The definition of cooking is to prepare food by applying heat. I know you commented on this last week, but wouldn’t a zealous man for God’s law not walk the fine line between cooking and heating. A crock pot is applying heat to warm the food including the microwave oven. I agree we need to have wisdom in these areas but shall we tread on the fine lines of God’s law?
I respect and appreciate your zeal, as I am sure God does also. James
Many people have the perception that HWA had the authority to “loose” eating out on the Sabbath and since he was God’s apostle what he said would be like going against God’s government. LCG totally teaches that not following the Government of God on this earth is tantamount to rejecting God’s authority. Several times I have had people say to me something to the affect of…who are YOU to go against what HWA said because that’s rejecting God’s government!
Another totally ridiculous argument I have heard over the years is…that we would have to stop getting mail and using electricity. That is so juvenile, obviously we can only do what’s under our control! For example, I love getting the newspaper but since I don’t want a Sabbath delivery…I don’t get it every day of the week.
It’s really quite simple like you said James, where there’s a will there’s a way!! (Saturday delivery of newspapers is a sin???? What will the Armstrongites dream up next?????)
I would ask those people; who in the world is HWA that he would dare to exalt himself above Almighty God, to dare to “loose” what the Eternal Almighty God has bound? That is the mark of the beast! Rebellion against God and his commandments! By exalting a man above God and obeying that man instead of God, the najor COG Groups today have the mark of the beast and they do not know it! I have gone on and on about exalting men and corporations and traditions of men above God; and people deny it, as they do it! James
The Apostle responds:
What about those who must take a bus to get to church on the Sabbath or pay tolls to drive to church?
As for tolls, one can often buy a ticket in advance or even a monthly ticket in advance; or one can establish another place of meeting, or take another route; or pay ONLY as an absolute last resort after exhaustng all other possibilities, as an ox in the ditch, and then work to resolve the problem. These are non issues if we use a little applied thought according to each unique situation.
And that still does not justify going beyond the absolute essential ox in the ditch. Lifting an ox out of a ditch does not justify then buying something or cooking, because we are too neglegent to properly prepare on the preparation day.
Such an ox in the ditch should also NOT be made into a weekly habit. If your ox is always falling in ditches; it is time to fix the fence! That means to fix the problem and properly prepare to avoid the problem the next time around.
We are obligated to prepare as much as we can, and not to use some excues to avoid any proper preparation at all. The rare exception does not change the overall rule.
In fact some car dealers would be happy to provide at cost or even donate used vehicles for a charitable tax deduction. I remember that my Father’s pentecostal church had a whole bus donated.
We have been using excuses and “ox’s in the ditch” to try and justify an “almost anything goes” attitude.
