Why I'm Still Keeping the Sabbath

You've heard why I first started keeping the Sabbath. It's been more than 11 years since then! I'm still keeping it. Here's why:

-The conviction still holds. Throughout the past decade plus, I have heard a zillion arguments for why believers don't need to honor the Sabbath. But none of these hold up under the examination of Scripture. As I continue to read and study YHWH's word, the significance of Sabbath comes up in many ways, and I still feel conviction to set apart this holy day. My faith has grown through this time of Sabbath keeping, and I'm more convicted of the importance of this than when I first started.

-I like it. I should be following the Bible's instructions whether I appreciate them or not, but I truly do enjoy and look forward to the Sabbath! It is a calming factor throughout the whole week. No matter how busy the season I find myself in is, I know I will have a break and time to rest each and every week, and I look forward to that. The time to rest and study the word is a joy, and I'm happy to be able to set aside work, chores, and other obligations on the Sabbath.

-It benefits me. I find myself overwhelmed with life far less often than I did before Sabbath keeping, even though I have more going on to balance. The mental, as well as physical, break refreshes me for the upcoming week, and I know myself to be far more productive 'working' six days a week instead of seven. My energy level is higher, I feel refreshed, inspired, and more alert mentally thanks to Sabbath keeping.

-It really is doable! Many people find this hard to believe but setting apart the Sabbath as a day of rest and not working is not too hard. It took time to learn how to rest and relax and not focus on the cares of the rest of the week, but once you know how, you know! Now that I'm used to keeping the Sabbath, it is completely natural to prepare for it and keep that day free of other commitments. My husband and I have both found jobs where we don't work on the Sabbath. Our families and friends have accepted this part of our lifestyle. I've found that the world does go on, even if I'm not participating in the same things that I used to on Saturdays.

-I can see how others who started keeping the Sabbath benefit. When I started keeping Sabbath I did so at the same time as my now-husband, my parents, and several other friends and families from our small congregation. They're still keeping Sabbath too and would tell you it is meaningful and valuable. I can see how their faith has grown through taking this tangible step of faith.

-To show others that it is possible. When I get together with people who don't keep the Sabbath, there's usually a clear theme: everyone is mind-numbingly busy and stressed to the point of tears. I hear this from friends, relatives, coworkers, and people in my community. I don't look down on anyone for not keeping the Sabbath - I didn't either for much of my life - but I do feel for those who are overwhelmed with no break in sight. I want to show others that even if you're juggling a million responsibilities and commitments, you can still partake in this incredible gift of rest and restoration from our God!

More on the Sabbath:
Sabbath in the New Testament
Tips for Resting on the Sabbath
Things I Love about the Sabbath

Basics of Biblical Law

What comes to mind when you think of Biblical law? That phrase used to sound foreboding to me. I pictured people getting stoned for any little thing they did wrong. I thought it was insanely nitpicky things that no one could ever do, and a lot of animal sacrifice.

With this attitude, Biblical law scared me. I eagerly accepted that the Messiah came to do away with it so I wouldn't have this terrible threat looming over me! Any time an "Old Testament" concept would come up, I would write it off, thinking it had been done away with. I would hear of things like Sabbath keeping and assume those people were also sacrificing goats or wanted to stone people who did wrong.

But eventually, I read through all of the Old Testament and saw for myself what Biblical law actually consists of. When I started actually reading Scripture I realized it really isn't so bad. It's mostly pretty reasonable, with obvious benefits.

Part of the problem is we mix Biblical law in with the instructions for the Levitical priesthood. I don't want to undermine that the Levitical temple service was legitimate and served a valuable purpose - it did. But Scripture tells us that the Messiah's priesthood is of the order of Melchizedek, not Levi. We do not have to worry about offering up animals when we sin. Praise YHWH!  Because the Messiah's death was once and for all, we are not to take up animal sacrifice or other Levitical customs, but that doesn't negate Biblical law. 

Levitical law and Biblical law are not the same thing. Plenty of Biblical instructions were given before the Levitical priesthood was instated. Men and women starting with Adam and Eve were given commands from the Creator. Noah and his family knew the difference between clean and unclean animals, Abraham and Sarah were instructed in how to serve YHWH, and the ten commandments were given before Levitical law was a thing. It is imperative to recognize the difference between Biblical law and Levitical law.

Biblical law mostly consists of the following categories:

-instructions about worshipping YHWH

-commands for treating others

-instructions for Biblical holidays, including the Sabbath

-animals we are commanded not to eat

-instructions for loans and business conduct

-instructions for sexual conduct

The more I studied about these commandments, the more I realized that most of these are pretty practical, and help us to live in a way that invites peace and contentment, as well as the Holy Spirit into our lives. Here is the Living God, handing out life hacks if you will. Let's examine these categories in a bit more depth.

Basics of Biblical law:

We are commanded to worship YHWH within certain parameters.
-YHWH is to be our only god. (Exodus 20:3)
-We should love YHWH with all of our heart, mind, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
-We should remember the name of YHWH and not bring it to vanity. (Exodus 20:7)
-We are not to test YHWH's promises and warnings. (Deuteronomy 6:16)
-We are not to make images or idols. (Exodus 20:4)
-We are not to practice soothsaying, enchanting, sorcery, or necromancy. (Deuteronomy 18:10-11)

We are given commands for how we treat others.
-Love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)
-We are to honor our parents. (Exodus 20:12)
-Lost property must be returned to its owner. (Exodus 23:4)
-We are to love converts to the faith. (Deuteronomy 10:19)
-We are not to steal. (Exodus 20:15)
-We are not to covet our neighbor's possessions. (Exodus 20:17)
-We are not to deny charity to the poor. (Deuteronomy 15:7)

We are commanded to observe YHWH's set apart times.
-We are to set apart the Sabbath day and rest and worship YHWH on it. (Exodus 20:8-11)
-We are to observe Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Shavuot, the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles. There are a few more instructions for each specific holiday. (Leviticus 23)

We are commanded not to eat certain animals.
-Animals that don't have hooves and chew the cud are forbidden. (Leviticus 11:4)
-Fish must have fins and scales to be permissible. (Leviticus 11:9)
-We are not to eat blood. (Deuteronomy 12:23)

Loans and business conduct.
-We are to lend money to the poor and foreigners without interest. (Exodus 22:24, Deuteronomy 23:21)
-Workers should be paid on time. (Deuteronomy 24:15)
-Accurate weights and measures need to be used. (Leviticus 19:36)
-We are not to demand payment from a debtor known to be unable to pay. (Exodus 22:24)
-We should not fraudulently move property boundaries. (Deuteronomy 19:14)

Instructions regarding sexuality.
-Physical intimacy is to be within a marriage covenant. (Genesis 2:24)
-Adultery is forbidden. (Exodus 20:14)
-Homosexuality is forbidden. (Leviticus 18:22)
-Divorce must be formalized with a written document. (Numbers 5:15-27)

Do these things sound like something the Messiah wanted to do away with? Do we really think YHWH sent his son to liberate us from not having other gods besides him? Was his goal to free us from the obligations to honor our parents and to not commit adultery? Would it be a positive if we started denying charity to the poor, started using dishonest weights and measures in our businesses, made robbery okay, and started practicing necromancy?

If we are going to understand the New Testament we need to know that it never speaks against these things! The Messiah never said anything against Biblical law. You can search the entirety of the New Testament and you will not find him violating these commandments, suggesting others do so, or saying negative things about them. He always followed and upheld these things.

The same goes for the the disciples and authors of the New Testament. No one was speaking or acting against Biblical law. There are many passages of the Bible that seem like this is what's happening, but in those cases they are either talking about the Levitical priesthood ending or saying that believers don't need to abide by Jewish or manmade laws. While the Messiah frequently told his followers to set aside manmade traditions, he never taught anyone to disregard Biblical law.

Please note that this post goes over the basics of Biblical law, and is not intended to be an enumeration of every single law in the Bible.

Related posts:
Comparing the Melchizedek and Levitical Priesthoods
The Three Types of Laws in the Bible
Commandments or Traditions - Understanding the New Testament

Tips for Transitioning to a Biblically Clean Diet

Are you struggling with making the change to a Biblically clean diet? Old habits are certainly hard to break, but Scripture says that you can do all things through the Messiah! Additionally, here are some ways you can help to make the process a little easier on yourself.

Tips for Transitioning to a Biblically Clean Diet:

-Keep in mind that the transition is the hardest part. You might feel hungry and frustrated now but these feelings will pass. Your body will naturally adjust and learn to crave Biblically clean foods. I've heard many former pork lovers say that they can't stand the smell of it anymore. This process will get easier as you go!

-Fast. Fasting is a Spiritual practice that has physical benefits as well. You could fast for several days or just a certain meal. You could do this regularly or occasionally. Use that time to pray that YHWH would help you break any unhealthy or unholy addictions or cravings. As a bonus, when you break fast you will be more receptive to the foods you're maybe not as much of a fan of. Hunger helps food to taste better. 

-Try new foods...or not. There are basically two schools of thought on this. You can try all sorts of new recipes and ingredients that you wouldn't normally have before as a way to find Biblically clean meals and snacks that you appreciate. Or you can go with 'cleaning up' some of the things you are used to eating...like switching to chicken or turkey sausage or "bacon" made from lamb or beef. Some people find the familiarity helpful, while others prefer to have things not taste different all of a sudden. Figure out which method works best for you.

-Figure out a new go-to pizza. If pizza is what you are frequently served at get-togethers, office lunches, impromptu meals, etc., you will want to have some new ideas of what to order or look for when pizza is served. Ground beef is available as a topping at most pizza places. Ground beef with onions and peppers is a favorite among believers I know. Barbecue chicken is another popular choice. If you're making your own pizza turkey pepperoni and chicken sausage are both easy to find and go well on pizza.

-Take encouragement from others. I've heard of the benefits from hundreds of people who have made this change in their life. It really is edifying to be obedient to Scripture. People report feeling closer to YHWH, growing spiritually, feeling better, and fewer health problems! Even those who haven't necessarily felt any changes report that they are glad they made this choice!

-Jot down Biblically clean staples to turn to. Make a list of family favorite recipes that are Biblically clean, or write out a list of clean snack options for yourself. Having a visual reminder can be very beneficial if you are breaking old habits. This is especially helpful if you have family members or roommates with unclean items in the kitchen that would be easy to turn to when you're hungry. Set yourself up for success by reminding yourself of what you can eat!

-Make meals at home. When you're making the adjustment it can be easier to cook meals rather than try to navigate restaurant menus. Get used to cooking and eating in a way that honors the Creator in an environment that you have control of. It will make it easier to go out later!

-Identify what you're having the most difficulty with. Is it a certain meal or a craving for a specific thing? Pray for wisdom about how to handle that. Can you fast that meal? How about finding a clean alternative? Remember that Scripture says you can do all things through the help of the Messiah!

-Go out for coffee, rather than a full meal. If friends that you normally go out with are not supportive of the changes you are making, then it might be easier to not eat with them for a while. Or if your local restaurants are hard to eat clean at but you still want to have a place to meet with friends, going out for coffee can be a nice alternative and it will save some money.

-Avoid places or things that might tempt you. Set yourself up for success by steering clear of normal temptations. If you were trying to lose weight, you wouldn't hang out in a donut shop all day and expect good results. As you work to eat Biblically clean, think about staying away from your regular breakfast spot if you would normally get bacon and sausage there. If your office normally has pepperoni pizza in the breakroom on Fridays, then going elsewhere for lunch could make it easier to make different decisions. 

-Remind yourself why you are doing this! Why did you make this decision? Did you feel the tug of the Holy Spirit in this direction? Are you wanting to honor the Creator in your daily life? Do you want to be more obedient to what the Bible says? All of those are worth all the sacrifices we make! 

Related posts:
How to Eat Biblically Clean
Questions and Answers on Biblically Clean Eating

Tips for Eating Biblically Clean at Summer Cookouts

The Ultimate List of Biblically Clean Recipes

This page serves as a landing point for all sorts of Biblically clean recipes. Whether you're new to cooking in the way that Scripture tells us to, or you just need some fresh inspiration for meals, turn in here for links to Biblically clean breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack recipes. 

Are you new to Biblically clean eating? Essentially, it's following Scripture's instructions about what we do and don't eat. You can learn more about it here.

A couple of things...

-The recipes I share here are mostly from other blogs. I'm not necessarily recommending everything else on those websites, but the specific recipes I give links to (and anywhere else on Land of Honey) meet the criteria for Biblically clean food.

-I try and stick to recipes that are made from real, whole, healthy ingredients. While you don't have to eat ultra healthy to have a Biblically clean diet, I do think it's wise to have the majority of our diets be foods that the Living God created, which promotes health in our bodies. 

-For the most part these recipes are simple and straightforward and totally doable for any old weeknight. I try to find dishes that don't require a huge investment of time or money to make, so you can feed yourself and your family Biblically clean meals throughout busy seasons.

-I don't believe the Bible forbids mixing meat and dairy. See more on that here. That said, in the few recipes I share that mix red meat with cream or cheese, it would be easy to leave out one ingredient or the other, or to make a substitution such as ground turkey for beef, or olive oil for butter, if you prefer.

-A lot of people will tell you that only veganism is truly Biblically clean, but this idea is simply not supported by Scripture. While you could certainly make an argument that Adam and Eve's original diet was plant based and free of animal products, the Bible also tells us which animals are permissible to eat, and the Messiah describes eggs as good things and served fish to the disciples after he rose from the grave. If you want to have a vegan diet, go for it, but it's not accurate to say that the Bible requires this of believers.

Below is the list of Biblically clean recipe compilations that have been shared on Land of Honey. As more are published, the list will be updated. 

Master List of Biblically Clean Recipes: 

Slow Cooker Recipes that are Biblically Clean

Breakfast and Brunch Recipes

Biblically Clean Sheet Pan Meals

Recipes for Biblically Clean Chinese Food

Biblically Clean Meal Ideas 

Soups that are Biblically Clean

Biblically Clean Recipes for Fall

Biblically Clean Tacos

Biblically Clean Cookout Recipes

Biblically Clean Summer Recipes

Make Ahead Salads that are Biblically Clean

20 Grill Recipes with No Pork or Shellfish