If Jesus showed up in your town on Sabbath, He’d probably eat out.
He did it all the time—ate with Pharisees, fishermen, and whoever was hungry and nearby. His Sabbath meals were about connection, not compliance.
Meanwhile, we Adventists have turned “don’t spend money on Sabbath” into an Olympic event—with rules that only make sense to us. We’ll gas up before sunset and burn that same gas driving two hours to “fellowship.” Either that or we’ll take public transport or a taxi to church, happy to have someone whose job it is to transport us. We’ll skip the café after church, then line up for a potluck buffet that could feed a small nation (because somebody still cooked half the night to make it happen).
And then there are grander exceptions to Sabbath spending logic: church retreats and GC Session. We’ll fill hotel ballrooms and conference rooms with hymns and handshakes while a full staff works overtime—cleaning, cooking, serving, and smiling—so the saints can “rest” and “not buy or sell.” Nothing like praising the Lord while the hotel workers carry the dishes we pretend not to pay for.
The truth? Jesus’ Sabbath wasn’t about guarding wallets—it was about freeing people. His rest made room for mercy, not loopholes.
Maybe the real question isn’t should we spend money on Sabbath?
Maybe it’s how can our Sabbath rhythm reflect compassion, not compliance?
#BarelyAdventist #SabbathIrony #WWJEat
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