Why This Sabbath Matters

This article was born from journaling on Sabbath, the first one following Charlie Kirk’s tragic death. I intentionally unplugged as a direct result of his challenge and encouragement for Christians to honor the Sabbath (I’ve linked that video in this article). Sabbath isn’t often embraced in mainstream Christianity. Many dismiss it as “legalism” or a Jewish practice, but from what I’ve experienced and what Charlie described, it is a blessing.

He described the way he keeps it as more of a Jewish style Sabbath. He even wrote a book, set to release in December, Stop in the Name of God. I’ve already pre-ordered it and plan to review it.

When I first posted a video of Charlie being interviewed about Sabbath, it was the first time I learned he kept it. After sharing, I received questions about how to observe the Sabbath, and members of our Biblical Roots group raised the same. That inspired me to share how our family keeps it, and how this one was a little different, unplugged on the inspiration of Charlie.

What Sabbath Looks Like for Our Family

Charlie Kirk mentioned that his family observes a Jewish-style Shabbat. It begins at sundown on Friday night. He “unplugs,” puts his phone into a drawer, and for 24–25 hours is fully present with his family and the Lord.

We’ve been practicing Sabbath for about two years, but I had never truly unplugged. Often, I’d scroll through Facebook, post, and interact, as long as it was conversation geared toward the Lord. But this Sabbath was different. After seeing the online firestorm of debates and hateful rhetoric surrounding Charlie’s assassination, I knew I’d be better off stepping away.

On Friday night, I typically prepare a nice family meal before sunset, though I’m not strict about the time. I’ll set the table with linens and light the Shabbat candles (just regular stick candles). We began the evening with prayer and our meal. We don’t always do this, sometimes it’s more casual, but it sets a beautiful tone.

That evening we took a walk as the sun set. The sky swirled with yellow, pink, and blue-green, a painted reminder of God’s daily masterpiece. Afterwards, the kids and I played a board game called Bibleopoly, which lasted about two hours before bedtime.

My husband works shifts that require him to be gone every other Friday or Saturday. Since this was his work Friday, it was just the kids and me.

The next day, Saturday, the whole family headed to the beach, something we hadn’t done in about two years. The weather was 82 with high winds, and the red flag was up for surf. Even the birds seemed at rest, bracing themselves against the wind. I was reminded of how the birds neither sow nor reap, yet our heavenly Father provides for them. Are we not worth much more than they are? (Matthew 6:26).

As the seas roared, against the backdrop of a week filled with tragedy, I thought of God’s sovereignty. He controls the wind and waves. I nestled into a book that felt most appropriate for this season, Spiritual Warfare by Dr. Karl Payne, one I hadn’t picked up in six months.

After a few hours at the beach, we came home for a late lunch of leftovers and picked up our family Bible study in Acts. We paired it with a show we’ve been watching on the same subject, then I quickly nodded off. When I woke, I noticed my daughter was asleep too. We had received the physical rest our bodies needed without pressure to be busy. Later, by request of my children, we played round two of Bibleopoly.

Not every Sabbath looks the same. Sometimes we fellowship with other families, share meals, and read through the Word together.

Why Unplugging Struck Me Deeply

On Sunday, we went to church, picked up groceries, finished household chores, and cared for the animals. I started laundry, planned the week, and settled back into routine. That evening, as I climbed the stairs with my mind already full of to-dos, I found myself longing for the next Sabbath.

It struck me that this longing is the same yearning we carry for eternal rest with the Father. This world is not our home; we are “foreigners in a foreign land.” Just as the Israelites looked ahead to the promised land, we too look ahead—heavenly bound, with hope through Christ. Sabbath is a picture, a glimpse, a token of blessing pointing us forward to heaven. That realization was profound.

I reminded myself: work six days, rest on the seventh. That simple truth carried me into the week. Even when our best efforts at rest fall short, even Sabbath-keeping points us to God’s grace.

Charlie Kirk’s Sabbath Encouragement

“The world cannot reach me, and I get nothing from the world. It will bless you infinitely.” – Charlie Kirk on unplugging for Sabbath

I only recently learned that Charlie and his family observed the Sabbath, and he often challenged his audience to do the same. While he emphasized that Christians are not legally bound to it, he still advocated for its importance, noting that Sabbath predated the law itself. God modeled it by resting on the seventh day, and the command to remember the Sabbath is included among the Ten Commandments

This is my conviction as well, which I wrote about in Is Sabbath Relevant? In the video linked below, Kirk describes how his family keeps Sabbath and the benefits they experienced. He addressed the topic on more than one occasion and even wrote a book, Stop in the Name of God, releasing in December. I look forward to reviewing it here, so stay tuned. Be sure to sign up for our blog newsletter so you don’t miss future posts.

Encouragement for Others Exploring Sabbath

Sabbath is observed in many ways, and Christians continue to debate whether it’s still binding, whether it has been replaced by Sunday, or how it should be kept. My encouragement: approach it with grace and personal conviction, through Scripture.

For us, a few practices help set Sabbath apart:

• Unplugging from devices
• Sharing meals and fellowship
• Taking time to physically rest
• Reading Scripture together
• Spending time in prayer

This is an ongoing conversation in the Biblical Roots Homesteading & Homemaking Guide: A Vintage Virtues Community on Facebook. I’d love for you to join us there to dive deeper and encourage one another in faith.

Concluding Thoughts

Each Sabbath reminds us that true rest is still ahead. It’s a gift from God pointing us toward the eternal peace we will one day find in His presence.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like Is Sabbath Relevant? Lingering on Isaiah 56:1-7 and More

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