Read the book that got Jay Adams hauled into court!
As you suspected, the title is intended to be clickbait—but it worked and here you are. Yes, it is true, but we are not talking about a civil court. Instead, Jay ran afoul of some fellow Presbyterians who took umbrage with him. His view of the Sabbath and Sabbath-keeping was a departure from the Westminster Confession, so one presbytery in his Synod officially accused him of deviating from his commitments to the confession when he joined his denomination. The charges were quickly dismissed, however, when paperwork was produced showing Adams had freely declared his disagreement on this point and was granted an exception by his presbytery.
Jay loved the Westminster Confession and held classes teaching it in the churches he pastored. He was invited to deliver the closing address to the Assembly of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) meeting on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the Westminster Assembly in London.[1] But is was with this one area Jay had to dissent. The following is his explanation for his motivation in writing this book:
As you consider this issue, if you are like me, you may be overwhelmed and perplexed by a myriad of questions.
What is Sunday? Is it the Christian Sabbath? Is it the Lord’s Day? Is it different from the other six days? Can you do anything besides going to church, read Christian books, help the needy, or play Bible games? Can you watch TV or go shopping? How do you apply the Old Testament law—today? How should you observe the first day of the week?
For many years I voraciously devoured every book about the Sabbath that I could get my hands on. I would start reading with high hopes but again and again, my hopes were dashed. In the worst way I wanted to find a book with the answers for others and for myself.
So after much Bible study and encouragement from friends, I send Keeping the Sabbath Today? forth, addressing these and other questions. As you read it, I hope that the light of God’s Word will make clear the path before you as you seek to honor him seven days a week. I pray that God will use keeping the Sabbath today as a blessing in your life.
[1] That address is included in the collection of essays entitled Counseling and the Sovereignty of God.