The Christian Sabbath

There can be no doubt that a seismic shift has taken place within the English-speaking world over the last sixty years regarding what used to be referred to as ‘the Christian Sabbath.’ What was considered to be a day of rest, worship and holy activity is now just like any other day of the week — one for the shopping mall, the sports stadium, or for some selfindulgent ‘me-time.’ What has led to this transformation? Or, more importantly, how ought we to think of the first day of the week? Were our forefathers correct in their understanding of ‘the Lord’s Day’ or ‘the Christian Sabbath’? And what did the Lord Jesus Christ mean when he said that ‘the Sabbath was made for man’ and that he was ‘Lord of the Sabbath’? Terry Johnson investigates these questions and the issues raised by them. He draws out the teaching of Scripture and illustrates it from the writings of many of the great teachers of the Christian church. He then sets out practical recommendations to help today’s Christians experience the benefits and blessings of the special day God has given us.

Terry Johnson is the senior minister of the Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, Georgia. He was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. His home church was Baptist, his sport was baseball, and his favourite class was history. As an undergraduate at the University of Southern California, he continued to play baseball and study history. But he also began to grow spiritually and over time sense a call to the gospel ministry. This led to two years at Trinity College, Bristol, England (an Anglican theological college), two years at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, and ordination in the Presbyterian Church in America. After 5 years in Coral Gables, Florida as an assistant minister, Terry married the former Emily Billings, and within 6 months they moved to Savannah to take up the call of the Independent Presbyterian Church, which they have served since 1987. Terry is the author/compiler of the Trinity Psalter and Leading in Worship, and author of The Case for Traditional Protestantism (published by the Trust), Reformed Worship, and the trilogy, When Grace Comes Home, When Grace Transforms, and When Grace Comes Alive. He and Emily have five children.