Why Some Catholics Are Confused About the Sabbath, are joining the Noahide Movement over it, and Catholic Responses

 

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Catholic Perspective on Why Some Catholics Are Confused About the Sabbath, the Appeal of the Noahide Movement, and Catholic Responses

The Sabbath, a central institution in Jewish tradition, holds a significant place in the Old Testament as a day of rest and worship, rooted in God’s commandment to Israel (Exodus 20:8-11). Some Catholics, encountering the Noahide movement—a Jewish-based framework for non-Jews that emphasizes the Seven Laws of Noah—become confused about why the Catholic Church does not strictly observe the Sabbath as prescribed in the Torah. This confusion can lead them to find appealing answers in the Noahide movement, which emphasizes adherence to biblical commandments, including a form of Sabbath observance. This essay explores why some Catholics are drawn to the Noahide movement’s answers regarding the Sabbath, the specific answers Noahides provide, and Catholic refutations of these answers. It also explains why Catholics do not keep the Sabbath in the Jewish sense, offering a theological and pastoral response to keep questioners within the Catholic Church.

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Why Some Catholics Are Confused About the Sabbath

The confusion among some Catholics about the Sabbath stems from several factors, rooted in their engagement with scripture, Jewish traditions, and the Noahide movement:

1. Biblical Emphasis on the Sabbath
   Catholics reading the Old Testament encounter the Sabbath as a divine commandment, instituted at creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and codified in the Decalogue (Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15). The strict observance of the seventh day (Saturday) as a day of rest, coupled with severe penalties for its violation (e.g., Numbers 15:32-36), can lead Catholics to question why their faith does not mandate similar practices. This is particularly true for those unfamiliar with the theological shift from the Old to the New Covenant.
2. Exposure to Jewish Practices
   Increased dialogue with Jewish communities or exposure to Jewish traditions through study or media can highlight the Sabbath’s importance in Judaism. Some Catholics, especially those with a strong interest in biblical roots, may feel that the Catholic practice of observing Sunday as the “Lord’s Day” lacks the same scriptural weight as the Jewish Sabbath, leading to confusion about whether they are neglecting a divine command.
3. Encounter with the Noahide Movement
   The Noahide movement, which promotes the Seven Laws of Noah as universal moral imperatives for non-Jews, appeals to Catholics seeking a deeper connection to biblical commandments. The movement’s emphasis on monotheism, ethical living, and respect for the Torah resonates with Catholics who feel that their faith’s practices diverge from Old Testament prescriptions. The Noahide movement’s inclusion of a form of Sabbath observance for non-Jews can seem like a return to biblical fidelity, prompting questions about Catholic practices.
4. Lack of Catechetical Clarity
   Some Catholics may not have been adequately catechized about the theological reasons for the shift from the Sabbath to Sunday worship. Without understanding the New Testament’s teaching on the fulfillment of the Law in Christ, they may perceive the Catholic practice as arbitrary or disconnected from scripture, making the Noahide approach appear more consistent with the Bible.

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Noahide Answers to Sabbath Observance Questions

The Noahide movement provides answers that appeal to Catholics confused about the Sabbath, emphasizing a return to biblical commandments and a simplified ethical framework. These answers include:

1. Sabbath as a Universal Command
   • Noahide Position: Noahides argue that the Sabbath, established at creation (Genesis 2:2-3), predates the Mosaic Law and is thus a universal principle applicable to all humanity, not just Jews. While Noahides do not mandate full Jewish Sabbath observance (e.g., refraining from all work), they encourage non-Jews to honor the day through rest and spiritual reflection, citing its divine origin.
   • Appeal to Catholics: This view resonates with Catholics who see the Sabbath as a timeless commandment and feel that Sunday worship lacks the same biblical grounding, prompting them to adopt a Noahide-inspired Sabbath practice.
2. Fidelity to the Torah’s Eternal Law
   • Noahide Position: Noahides emphasize the Torah’s eternal validity, citing passages like Deuteronomy 4:2 (“You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it”). They argue that the Christian shift to Sunday worship represents an unauthorized change to God’s law, and observing the Sabbath aligns non-Jews with the Torah’s moral framework.
   • Appeal to Catholics: Catholics seeking a direct connection to Old Testament commandments may find this emphasis on fidelity to the Torah compelling, especially if they perceive Catholic practices as diverging from biblical norms.
3. Simplicity and Clarity of Noahide Laws
   • Noahide Position: The Noahide movement presents the Seven Laws as a clear, universal code for non-Jews, including a prohibition against idolatry and a call to ethical living. Sabbath observance, while not strictly one of the seven laws, is often encouraged as a way to honor God’s creation and align with Jewish monotheism. Noahides may point to Exodus 20:10, which extends Sabbath rest to “the stranger within your gates,” as evidence that non-Jews are called to some form of observance.
   • Appeal to Catholics: The simplicity of the Noahide framework, compared to the complexity of Catholic liturgy and doctrine, can attract Catholics who feel overwhelmed or disconnected from their faith’s teachings on worship.
4. Rejection of Christian Supersessionism
   • Noahide Position: Noahides reject the Christian idea that the New Covenant supersedes the Mosaic Law, arguing that the Torah remains binding for all. They cite Deuteronomy 13:1-5, which warns against prophets who lead people away from God’s commandments, to suggest that Jesus’ teachings, as interpreted by Christians, undermine the Sabbath’s permanence.
   • Appeal to Catholics: Catholics questioning the legitimacy of Sunday worship may be drawn to this critique, seeing Noahide Sabbath observance as a return to God’s original intent.

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Catholic Refutation of Noahide Answers

From a Catholic perspective, the Noahide answers, while appealing to a desire for biblical fidelity, misunderstand the fulfillment of the Old Testament in Christ and the theological significance of Sunday worship. The following refutations address each Noahide position, clarifying why Catholics do not keep the Sabbath in the Jewish sense and providing reasons to remain in the Catholic Church.

1. Refutation of the Sabbath as a Universal Command
   • Noahide Claim: The Sabbath is a universal command rooted in creation (Genesis 2:2-3).
   • Catholic Response: While the Sabbath reflects God’s rest at creation, the New Testament reveals that Jesus fulfills and transcends the Old Testament Law, including the Sabbath. Colossians 2:16-17 states, “Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of… a sabbath, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” The Sabbath was a sign of the Old Covenant, pointing to the ultimate rest found in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-11). Catholics observe Sunday, the “Lord’s Day,” to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2), which fulfills the Sabbath’s purpose as a day of worship and rest.
   • Conclusion: The Noahide view overlooks the New Covenant’s transformation of the Sabbath, and Catholics honor its spirit through Sunday worship, keeping them firmly within the Church’s biblical tradition.
2. Refutation of the Torah’s Eternal Law Requiring Sabbath Observance
   • Noahide Claim: The Torah’s commandments, including the Sabbath, are eternal and unchanged (Deuteronomy 4:2).
   • Catholic Response: Jesus affirms the Torah’s moral principles but fulfills its ceremonial aspects, including the Sabbath, as stated in Matthew 5:17: “I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them.” The New Covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 8:8-13), internalizes the Law, shifting the focus from external observances to spiritual realities. The Sabbath, as a ceremonial law, was specific to Israel’s covenant (Exodus 31:16-17), and Christians are not bound to its literal observance but to its deeper meaning—rest in Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2175) explains that Sunday fulfills the Sabbath by celebrating Christ’s resurrection, the definitive act of salvation.
   • Conclusion: The Noahide insistence on Sabbath observance ignores its fulfillment in Christ, and Catholics remain faithful to the Torah by worshiping on Sunday within the New Covenant.
3. Refutation of the Simplicity of Noahide Laws
   • Noahide Claim: The Noahide laws, including Sabbath-like observance, offer a clear and universal code for non-Jews.
   • Catholic Response: While the Noahide laws provide a moral framework, they lack the fullness of revelation found in Christ. The Catholic Church offers a comprehensive vision of worship, integrating the Old Testament’s moral principles with the New Testament’s revelation of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law (Romans 10:4). Sunday worship, rooted in the resurrection (Revelation 1:10, “the Lord’s Day”), is not a rejection of the Sabbath but its transformation, as early Christians gathered on the first day (Acts 20:7). The richness of Catholic liturgy, sacraments, and community life surpasses the simplicity of the Noahide framework, offering a deeper encounter with God.
   • Conclusion: The Noahide appeal to simplicity is answered by the Catholic Church’s fuller revelation, which incorporates the Sabbath’s purpose into Sunday worship, keeping Catholics rooted in their faith.
4. Refutation of Rejection of Supersessionism
   • Noahide Claim: The Christian shift to Sunday worship violates the Torah’s permanence (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).
   • Catholic Response: The Catholic Church, especially since Vatican II (Nostra Aetate), does not advocate strict supersessionism but sees the New Covenant as fulfilling, not abolishing, the Old. Romans 11:29 affirms that God’s covenant with Israel is irrevocable, but Jesus universalizes salvation (John 4:22, “salvation is from the Jews”). The shift to Sunday worship reflects the new reality of Christ’s resurrection, which fulfills the Sabbath’s eschatological hope (Hebrews 4:9, “a sabbath rest for the people of God”). Deuteronomy 13:1-5 does not apply to Jesus, whose resurrection validates his divine authority (Matthew 28:18).
   • Conclusion: The Noahide critique misrepresents the Catholic view as rejecting the Torah, whereas Sunday worship fulfills its purpose, anchoring Catholics in the Church’s tradition.

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Why Catholics Do Not Keep the Sabbath in the Jewish Sense

Catholics do not observe the Sabbath in the Jewish sense (Saturday rest with strict regulations) because the New Testament reveals Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law, transforming the Sabbath into the Lord’s Day (Sunday). Key reasons include:

1. Christ’s Fulfillment of the Sabbath
   Jesus declares himself “Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8), showing his authority to reinterpret its purpose. His healing on the Sabbath (e.g., John 5:1-18) and teaching that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27) indicate that the Sabbath’s ultimate purpose is spiritual rest and communion with God, fulfilled in Christ.
2. The Resurrection and the Lord’s Day
   The resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1) marks a new creation, making Sunday the day of Christian worship. Early Christians gathered on Sunday for the Eucharist (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2), reflecting the belief that Christ’s resurrection fulfills the Sabbath’s promise of rest (CCC 2174-2176). Sunday is a day of joy, celebrating salvation through Christ.
3. The New Covenant’s Transformation
   The New Covenant, established through Jesus’ death and resurrection, transforms Old Testament practices. Hebrews 8:13 describes the Old Covenant as “obsolete” in its ceremonial aspects, including Sabbath observance, while its moral principles endure. Catholics honor the third commandment (“Keep holy the Sabbath”) by dedicating Sunday to worship and rest, aligning with the New Covenant’s focus on Christ.
4. Pastoral Continuity in the Church
   The Catholic Church, guided by apostolic tradition and the Magisterium, has consistently taught Sunday observance as the fulfillment of the Sabbath. The CCC (2184-2188) emphasizes Sunday as a day for Eucharist, prayer, and rest, preserving the Sabbath’s spirit while rooting it in Christ’s resurrection. This continuity reassures Catholics that their practice is biblically and theologically sound.

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Keeping Questioners in the Catholic Church

To Catholics confused about the Sabbath and drawn to the Noahide movement, the Church offers a compelling response: the Catholic faith fulfills the Old Testament’s promises, including the Sabbath, through Jesus Christ. Sunday worship is not a departure from scripture but a celebration of the resurrection, which completes God’s plan of salvation. The richness of Catholic liturgy, the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), and the Church’s deep connection to biblical tradition provide a fuller expression of worship than the Noahide framework. By understanding the theological shift from the Old to the New Covenant, Catholics can remain confident in their faith, recognizing that Sunday observance honors God’s commandment in a way that reflects the truth of Christ’s resurrection and the Church’s mission to proclaim it.

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Conclusion

Some Catholics become confused about the Sabbath due to its prominence in the Old Testament, exposure to Jewish practices, and the appeal of the Noahide movement’s emphasis on biblical fidelity. Noahides attract these Catholics by presenting the Sabbath as a universal command, emphasizing the Torah’s eternality, offering a simple ethical code, and rejecting Christian supersessionism. However, Catholic theology refutes these claims by showing that Jesus fulfills the Sabbath, that Sunday worship reflects the New Covenant, and that the Church’s practices integrate the Torah’s moral principles into a fuller revelation. By observing Sunday as the Lord’s Day, Catholics honor the Sabbath’s purpose in a way that celebrates Christ’s resurrection, ensuring that questioners find answers within the Church’s rich tradition, keeping them rooted in their faith.