Ireland (same time period) are in agreement. Both say that the Waldenses were also called Insabbati or Sabbati because they honored the Jewish Sabbath, fashioning Saturday for the Lord’s Day (Robinson, Robert, Ecclesiastical Researches, 1792: Cambridge, pp 303-304). [As an aside, Robinson refutes the idea that these people were called insabbati because of their foot wear; as he notes, the people of their region wore a different kind altogether]

Not all the Waldenses were Sabbatarians.  These historical accounts help us understand that at the very least there was a significant minority population of Sabbath keepers among the Waldenses and connected to them. This helps us to understand at least one reason why the Catholic Church despised this small group so much: they were a living testimony to the faith once delivered to the saints.

Kelly McDonald, Jr. BSA President

You can follow Kelly on his website: www.kellymcdonaldjr.com

Early History of Seventh-Day Baptists

By Kelly McDonald, Jr.

In the 1600s, an awakening to the True Sabbath Day occurred in England. Among the early pioneers of this awakening was a man named John Trask (also called John Trask or Thrask). In 1618, he was arrested for teaching the seventh-day Sabbath. Some of the accusations against Trask were as follows:

“The Controversies handled in this short Treatise are two: The first is of the Jewish Sabbath… the second, whether all sorts of meats may be lawfully now eaten by Christians: disputed against John Trakse, of a Puritan minister lately grown half a Jew in his singular opinions concerning the old Sabbath…” (Deuine, Catholike BD. A Brief Refutation of John Traskes Judaical and Novel Fancyes. 1618. Page 18).

John Trask was beaten, whipped, and had a “J” stamped on his forehead. He recanted his beliefs in prison and was released. His wife did not recant and died in prison. The Traskites were forerunners for the Sabbatarian Anabaptist/Puritan movement in England.

It is important to keep in mind that there were two kinds of Puritans in 17^th century England: 1) Those that viewed the Sabbath as being from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset and 2) Those who viewed Sunday as the Sabbath. When one reads the literature of this time period, he or she must be careful because not all references to the Sabbath involve the True Sabbath day. Up until the 1600s, very few (if anyone) called Sunday the Sabbath.

Others in the 1600s would promote the True Sabbath in England. Around 1650, John Ockford wrote The Doctrine of the Fourth Commandment.  Other defenders of the Sabbath at this time include, but are not limited to, William Saller, Thomas Tillam, and Peter Chamberlen. These believers would form the origins of a group we presently call the Seventh Day Baptist Conference (henceforth SDBC).

Steven Mumford, who belonged to the Tewkesbury Baptist Church in England, came to America around 1664. In 1671, he founded the first SDBC church in America. It should be noted that though the SDBC churches were separate institutions, they still promoted fellowship with other Baptist churches in the colonies. More SDBC churches started as time went on.

By the end of the 1700s, there were SDBC churches in areas such as Western Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The General Conference of the SDBC church was formed in 1802. Their present publication, the Sabbath Recorder, was first printed in June 1844. They continued to spread the gospel message across the United States and even evangelize in other parts of the world.

1788

In this year, Elhanan Winchester reported about the Seventh Day Baptists in Pennsylvania: “Such Christians I have never seen as they are, who take the Scriptures as their own guide in matters both of faith and practice…they are constant attendants upon the worship of God; their dwellings are all houses of prayer. They walk in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, both in public and in private… whatsoever they believe their Savior commands, they practice without inquiring regarding what others do.”

In the 1840s, one of their members made the contact that would beget the Seventh Day Adventist group and Church of God Seventh Day. They were the pioneers for many other Sabbath-keeping groups. I call them the “Mother Church” for all Sabbath keeping churches in the United States. Their headquarters is presently in Janesville, Wisconsin.

Kelly McDonald, Jr.  BSA President

You can follow Kelly on his website: www.kellymcdonaldjr.com

Historical Origins of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Church of God Seventh Day

By Kelly McDonald, Jr.

In the 1800s, a man name William Miller believed that he had a mandate from God to prepare people for the return of the Lord. He believed that the Lord’s return would occur in 1843. He began a movement that would become known as the Millerite or Adventist movement. It was interdenominational. One could be Methodist, Episcopalian, or belong to any church group and still be considered an Adventist. It simply meant that you believed in the return of the Lord according to Miller’s teachings.

After a series of failed dates, Miller set the final calculation for the Lord’s return to be October 22^nd, 1844. People gathered and sang hymns to God as they awaited the return of the Messiah. As we know, the Lord did not return. This became known as the “Great Disappointment.”

During this time, a connection was made that would have a world-wide impact for many years to come. In the spring of 1844, Rachel Oakes Preston, a Seventh-Day Baptist believer, convinced a Methodist Adventist named Frederick Wheeler to believe in the Sabbath. Over time, Frederick Wheeler shared the Sabbath with other Adventists.

One of the main issues among Adventists at this time was the belief in the “shut door” doctrine. A certain portion of the Adventists believed that after October 22, 1844 no one else could be saved. They thought that the door to heaven was shut and no one else could enter in. For a time, the Sabbath-keeping Adventists only shared the Sabbath understanding with other Adventists.

As more time passed, two main groups were formed: the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) and the Church of God Seventh Day (CG7). This gives us some background history as to the founding of these two groups. We are thankful to the contributions that both of these groups have made to the Body of Christ.

Kelly McDonald, Jr. BSA President

You can follow Kelly on his website: www.kellymcdonaldjr.com

2^nd Century Papyri Defending the Sabbath

By Kelly McDonald, Jr.

The New Testament is rife with examples of Sabbath keeping with both Jews and Gentiles (see Acts 17:1-4, 18:1-4 for two). Some believers will say that right after the early Apostles died Christians just suddenly changed the Sabbath. There is not any evidence of this “sudden change”, but we find the majority of Christians still honoring the Sabbath into the 400s AD and a little later.

In the 1800s, there was a tremendous amount of archaeological work that supplemented and confirmed what the Bible already told us. Among these findings were certain papyri documents discussing beliefs of the early church. In Egypt, the Oxyrhynchus Papyrus (c. late 100s or 200s AD) displays information about the Sabbath:

“Jesus saith, Except ye fast to the world, ye shall in no wise find the Kingdom of God; and except ye make the sabbath a real sabbath, ye shall not see the Father” (Grenfell, Bernard P. and Hunt, Arthur S. The Oxyrhynchus Papyrus. Oxford University Press, London: 1898. Part 1, p. 3. Logion 2, verso 4-11)

This papyri seems to be a sermon elaborating on the words of Jesus and possibly referring to a part of his teachings that we presently do not have. Remember, Jesus did so many things that the whole world could not hold the books describing them.  One of Jesus’ central teachings is denying ourselves and rejecting the ways of this world (Matthew 16:24-26, Mark 8:36). He also said that He is Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). He taught us how to correctly honor the Sabbath.

This papyrus only confirms what we already know to be absolute truth and that the Sabbath was taught beyond the time of the early Apostles.

Kelly McDonald, Jr. – BSA President

You can follow Kelly on his website: www.kellymcdonaldjr.com

An Old Sabbath-Keeping Hymn from Eastern Europe

By Kelly McDonald, Jr.

In 1894, a man named Samuel Kohn translated hymns of Sabbath keepers who had dwelt in Transylvannia for centuries. The hymns date to at least 1600 AD or before. Interestingly enough, in their hymns, they note how many churches made changes from God’s festivals to those that are not in the Bible. Here is a sample from a hymn:

“So for all the existing churches of the old; deviated true faith, yes, they have forged him: Instead of Sabbath, they keep Sunday, The Passover they remodel for Easter; At Pentecost boldly make the feast of Fiftieth day; The new year and its festival do bold daring; From autumn to winter they lay; They hold none of all the other parties – Just as the Gentiles” (Bosnia Cathars 1588-1623. Die sabbatharier in Siebenbürgen, Kohn, Samuel, 1894, pp 90-91).

Many centuries after the Roman Church began influencing people away from the Sabbath, a remnant still knew the truth.

Kelly McDonald, Jr.

BSA President

You can follow Kelly on his website: www.kellymcdonaldjr.com

Sabbath Keepers in Armenia and Asia Minor (Part 2)

By Kelly McDonald, Jr.

In the 700s AD, the Eastern Roman Empire had three successive emperors who were against the use of images and idols: Leo III (Isaurian), Constantine V, and Leo IV. They were friendly to the Paulicians (and related sects mentioned in the last article). In 780 AD, Leo IV died. His wife Irene became Empress. She restored images and idols back to churches and reunited the Eastern Church back with Rome. In 787, Irene convened the Second Council of Nicea. Images were restored and the Sabbath was condemned.

Here are some canons from this council:

Canon 7 – “the heresies of the slanderers of Christians (iconoclasts) drew other impieties after them. They not merely took away the sacred images, but also abandoned other ecclesiastical customs, which must now be renewed….all temples which were consecrated without having relics, these must be placed with the customary prayers. If, in future, a bishop consecrates a church without relics, he shall be deposed.”

Canon 8 – Since some of those who come from the religion of the Hebrews mistakenly think to make a mockery of Christ who is God, pretending to become Christians, but denying Christ in private by both secretly continuing to observe the sabbath and maintaining other Jewish practices… care should be taken that they abandon Hebrew practices. However if they are not of this sort, they should certainly not be welcomed.

Canon 9 – “All writings against the venerable images are to be delivered up into the episcopal residence at Constantinople, and then put aside (shut up) along with the other heretical books. If anyone conceals them, he must, if bishop, priest, or deacon, be deposed ; if monk or layman, anathematized.”

(quoted from Hefele, history of the Councils, vol. 5, pages 180-181).

The Eastern Roman Empress Theodora, who ruled in the mid-800s, had idols permanently restored to the Empire. As many as 100,000 Paulicians were believed to have been killed during her reign.

Kelly McDonald, Jr. BSA President

You can follow Kelly on his website: www.kellymcdonaldjr.com

Sabbath Keepers in Armenia and Asia Minor (Part 1)

By Kelly McDonald, Jr.

In the sixth century, several connected groups evangelized in Armenia and Asia Minor. Their groups were called: Melchezedecs, Athingani, Paulicians, Tetraditoi, and Bogomils.

Some of these believers were Sabbatarians; they were also iconoclasts. Iconoclasts were those that did not believe in using images or idols in the worship of God. This was a heavily debated subject in the 6^th through 9^th centuries in the Eastern Roman Empire. Here are some quotes from historians about them.

580s AD

“The Melchezedecs, who also have the name Athingani. In this place Melchezedek was lifted up, from whom they took their name. They live around Phrygia…In fact, they had been observed to certainly keep the Sabbath, but they did not circumcise the flesh. The same people do not allow themselves to be touched by any man…” (Timotheous of Constantinople, “De Receptione Hareticorum”, as quoted from Migne, LXXXVI, page 34).

810 AD

“Nikephoros was a fiery friend of the Manichaeans (now called Paulicians) and his near neighbors the Athinganoi in Phrygia and Lykaonia…” (The Chronicle of Theophanes, sec. 488).

811-812 AD

“People stopped censuring the wicked doctrines of the presumptuous heresies which opposed God; the many Paulicians, Athinganoi, Iconoclasts, Tetraditoi, and the rest of the lawbreakers… they wagged their tongues against the revered divine icons and against monastic garb…” (Chronicle of Theophanes, sec. 495)

“Out of zeal for God the most pious Emperor [Michael I] moved against the Manichaens (now known as Paulicians) and Athinganoi in Phrygia and Lykaonia…” (The Chronicle of Theophanes, sec. 497).

Theophanes wrote a Chronicle of this time period of history in Asia Minor. He was a pro-Catholic writer, and he clearly decries the iconoclastic beliefs of these Sabbath-keeping groups. These groups were also known for keeping Passover on the 14^th of Nissan at the same time the Bible prescribes. The term Tetraditoi (used above) is the Greek version of Quartodecimani, which is the Latin word meaning “the fourteenth” or “the fourteentheners”.

Fred C Conneybeare, who translated the history of these people, wrote that, “The general impression which the study of it leaves on us is that in it we have before us a form of Church not very remote from the primitive Jewish Christianity of Palestine” (The Key of Truth, page CXCIII).

These groups had so much influence that some leaders took drastic action to suppress them. We will look at them more in the second part of this two-part series.

Kelly McDonald, Jr. BSA President

You can follow Kelly on his website: www.kellymcdonaldjr.com

German Sabbath Keepers in the 1500s

By Kelly McDonald, Jr.

In the 1500s, there was a tremendous revival of the Sabbath in Germany, especially in Bohemia and Moravia. Two of the leaders of this Anabaptist Sabbath movement were Oswald Glait and Andreas Fischer.

They convinced most Lutherans in Moravia to keep the Sabbath. Desidarius Erasmus is one of the celebrated scholars of European history. He discusses these believers in his letters:

1533 – Desiderius Erasmus

“At this present time, we hear that in the realm of Bohemia is springing up a new (or fresh) kind of Judaism, called Sabbatarians, which are greatly superstitious in keeping (guarding) the Sabbath, so that if something crosses their eyes they will not move it…” (De sarcienda Ecclesiæ concordia, Page 152 [Latin translation mine]).

These Sabbath groups had such a large following that Martin Luther wrote an entire letter to denigrate them called “Against the Sabbatarians: Letter to a Good Friend.” The letter was written in 1538. It was also about this time Luther began his downward spiral into anti-Semitism.

We can see that in the midst of this movement away from the Catholic Church, God was drawing people to honor His holy Sabbath.

Kelly McDonald, Jr. BSA President

You can follow Kelly on his website: www.kellymcdonaldjr.com