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Discussion of George Gillespie's Wholesome Severity Reconciled with Christian Liberty

Subject: Re: GWS-2 Questions for thought
From: Richard Bacon 
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 08:30:22 -0500

At 09:26 AM 4/22/97 -0500, Tom Brewer wrote:

>Very quickly, I throw into the ring what I think should be obvious to
>all, and that is GG would definitley have the Sabbath in mind. Should
>the magistrate be responsible for assuring that all within his
>jurisdiction are "observing" the Sabbath in such a way as to remember it
>and keep it holy? 

The magistrate can certainly make sure that there are no overt civil
disturbances of the Sabbath rest (Nehemiah 13:15-22).

>Can there be liberty of conscience on Sabbath
>observance or is the Sabbath ordered around strict commands and
>regulations? 

As we will see, liberty of conscience according to GG does not
involve the liberty to *act* according to one's "conscience."  It
is also important, IMO, that we go back to another "question for
thought" posed earlier: what is the difference between conscience
and will?  How can we tell the difference (distinguish) them in a
person's action?  If "liberty of conscience" is a defense against a
violation of God's commandments, then how can it be that God is the
Lord of the conscienct?

>What kinds of violations would the magistrate be
>responsible to oppose? Will the magistrate be responsible for violations
>of conscience? 

See the Nehemiah passage quoted above.  Or suppose an employer
unlawfully oppressed his workers by requiring Sabbath work of them
in order to keep their jobs or to be hired in the face of workplace
competition, etc.

>If the magistrate learns of a constituent's lustful
>desires to forget the Sabbath observance, is the magistrate respnsible
>to oppose those unlawful desires, or must he wait until the constituent
>has executed those desires by an outward show of willful disregard for
>the Sabbath?

Since a matter must be decided by testimony, there must be an outbreaking
of sin into overt civil action before the magistrate can act lawfully.

>Just a few thoughts....

Thank you for participating.


Dick Bacon
I'm your moderator, not your mother.