Author Linwood Jackson, Jr. writes about the important concepts of mental and spiritual health. He draws inspiration from his strong faith, his belief in the Bible, and the power of its words. He knows how life-changing it can be to improve yourself in those mental and spiritual aspects. He encourages his readers to think and take care of themselves, while still setting healthy boundaries. He says these actions will translate into a better life for not only us as people, but also, all those around us.
I spoke with the author about his belief in the Sabbath. We had a great conversation about how the Sabbath can help simplify our life and redirect us toward the Lord. He also updates us on what’s in the future for him and his writing.
Do you think it’s possible for us to truly rest in the heart of the Sabbath with the current speed of society? Have we lost the ability to do this well? How do we get it back?
The good thing about the Bible’s wisdom is that it cares for the society within the human being. We have truly forgotten Sabbath etiquette, which is why Moses thought it best to say to the people, in regards to the Sabbath, “Remember the seventh day.”
The need to use the word “remember,” in regard to the Sabbath, is just so evident. Society will be what society will be, and the religious world has even, and since the beginning of time, picked up the spirit of secular society, in that by a speedy consumption of theological theories the religious conversation is “beautiful,” and knows all.
A return to the Bible’s “rest” is a return to the fact that the only society that matters is the one within. It says, and always will say, concerning the fourth commandment, “Remember,” and for a good reason.
What do you see as one of the greatest challenges of the church today?
Well, the living God’s Sabbath has been forgotten, so there’s that. And, then there are factions purportedly honoring that Sabbath, yet not the “rest,” but rather the “day” supporting that “rest,” which is also a tragedy, because it is believed that a “day” is the Sabbath, when, by language and context, the Sabbath is simply a period of mental and devotional refreshing during a period of time on a specific day of the week.
To call a day a “sabbath” is, I mean, to violate the language in Genesis stating a blessing held to the seventh day, and not that the seventh day, or any day, is that blessing. The blessing held to the seventh day of the week is the “rest” to be received when meditating on the Bible’s words, which leads me into the answer of the question, that the Bible’s language and context is the greatest challenge for the church today, and has been since the beginning of time.
What’s next for you? What some other topics that you’re wanting to write about?
I’ve just published a book of poetry, “Growth,” creatively detailing the relationship between my thoughts and feelings. This book highlights the joys and sorrows I’ve experienced when learning how to practice the Bible’s spiritual understanding, revealing the beautiful controversy the human being suffers when allowing the living God’s words to create it into what it was born to be.
Next up will be a book entitled “Justification,” where the subject of justification, according to the Bible’s definition of justification, will be examined. I particularly love this subject, and do find it necessary for publication, because popular theology has distorted Bible language and context. The living God has only one intention for our conversation’s conscience, and that is to justify it, and in this book, the reader will understand just what, according to the Bible, is to be “justified.”
