Why the “Nation Sunday Law” theory is a hoax
Posted: May 22nd, 2006 | Author: Arnold | Filed under: Theology | View CommentsWhat is “National Sunday Law”?
For those of you who are not familiar with the term, National Sunday Law is the long awaited time by Seventh-day Adventists. It is suppose to be a time when the great United States of America will spear-head a passage of the law (bowing down the whims of the “beast” — the Papacy) which will require everyone to observe Sunday as Sabbath instead of Saturday.
According to the theory, rather, “prophecy”, US will pass a law making Sunday as the national day of rest. Everyone should observe it, otherwise, will be persecuted. Since the faithful Sabbathkeepers, namely, the Adventists will not obey the National Sunday Law, they will be persecuted and will run to the caves and wait for the 7 last plauges, the closing of probation, latter rain, blah, blah, blah…
There has been false alarms over time. I can vividly remember when I was a kid when a beloved Adventist missionary warned us over and over again for the “coming Sunday Law”. He would show a calendar where Monday is the first day and Sunday is the seventh. He said, it’s an indication that the “prophecy” is coming. Lo and behold, the great guy died, I graduated from college, got married then had a son, and there were no “National Sunday Law” in sight. In 1998, quite a few Adventists were shaken when the Pope issued a call for Catholics to “guard” their Sabbath day, Sunday and obey it faithfully. They said, it’s “the start”. The false alarm eventually fizzled out.
Lately, I’ve been receiving emails from Adventist friends, reading articles from Adventist websites and discussing in forums. I notice this trend again. The National Sunday Law buzz is all over their community once more! It was confirmed by my mom when she visited us over the weekend. She said, our local country Adventist congregation has been yeilding to this hype these days, discussing it Sabbath after Sabbath. I tried to explain to her why this cannot happen. The result is this article.
Why is this a hoax?
Let me give three (3) reasons why this is not going to happen.
1. The present trend in political liberal America. The National Sunday Law theory depends largely from politics, obviously because it takes politics to pass and implement a law such as this. Let’s try to observe what’s happening in the US nowadays.
First of, let’s look at how liberal America take the 10 Commandments. Notice how Americans successfully protected their “rights” in choosing a religion for themselves, avoiding people to impose their own beliefs. As a matter of fact, the 10 Commandments cannot be put up in any public places — schools, public offices, and the likes — because of this reason.
Secondly, and in connection with the first, remember how the liberals successfully blocked the inclusion of the study of “creationism” in science subjects? According to them, evolution is based on scientific facts, creation isn’t.
Thirdly, just few months ago, the US congress failed to pass a law prohibiting states in allowing same-sex marriage. The conservatives are so against same-sex marriage because it will thwart the plan of God and destroy the institution God established in creation — the family. Unfortunately, the conservatives do not have enough number in congress to pass a law prohibiting this act therefore, other states are still free to conduct same-sex marriages.
The 10 Commandments, creation and heterogeneous marriages — these 3 are considered by conservative America as important components of their religion. And yet, they can’t do anything about it.
Now, here’s the punch line. If these important aspects of religion cannot gain support, how can we expect the United States — a country of freedom, of choices, a country to seems to protect as hard as it can the rights of every individual — pass a restrictive law such as the National Sunday Law?
2. America is NOT Roman Catholicm, Roman Catholicm is NOT America. This NSL theory has 2 big components — the Roman Catholic Church and the United States of America. They are getting it wrong, though. US is largely a protestant country, not a Roman Catholic country. They only have one Roman Catholic president, and he didn’t even finish his term.
And guess what, most Protestants do not care about which day to “observe” as “holy day”. Yes, most do gather for fellowship on Sundays, but their main concern is to share the gospel of grace — the love of God through Jesus Christ — and not to promote a united “Sabbath day”. In fact, mega churches like Rick Warren’s Saddleback Community Church have about 2 or 3 services on Saturdays. And they don’t care. So, why would Protestestant America bother about the National Sunday Law?
I do hear about some Protestant groups calling for making Sunday a very special day. But hey, they don’t represent the entire evangelical church in the US.
3. National Sunday Law theory came from Ellen White. “And so?” you may ask. Read this, this, this, this, this , this and especially this. Those will pretty much explain what I mean.
This theory came from an unreliable source and unreliable “prophet”. How can any modern day students of the Word of God be fool by such a hoax!
Why am I so passionately against this
“Why don’t you just leave them alone”, you may ask. I would have, if not for this main reason: the Adventist church, or at least their members, are using this hoax as a scare tactic for both prospective members and their current members. When my mom told me about their discussions at church, I know I had to so something about it, at least what I can do online and other ways in reaching out. This is part of her story: she said, after the typical Sabbath service, my aunt told her, “Alam ko, pag may Sunday Law na at hinahabol na kami ng mga nag pe-persecute, ikaw ang magtuturo kung nasaan kami, kasi alam namin na kampi ka sa paniniwala ni Arnold” (translation: I know, when Sunday Law comes and persecuters are pursuing us, you’ll be the one to tell them where we’re hiding because you’re symphatetic to Arnold’s belief).
(FYI, my mom got born again already, she tried attending a Christian church back home but I can’t blame her for continuesly attending our local Adventist church because its basically her family. My Adventist family members know why I left Adventism and in their mind I’m a poor lost soul. Thanks to Jesus, I’m not)
See what you believe can do for you? I can’t tell you enough words to describe how a wrong belief can destroy families, and even your belief to the real God! Imagine, these people are so engrossed with waiting for the Sunday law to come, so engrossed with the Sabbath. Ask them if they have a personal relationship with Jesus or if they are sure of their salvation and you’ll be surprised of the variety of answers.
What’s my point? This scare tactic damages people. So I call on Adventists all over the world — PLEASE, STOP THIS NON-SENSE. The National Sunday Law serves only one purpose — It generates fear. Stop telling people about this theory. Instead, bring them closer to Jesus. Focus on leading them to a personal, close, intimate relationship with the saviour who “cast out fear”.