Never on a Sunday: the Sabbath and the Christian Academic Library

Volume 45 | Issue 3 Article 6 2002 Never On A Sunday: The aS bbath And The Christian Academic Library - Part 2 J. Ray Doerksen Seattle Pacific nU iversity The Christian Librarian is the official publication of the Association of Christian Librarians (ACL). To learn more about ACL and its products and services please visit //www.acl.org/ Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/tcl Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Recommended Citation Doerksen, J. Ray (2002) "Never On A Sunday: The aS bbath And The hrC istian Academic Library - Part 2," The Christian Librarian: Vol. 45 : Iss. 3 , Article 6. Available at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/tcl/vol45/iss3/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Christian Librarian by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RON A SUNDAY: THE SABBATH AND THE CHRISTIAN ACADEMIC LIBRARY PART 2 J. Ray Doerksen, n the last issue, I set the biblical Sabbath implications for Christian background for the application of institutions as corporate bodies University Librarian I the Sabbath concept to contempo groups of those who say they belong Seattle Pacific University rary Christian higher education, to God. God does not have a separate especially libraries. My study led to me group plan, whether we are members of Seattle, Washington to the following conclusion: a Christian educational organization or In essence, my position is that a specific local church. But as a Sunday should be observed in the community ofChristians, we are a This workshop modem church for the same two manifestation of the body of Christ for reasons as those touching the Sabbath the world. Sabbath observance enables was presented at the in the Old Testament. That is, the the church to give a corporate testi 2002 Conference of the Sabbath should be observed as a day of mony to the grace of God in the same physical rest, and the Sabbath should be way that Israel was instructed to bring Association of Christian observed by the community as a sign of light to the world when it observed the the covenant between God and his Sabbath as a community in the Old Librarians, Trevecca people. The New Testament recognizes Testament. This corporate testimony Nazarene University, a future Sabbath rest based on a new will probably have more visibility in the covenant between God and his people. culture than individualistic Sabbath Nashville, Tennessee The creation Sabbath and the promise observance alone. of Canaan are precursors of the eternal Should Christian colleges and rest that God now offers through Christ. universities dedicate their time so that In effect, Jesus fulfilled what the Old Sunday is a day to rest from labor, thus Testament Sabbath symbolized theo giving testimony to a covenant relation logically, but He did not obliterate the ship to God as a Christian institution of need for physical rest for the human higher education? Some with whom I race. I suggest that since the Sabbath as have discussed the matter have indi a day of physical rest antedates the cated to me that observing Sunday as a giving of the Law, that its observance is day of rest is an empty gesture. It does still a wise thing for people to do. That not impress the world; it does not even is, the New Testament does not invali impress other Christians. If this is true, date God's mandate in Genesis for a I think it is unfortunate. I admit that rhythm of rest for his creation. there is a more important reason for Here, in Part Two, is the rest of the doing what is right than to impress story. others-and that is to please God, even if no one notices-but God has SABBATH IMPLICATIONS FOR revealed that his "peculiar" people will CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL be noticed. Sabbath observance, then, INSTITUTIONS may provide an opportunity for a verbal witness to a culture that is lost. So far I have dealt with the Sabbath What is the nature of that cultural as something that is primarily for witness? Here, Wayne Muller's book, individuals. I believe that there are also Sabbath: Restoring the Sacred Rhythm 106 The Chlfs€Jybrarian, 45(3) 2002 ofRest, is helpful. Muller stat.c!' that our Besides giving testimony to the We need to teach them that the culture judges the health of the nation grace of God and challenging our Sabbath is not meant to curtail freedom, in economic terms. Thus, transactions culture's values, are there any other but rather is a means to free us to do that involve money-such as produc benefits that accrue when Christian what is good apart from the normal ing goods and services-are valued; institutions of higher education embrace cares of the world. A good question is: transactions that involve the giving of a Sabbath culture? Yes! I believe that If a Sabbath culture were adopted, time (raising children at home?) are not one of the most important outcomes is would students observe it? In other measured. This demonstrates the that the students learn to value time in a words, how successful can we be in prominence given to materialistic manner that more closely parallels swimming against the cultural tide? values in our culture. Muller again: God's, rather than society's, desires. There are those who predict that some "People who have a lot of money and Even apart from any religious students will continue to work, even if no time, we call 'rich.' And people who context, Richard J. Light, in Making the the university closes down. That may be have a great deal of time but no money, Most of College, makes an interesting true, but if honoring the Sabbath is the we call 'poor.' A 'successful' life is one point with regard to time management right thing to do, the fact that some fail in which one is always terribly busy, in academia. In studying why some is not a sufficient argument against working hard, accomplishing great college students succeeded while others Sabbath-keeping. There is little, if things, and making a great deal of struggled, he came to the following anything, that Christian universities are money."' We have the opportunity to conclusion: able to teach successfully to all demonstrate to our culture-by The critical word is time. Sopho students. Yet we normally do not throw observing the Sabbath-that money mores who had a great first year up our hands in defeat. should not be the highest value. typically talked about realizing, when The answer, I believe, is in positive, Muller also argues that our cul they got to college, that they had to consistent teaching regarding the ture-particularly our economic think about bow to spend their time. significance of the Sabbath. As with system-is built on producing discon They mentioned time management, and lifestyle expectations, there need to be tent In our consumer society, he says, time allocation, and time as a scarce reminders-as well as an orientation for we pursue happiness by seeking to resource. In contrast, sophomores who each new class that comes on campus. satisfy our desires, but our desires are struggled during their fLTst year rarely We need to teach that time is a good insatiable. "Happiness is the single referred to time in any way ....The gift of God and the Sabbath is a special commodity not produced by the free distinction in attitudes toward managing day to honor God with a portion of our market economy ....The lie is this: time translates into a distinction time-time for relationships (with God While they are promising happiness, and with they are really selling dissatisfaction."2 others), As I argued in Part One, one of the reflection, benefits of observing the Sabbath is rest, and showing contentment with what God recreation. bas given us, in time as well as money. Maybe this One of the hallmarks of American lineup could culture is constant action. Americans be called the are doers; rest is counter-cultural. Again NewFourRs Muller observes: "Our culture invari ofChr istian ably supposes that action and accom education! plishment are better than rest, that Since many doing something-anything-is better students than doing nothing ... Even when our (maybe even intentions are noble and our efforts faculty and sincere--even when we dedicate our staff) lives to the service of others-the struggle with corrosive pressure of frantic over time manage- activity can nonetheless cause suffering between new students who prosper and ment (and who has not felt the force of in ourselves and others."3 A Sabbath those who struggle.5 academic time pressure), the Sabbath culture offers time. "Sabbath is more As a Christian institution, we have can become the vehicle to inculcate a than the absence of work; it is ... a the opportunity to help our students new appreciation ofGod's view oftime. period of time to listen to what is most learn the value and use of time by using Marva J. Dawn states, in her book, deeply beautiful, nourishing, or true."4 the Sabbath as a fulcrum. Keeping the Sabbath Wholly, "I can The ChJF@ifybrarian, 4S(S) 2002 107 promise you that if you develop a on Sunday. Business offices are closed. universities are first ofall educational lifestyle in which you spend one day as Why is the library open on Sunday? institutions, as I stated earlier. What are a Sabbath day without wearing a watch, I would like to suggest that the we teaching students about their you will be more able to accomplish all reasons revolve around the concept of stewardship of time, though, when we that you have to do on the days you the library as a support service for the encourage them to do their work (study) wear one.

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