A Difficult Beginning

I find that I struggle to help people rest. I think the reason is that - as brilliant as I am - it is difficult for people to rest. I was talking with a friend, let's call him Casey because let's face it - very few people read this blog! Casey is working nearly full time in ministry and nearly full time at Starbucks. Casey doesn't take a day off. I am almost finished with Seminary, I have spoken at several conferences (2) about the Sabbath, and probably read more books about it than you have... And, my thought is that Casey has trouble taking a day off because it is hard.

2000 years ago the Graeco-Romans thought is was absolutely ridiculous to take a day off - only royalty and the very wealthy could consider such a thing. 3000 years ago it was suicide - you hunted, gathered, and farmed for your food (farmed is the wrong word, but it was a bit more than just gathering) - taking a day off meant you didn't eat or cultivate eating other days. We might have to revisit this in a subsequent post...

Today it is more the norm to take an entire weekend off. But taking a true Sabbath, really not working, really not checking your email or staying busy... is just as rare.

I think it is difficult because of the overlapping problems of busy-ness and guilt. We LIKE being busy. We feel greatly encouraged in our busyness, we are getting things done, people see our busyness, we don't have to worry about ourselves, we will sleep better, we might make more money (or at least some money), we are good at getting things done.

Or, we feel guilty for some of the mirroring reasons - maybe we're not good at it, so we feel guilty for not being good. So, we work more. Or we feel guilty for more explicitly evangelical reasons - especially if we're in ministry. Doug Fields, youth pastor at Saddleback, talks about being guilt-tripped into working on his day off after a conference and the guy doing it was using Rick Warren (who was "coming in on his day off"). I mean, if Rick Warren can work on his day off to further the kingdom of God - then you should too!!! I mean, if other pastors are working 60-70 hours a week (which is what church planters talk about... maybe that is why they fail, not because of the technique, but because people are KILLING themselves for the Gospel and thereby ignoring the 4th Commandment... Elusive indeed!), then I should too... What if I got ONE person to convert on that day... I am exaggerating because I know we struggle with this. But, what a narrow view of God and what a broad view of ourselves.

Rest. It is difficult, but it is worth it. The Gospel of Jesus - which does not conflict with the Sabbath, but encourages its true sense - is a living argument. Take that living argument and set it against whatever is keeping you from taking a day off for rest, prayer, rest, non-work, and worship (in the broad sense). The world will make it without you (busy-ness). You will make it without you (guilt). God, and his plan, will make it without you. In fact, God's plan is furthered by your Sabbath, it is a call into mission. In this case a mission of omission, but a mission nonetheless! Take a break, take a day off. If you don't want to be alone - then Don't be! If you need to be alone - make sure you get some alone time! Spend some time with God - but not the whole day, set yourself up for success. Spend some time doing things you love and feel like you never have time to do.

It will be a difficult beginning, but you are worth it, you are commanded to do it, and it is actually a huge way to participate in the Kingdom of God inaugurated on Earth.