Why Sunday

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by mfblume

I will add that the ten commandments are not the basis of the new covenant. In those ten happens to be an amoral one about sabbath. Just because sabbath is listed with moral commandments does not make it moral. Why reason that if we must obey some of them that we must obey all just because they're all in this list. Why cannot the list contain moral commandments and ceremonial ones? The law itself contained many moral things as well as ceremonial. And we do not keep the ceremonial ones, like circumcision that distinctly prefigured baptism. Why cannot that be the case with the ten. Only the sabbath was said to be a shadow in the New, not any others. Why cannot the Ten simply include something that would pass away for the body it foreshadowed, while the others would not??

It seems to me that you are assuming the 4th commandment is amoral, which is also the conclusion of your argument. That's basically a begging of the question (it looks like you begin with the 4th commandment is amoral, then reason to a conclusion that it is amoral and therefore non obligatory).

On the ceremonial side, anointing with oil and laying on of hands were "ceremonial" acts under the old covenant (and prior, as well), yet under the new covenant there is anointing with oil and laying on of hands. There were washings under the old covenant, and a washing in the new (a real actual ceremonial washing, called baptism, and another for those who believe in and practice footwashing). Many actions that were spelled out under the old covenant continue under the new, with a fuller Christological meaning and purpose. Where that new meaning also creates a new methodology is clearly spelled out in the NT writings and also blatantly addressed in the OT writings (such as the transition of the liturgy from Levitical methodology to Melchezedek/Davidic/Christian methodology, especially as regards sacrifice nd offerings, the priesthood, etc). The prohibition against graven images is all about ceremonial ritual actions (venerating religious imagery, etc). The prohibition against taking the Lord's name in vain has its primary and immediate purpose to regulate the swearing of religious oaths - a formal ceremonial action.

So we see that several of the ten commandments contain liturgical, ceremonial elements which are inseperably bound to their moral content. It is IMMORAL to genuflect before images, even though such is a purely ceremonial act. Why is it immoral? Because it is immoral to disobey God.

Dividing commands into moral versus ceremonial or non moral is an unbiblical division of divine law developed out of a humanist perspective that arose during the rise of catholicism. All of God's instructions are moral. Jesus said man shall live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Therefore, every word of God is moral law, has moral content, and is given to regulate the actions of moral agents.