– 6 Min Read
It is hard to think of a Christian mind quite like Edwards. The man was not only an excellent theologian but was a brilliant philosopher as well. He was a poet, preacher, prolific writer, and Puritan. He was a perfect storm for God to unleash on the early American colonies to grow His church. Jonathan Edwards brought revival to this nation and ‘stage-chasing’ preachers have been trying to mimic him ever since. Some say Billy Graham is the greatest revival preacher America has ever seen. I say that the people who make such a claim have never heard of Jonathan Edwards.
In Jonathan Edwards’s Discourse, Christian Cautions – Section IV, he asks several questions of self-examination regarding our treatment of the Lord’s Day. He kicks it all off by asking about our neglect of the Lord’s Supper. This is because most Puritans observed the Lord’s Supper very frequently.
Edwards asks in his first question:
1) “Do you not wholly neglect some of those institutions, as particularly the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper?”
– Jonathan Edwards [1]
This is an excellent point to make; not only is someone in the sin for forsaking the assembly but also for forsaking the Lord’s Supper — a commanded ordinance. When you hear that we will be participating in the Lord’s Supper do you become excited? Does it bring a smile to your face when you gather with the saints and remember what the Lord has done on your behalf? It no longer becomes a forsaking of the assembly, but a forsaking of The Table.
Edwards asks another question:
2) “Do you not live in sin, in living in the neglect of singing God’s praises?”
– Jonathan Edwards [2]
This is another great observation of the result of neglect that absentees incur by not obeying Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. These scriptures mandate for us to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with melody and thankfulness in our hearts with one another and towards each other. The Lord loves our singing. Certainly, some of our voices will be first on the list of those to be redeemed when we get to heaven. Yet the Lord still loves to hear them now (Psalm 96, Psalm 9:11).
His third question sounds strange so I will include his commentary on it:
3) “Are you not guilty of allowing yourselves in sin, in neglecting to do your part towards the removal of scandals from among us? All persons that are in the church, and the children of the church, are under the watch of the church; and it is one of those duties to which we are bound by the covenant which we either actually or virtually make, in uniting ourselves to a particular church, that we will watch over our brethren, and do our part to uphold the ordinances of God in their purity. This is the end of the institution of particular churches, viz. the maintaining of the ordinances of divine worship there, in the manner which God hath appointed.”
– Jonathan Edwards [3]
In other words, you do not care for the testimony and reputation of God’s church and God’s people by neglecting them. You do not care to be there to watch over the people of God with the intent of upholding their unity and conformity to God’s scriptures. We are called to spur one another on to good deeds and use the scriptures to rebuke and correct the saints (Hebrews 10:24, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Edwards continues with more:
4) “Art not thou one whose manner it is, to come late to the public worship of God, and especially in winter, when the weather is cold? And dost thou not live in sin in so doing? Consider whether it be a way which can be justified; whether it be a practice which doth honour to God and religion; whether it have not the appearance of setting light by the public worship and ordinances of God’s house. Doth it not show that thou dost not prize such opportunities, and that thou art willing to have as little of them as thou canst? Is it not disorderly practice? And if all should do as thou dost, what confusion would it occasion?”
– Jonathan Edwards [4]
The sin of arriving late. Some people in churches are always late. This attitude towards the Lord’s Day, according to Edwards, is sinful and I agree with him. Once again if Sabbatical rhythms are not in mind or in the heart towards Sunday, then why not be late for the assembly? What does it matter to be late, right? Well, it certainly does matter if the Lord’s Day is special. The scriptures tell us that we should watch our steps and guard our steps as we go to the house of God (Ecclesiastes 5:1). You should not be late to the assembly. This is especially so when you keep the day holy unto the Lord. Being late for church is almost as bad as falling asleep in church, which is Edwards’ next point.
5) “Art thou not one whose manner is commonly to sleep in the time of public service? And is not this to live in a way of sin? Consider the matter rationally; is it a thing to be justified, for thee to lay thyself down to sleep, while thou art present in the time of divine service, and pretenders to be one of the worshiping assembly, and to be hearing a message from God? Would it not be looked upon as a high affront, an odious behavior, if thou shouldst do so in presence of a king, while a message was delivering to thee, in his name, by one of his servants?”
– Jonathan Edwards [5]
The root of all of this is a lack of sabbatical disposition towards the Lord’s Day. And it is mixed with the sin of laziness and topped off with selfishness. May the questions from Edwards speak to us and cause us to self-reflect on how we treat the Lord’s Day. Self-reflect on how you view the Lord’s Day and how you show your appreciation of it. Is it something you look forward to? Or something that you dread? Then, after you give your answer to yourself, observe your past actions. Your actions will speak the truth about how you view Sunday and how you appreciate it. Actions speak louder than words. Remember, it’s not about you. It’s not called Your Day. It’s the Lord’s Day. Remember it and keep it holy.
Read Next: The Christian Sabbath Part 10: Christ is Our Present and Future Rest, So Rest In Him
Works Cited
[1-5] Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards. vol. 2, (East Peoria, IL, The Banner of Truth Trust, 1974), 2 vols, 179-180.