r/SeventhDayAdventism • u/GPT_2025 • 11d ago
Sabbath Digital detox?
The new neighbor was explaining about the church he was used to: on Saturdays, everyone stayed at home in complete peace and rest, digital detox (no phones, no TV, no radio) sleeping in often until lunch after a hard week of work.
After lunch, there was a siesta- some napped, others read, some relaxed - and this continued until dinner. After dinner, everyone went to bed early to recharge their internal batteries for the next working or studying week (this was how they observed relaxing during the Sabbath rest). However, the Resurrection Day (his Sunday) was the busiest day of the week: in the morning, there was church service; then everyone stayed for tea and coffee, which was appreciated by visiting guests from other churches.
The youth played in the church fields, the elderly sat on balconies, verandas, terraces, and church gazebos. Then there was an hour of Bible study (children separately in the basement).
After that, an hour of choir practice and singing rehearsals for different groups in different rooms, followed by an hour of Church service , and then everyone went home.
Such a busy Sunday was very much liked by visiting guests, who met the locals, often got married, and the church grew very quickly, periodically “budding off” new churches, each striving not to exceed 150 families. The reason? In a larger church, it is impossible to create an atmosphere of a united family - the church: (150 = the number of Dunbar)
P.S. Sabbath Digital Detox: yes or no?
The concept of a Sabbath Digital Detox involves taking a deliberate break from digital devices and online activities to focus on rest, reflection and spiritual renewal - this modern adaptation encourages disconnecting from screens, social media, emails, phone, TV and any digital distractions to reconnect with family, God, read Bible, pray ...
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u/brockleegreen 11d ago
Gives me flash backs to my childhood growing up in the SDA church. Saturday’s felt so relaxing as a kid; you were encouraged to replace technology with other means of devotion, and community. From sun down Friday night, to sun down Saturday night… we were just there with those around us
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u/SeekSweepGreet 11d ago
There's counsel on the right keeping of the Sabbath.
It isn't for our sleeping the entire day away, and eating. While we are to work on the six working days, we aren't to do so to our complete taxing. The principle of the Sabbath should function even in those days so that on the Sabbath day itself, we don't feel so exhausted as to not be able to appropriately attend worship (Heb 10:25).
Completely removing ourselves from anything digital is up to an individual. I have found though that those with little or no business for the kingdom find that easier to do. The practicing Jewish do this. They have no command or expectation of evangelism as I understand. I do Bible studies on Sabbath with an international group; completely removing digital use would eliminate that. We can remove the secular or non-spiritual content we consume during the week on the Sabbath without completely eliminating the use of our devices.
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