Working on Sunday

November 16, 2004 · Filed Under theology

Interesting article in the new WORLD Magazine regarding Family Christian Bookstore’s decision to open their stores from 12-5 on Sunday afternoons.

This, predictably, has created a bit of a tempest (check out the discussion at Worldmagblog.com), as it has brought out the pietists who claim that such an action is a slap against the Sabbath, and, thus, a sin against the Lord.

I appreciate, somewhat, the sentiment behind the outrage. It is, however, misplaced pietism, and an unfortunate misunderstanding and misapplication of Biblical doctrines. Christ fulfilled the Law, of which the Sabbath was clearly a part. We are called to live our entire lives, in all our God-given vocations, out of a Sabbath-like respect for God. We definitely need to set aside time for “resting in the Lord,” and weekly attendance of the Divine Service is a very good, right, and salutary contribution to do so. Daily reading of the Word and devotions are also ways to do so.

However, we are no longer under the onus of a mandatory, specific day of the week. Culturally & traditionally, Sunday has been that day set aside for overt observation of a “Sabbath.” But it could’ve just as easily been Tuesday. Living out our entire lives under the Gospel is the overriding point, not some rote, Law-driven, “let’s meet our duty”-type of thing.

If a business wants to close its doors on Sundays, out of some desire to honor the Lord — well, that’s (putting the best construction on it) certainly commendable, and should not be frowned upon, criticized, or condemned. Neither, by the same token, should the decision to be open on Sundays be condemned as an act of unfaithfulness.

From a Lutheran perspective, I’m thinking that the worst thing to come out of all this is that folks will have 5 more hours a week during which they’ll have the opportunity to purchase heterodox, and potentially spiritually damaging, materials. And that, to paraphrase Martha Stewart, is most certainly not a good thing…

-ghp

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Tags: faith, pietism