Sunday worship as Lord's Day; no Saturday Sabbath requirement; free
Waldensians practice Sunday worship as the Lord's Day, commemorating the resurrection of Christ, without imposing any requirement for Saturday Sabbath observance. The Waldensian Confession and the broader Reformed tradition view the Sabbath commandment as having been fulfilled and transformed in the Christian era. Sunday has become the proper day of Christian worship, replacing the Jewish Saturday Sabbath.
Waldensians do not regard Saturday Sabbath observance as necessary for Christian obedience or identity. The church is free to worship on Sunday, the first day of the week, as a celebration of Christ's resurrection and a sign of the new covenant. Christians are not bound to the Old Testament Sabbath laws, which are understood as part of the ceremonial law fulfilled in Christ.
This position distinguishes Waldensians from groups like Seventh Day Baptists and Seventh-day Adventists, which emphasize Saturday Sabbath observance. For Waldensians, the Christian freedom regarding days (Colossians 2:16) means that believers are not obligated to observe any particular day as holy, though the Lord's Day tradition is affirmed as appropriate for Christian worship and rest.
Key Distinctions
- Day observed:
- Sunday
- Observance theology:
- Lord's Day as commemoration of resurrection; Reformed tradition
- Binding on christians:
- yes, Sunday rest encouraged but not strictly enforced
Scripture References
Sources
- Waldensian Confession of 1655
- Reformed tradition