The Sabbath and the House of God!

What ever has happened to respect for the House of God?   When my husband started working at A&P back in 1959 ~ they were not allowed to sell any intoxicating drink.  The reason:  A  Church was right across the street.  
At that time A&P was the leading grocery chain across the U.S.  Businesses respected the House of God.  No stores were opened on Sunday.  It was a day of  worship and rest.  We, as Christians, prepared on Saturday for The Sabbath Day.  It was the most important day of the week.  We did not buy nor sell on the Sabbath.  If anyone needed medicine they called the Pharmacist and he would meet them at the drug store. That was an emergency.  I understand that nurses have to work sometimes on the sabbath.  Maybe other line of businesses! That is necessary.   But just to work to get more material gain is putting God on the back burner.
That's my opinion!  We all do have a right to our opinion.  I will respect yours.

We have never bought on the Sabbath unless it was an absolute necessity.  We do not consider milk and bread a necessity.  It can be bought on Saturday. We  do as much as we possibly can to prepare for the Sabbath Day.  So many Christians can't wait to get out of church to go to the steak House or their favorite place to eat.  Then may hand out a tract to the worker. I wonder how many people would be in church if they did not have to work?  I wonder what they think about the Christians  who have a big time on the Sabbath?  Personally, I would not want to stand in their way.  I know what some of you are thinking right now. If they were not working they probably would not be in church anyway!  Why not give them a chance?
Then I wonder what the Lord thinks about in the church during Sunday School ~ coffee and biscuits or rolls or whatever is brought in and served.  My question is~ Can't they eat and drink coffee before and after church?   


Do not we try and teach our children to behave at church?  No talking, no eating, no gum chewing etc?   We teach them that Sunday we go to church to worship God.  
I don't want you to read me wrong and suppose that this goes on where we go to church.  The Sanctuary is God's House.  Our youth leader sits with the youth.  For the most part we have a good group of youth.  But we want to set the example, don't we?   So we need to be careful that we respect God's House so the generation coming on may follow.

I am not saying you have to see things in the same light as we do and I will not judge those that disagree. 

I know this post will not be received well, but it has been on my heart and I needed to write it. 
It seems to me that the Scripture has something to say about the Sabbath.  I also know the argument that it was so in the Old Testament because they were under the law!   But we are under Grace now!  Does that do away with the 10 Commandments mentioned in the Sermon on The Mount? Do we believe part of the Bible or all of God's Word?
In Jeremiah 17:21-22  ( Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; Neither carry forth a burden out of your  houses on the Sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.   Verse 27 (But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

You can read Nehemiah and his heart's longing was to go and restore the House of God.  He was in captivity but his heart was on God's House.  Nehemiah 13: 10 ( Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? )
Verse 15-17  ( In those days saw I in Judah some  treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and  testified against them in the day wherein they SOLD victuals.
There dwelt men of  Tyre also therein, which bought fish, and all manner of ware, and SOLD ON THE SABBATH  unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and  said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day.  

Nehemiah then told them that they brought more wrath upon  Israel by profaning the sabbath.  He commanded the gates to be shut and not opened until the sabbath day was over.  He also told the merchants and sellers  that there was no need to stay outside the gates of the wall and threatened to lay hands on the if they came again.  He was safe guarding the House of God and the sabbath day.  Don't we have a responsibility to safe guard God's House?

Ezekiel 20:19-20  (I am the Lord your God, walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them. And hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.)

  

Could it be that God's fury will be poured out because the House of God is dis-respected and His children wont listen?

Last Sunday we pass by the ball park and about three ball games were going on.  We came home and the place was flooded with 

cars and people.  Have people forgotten what the Sabbath Day is for?  Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God! May God help 

that  people will give The Lord back His rightful place. 

"That in all things, He might have the pre-eminence"