Is Sabbath Needed Today?

The Sabbath is often considered a religious practice, a day to keep holy and rest. It is believed to be a spiritual practice because it is part of the creation story. We also know that one of the Ten Commandments is remembering the Sabbath and keeping it holy. While the Sabbath originated with God, one may question its role in today's culture, a culture that is full of stress and anxiety with no time for rest.  

In the book Always On, Gorrell looks at our culture and discusses life's busyness, especially with all the new technology that can consume much of our time.[1] Gorrell looks into whether technology helps or changes society and how to have a healthy perspective, especially in social media settings. She suggests ways not to lose relationships in the real world and communion with God. Gorrell challenges her readers to have a "rhythm for life," which is not full of constraints but nurturing.[2] A "rhythm for life" or "rule for life" is a form of Sabbath; it is a time to commit to turning away from technology for a short time and connect in nature, in relationships, and with God; it is also a time of rest.[3]

With technology always in our hands, it is easy never to have time away from the requests and demands of others. If we allow ourselves to check work emails on our time away from work, we soon lose time in our personal lives. In church leadership, if we enable congregants to message us at any time without an emergency, we may find our vacations interrupted by something that could have waited until we were back at the church office. Gorrell suggests having a "rule for life" will help in healthy boundaries and downtime to enjoy a sabbath.

As someone who has served in church leadership most of her adult life, I must admit that Sundays can be packed with giving oneself to others. I have often wondered what the Sabbath is supposed to look like for those serving in the church. While we honor Sunday as the Sabbath, for many, it may need to be a different day or time of the week. Gorrell suggests starting with a fifteen-minute daily walk for those struggling with the idea of a full day for Sabbath or "rule for life."[4] Once we incorporate a small Sabbath, we may find a desire to go to a more significant time for a Sabbath.

Wayne Muller is a minister and therapist who believes in the importance of the Sabbath; one of his most famous quotes is, “Rest is essential in our lives; when we are rested, we are often kinder to those around us.[5] Practicing the Sabbath in our lives makes us better people as we find ourselves more rested, less stressed, and more connected with God’s voice. The Sabbath is a gift from God that he exemplified to us. To reap the benefits of the Sabbath, we must be committed to participating and allowing it to be a long-term rhythm in our lives.   

[1] Angela Williams Gorrell. Always On: Practicing Faith in a New Media Landscape.  (Grand Rapids, MI; Baker Academic, 2019).

[2] Gorrell, 152.

[3] Gorrell, 153.

[4] Gorrell, 153.

[5] Wayne Muller. Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives. (New York, New York: Bantam Books. 1999). 11.