Travis Fentiman
Puritan Board Sophomore
Friends,
It is often thought Westminster Confession 21.8 prohibits all recreation on the Sabbath.
On the contrary, I have written something of an academic article which appears as "Intro & Westminster Only Necessarily Prohibits Worldly Recreations on the Sabbath" on the Recreation on the Lord's Day webpage at ReformedBooksOnline. Here is a summary of it from its "Summary Conclusion":
----------------
"While recreation is a proper work of the other six days of the week and not the Sabbath, it appears from Westminster’s historical context, the writings of Westminster divines, the context of the Assembly’s process and the standards themselves, especially as these were consensus documents (which tend to the lowest common denominator) and are able to be read in the way here argued, that the original intent of Westminster as an Assembly did not prohibit all recreation on the Sabbath simply, but only necessarily prohibited “needless… worldly… recreations.” It would appear this understanding of the Westminster standards cannot be disproved except it be demonstrated this reading is not legitimately possible.
Spiritual recreation was evidently allowed (and is necessary for the Day’s purpose). While “worldly” might refer to honest, earthly recreation, or recreation done in an immoral, worldly way, the very ambiguity in the consensus context only necessarily prohibits the latter. Even honest recreations, apart from “all sports and pastimes” (per the Directory), may be allowed, if necessary. While divines did vary on what constituted necessity, many of the puritans did affirm that it encompasses a relative degree of moral necessity unto a relevant benefit, such as giving life (Mk. 3:4; Lk. 6:9; 14:3), which view has been argued here. Common decency, nature’s light, Christian prudence and the Word’s general rules do qualify the worshipful observance of the Lord’s Day (WCF 1.6; 1 Cor. 14:26,40).
Pleasurable activity, refreshment and recreation largely overlap, and did for many reformed divines, and exist on a continuum. These may be allowed if they are not distracting from or hindering of, but consistent with or subservient and beneficial to worship, which the whole day is to be devoted to apart from necessities. Worship, commonly defined by the reformed (and others) in its narrow sense as an immediate honoring of God, encompasses not only instituted ordinances, but also immediate natural worship, which can involve meditatation, spiritual conversation, enjoying and praising God for his works, reading godly literature and other spiritual employments.
This is a fuller and more exact keeping of the Lord’s Day than the wood-box view, which may not allow for some of these qualifications. It is hoped those who have held to that view, perhaps not knowing any better, have come to a fuller understanding of the Lord’s Day.
As we are subjects and have subjective needs, motivations and inward worship, Lord’s Day observance has a subjective aspect. Playing catch with the football and making love, while not proper Lord’s Day activities, may be lawful if they are consistent with or conducive to Lord’s Day purposes and right reason; otherwise they break the Sabbath."
------------------
If you have seen an earlier version of this article previously, it has been signifcantly updated with numerous more sections in the last week or so. Give it a read over again, and you will likely learn A LOT.
After an early, brief version of the article several months ago, I caught wind some persons may have been saying that I am not an expert, so it may be dismissed. So I added around 8 times the primary source documentation and have liberally quoted experts. Then I heard some persons may have been saying it was loose on the Lord's Day, so I filled it out, showing that it is the most precise keeping of the Lord's Day possible (according to all the light I have found and can see), and that the "wood-box" view (see the Intro), on the contrary is loose and a shortcoming of the Lord's Commandment, as argued.
I have never changed my general view on the practical keeping of the Sabbath, though my understanding of Westminster's teaching has changed in the last several months. The impelling cause for writing this article was seeing an RPCNA post on FB saying Westminster prohibits "worldly recreations", quoting one of the Catechisms. This intrigued me, never even having considered this before, and I searched into it to see if the claim holds water. In doing so I became firmly convinced it is true.
I hope this all is very beneficial to you, and will help you keep the Lord's Day more fully and with greater love and spiritual recreation in our Lord.
It is often thought Westminster Confession 21.8 prohibits all recreation on the Sabbath.
On the contrary, I have written something of an academic article which appears as "Intro & Westminster Only Necessarily Prohibits Worldly Recreations on the Sabbath" on the Recreation on the Lord's Day webpage at ReformedBooksOnline. Here is a summary of it from its "Summary Conclusion":
----------------
"While recreation is a proper work of the other six days of the week and not the Sabbath, it appears from Westminster’s historical context, the writings of Westminster divines, the context of the Assembly’s process and the standards themselves, especially as these were consensus documents (which tend to the lowest common denominator) and are able to be read in the way here argued, that the original intent of Westminster as an Assembly did not prohibit all recreation on the Sabbath simply, but only necessarily prohibited “needless… worldly… recreations.” It would appear this understanding of the Westminster standards cannot be disproved except it be demonstrated this reading is not legitimately possible.
Spiritual recreation was evidently allowed (and is necessary for the Day’s purpose). While “worldly” might refer to honest, earthly recreation, or recreation done in an immoral, worldly way, the very ambiguity in the consensus context only necessarily prohibits the latter. Even honest recreations, apart from “all sports and pastimes” (per the Directory), may be allowed, if necessary. While divines did vary on what constituted necessity, many of the puritans did affirm that it encompasses a relative degree of moral necessity unto a relevant benefit, such as giving life (Mk. 3:4; Lk. 6:9; 14:3), which view has been argued here. Common decency, nature’s light, Christian prudence and the Word’s general rules do qualify the worshipful observance of the Lord’s Day (WCF 1.6; 1 Cor. 14:26,40).
Pleasurable activity, refreshment and recreation largely overlap, and did for many reformed divines, and exist on a continuum. These may be allowed if they are not distracting from or hindering of, but consistent with or subservient and beneficial to worship, which the whole day is to be devoted to apart from necessities. Worship, commonly defined by the reformed (and others) in its narrow sense as an immediate honoring of God, encompasses not only instituted ordinances, but also immediate natural worship, which can involve meditatation, spiritual conversation, enjoying and praising God for his works, reading godly literature and other spiritual employments.
This is a fuller and more exact keeping of the Lord’s Day than the wood-box view, which may not allow for some of these qualifications. It is hoped those who have held to that view, perhaps not knowing any better, have come to a fuller understanding of the Lord’s Day.
As we are subjects and have subjective needs, motivations and inward worship, Lord’s Day observance has a subjective aspect. Playing catch with the football and making love, while not proper Lord’s Day activities, may be lawful if they are consistent with or conducive to Lord’s Day purposes and right reason; otherwise they break the Sabbath."
------------------
If you have seen an earlier version of this article previously, it has been signifcantly updated with numerous more sections in the last week or so. Give it a read over again, and you will likely learn A LOT.
After an early, brief version of the article several months ago, I caught wind some persons may have been saying that I am not an expert, so it may be dismissed. So I added around 8 times the primary source documentation and have liberally quoted experts. Then I heard some persons may have been saying it was loose on the Lord's Day, so I filled it out, showing that it is the most precise keeping of the Lord's Day possible (according to all the light I have found and can see), and that the "wood-box" view (see the Intro), on the contrary is loose and a shortcoming of the Lord's Commandment, as argued.
I have never changed my general view on the practical keeping of the Sabbath, though my understanding of Westminster's teaching has changed in the last several months. The impelling cause for writing this article was seeing an RPCNA post on FB saying Westminster prohibits "worldly recreations", quoting one of the Catechisms. This intrigued me, never even having considered this before, and I searched into it to see if the claim holds water. In doing so I became firmly convinced it is true.
I hope this all is very beneficial to you, and will help you keep the Lord's Day more fully and with greater love and spiritual recreation in our Lord.