A recent Associated Press editorial concerning the way Sunday has changed in North American culture was sobering to read. It stated that within “living memory” Sunday used to be a day “set apart for church and family, a time when alcoholic beverages were unavailable, shopping impossible, and tending the lawn or other kinds of domestic chores met, at least in some places, with hearty disapproval.”
The editorial went on to say that “today, for a lot of Americans, Sunday is just another day [of the week] to go to work, to the mall, or tend to numerous responsibilities of our fast-paced ‘24/7’ culture.”
This change has taken place subtly and over a period of many years. I still remember over fifty years ago as a young boy the uneasy feeling I had when a neighbor in our small town did something almost unheard of he hooked up a garden hose and washed his car on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
The editorial ended by citing an “opinion poll” commissioned by a well-known national magazine which indicated that over 70% of Americans canvassed “did whatever they wanted to do on Sunday.”
The Lord’s Day
When reading this editorial, one was reminded of Exodus 32:66And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. (Exodus 32:6), where it is recorded that the “people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to sport” (JND). What “people” is being referred to? Why, the very chosen people whom He had graciously and gloriously delivered out of the terrible bondage of Pharaoh’s slavery in Egypt. Yet, once delivered and free, their hearts quickly turned from the worship and obedience due their Redeemer God to self-satisfaction, self-indulgence and idolatry.
Yet, dare Christians point an accusing finger at the Israelites? It is painfully evident that professing Christianity has just as readily given up faithful obedience to the Lord in all aspects of life. The current trend to treat “the Lord’s Day” as merely another day of the week is but one proof.
Himself or Yourself?
Only once in the Bible do we read of “the Lord’s Day.” Love requires no more. May our hearts be tender and our consciences exercised regarding how we view and use the day He claims as His.
Let us be reminded again of the unspeakable cruelty our Lord Jesus suffered at the hands of wicked men at Calvary. Meditate afresh on His infinite, atoning sufferings when He was forsaken during those three dark, awful hours. Hear His victorious cry, “It is finished” all that done in divine love that we might “be with” Him (John 17:2424Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)). The third day Sunday, the first day of the week our Lord rose victorious over death (1 Cor. 15:54-5754So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54‑57)). Ought not hearts won by such infinite love desire to devote (as directed by the Holy Spirit) “the Lord’s Day” principally to Himself?
Contented or Concerned?
Those delivered from bondage into the “glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom. 8:2121Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)) should not be contented to consider “the Lord’s Day” just another day to satisfy the hectic demands of our modern lifestyle shopping, running errands, enjoying recreation or completing other tasks.
Though none of these things are “wrong” or “evil” in themselves and at times are certainly necessary—should not our primary concern be to find ways to specially use this day to please our Lord?
Legality or Love?
It would be mere sectarian legality to create a list of “acceptable activities” for the Lord’s Day. No wife who truly loves her husband requires him each morning to leave her a “to do” list of tasks that are to be completed before he returns from work. Love, not rules, motivates her. And love for our blessed Saviour knows what meets with His approval. May our hearts be stirred and our consciences tender.
Fellowship or Flesh?
Revelation 1:1010I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10) suggests principles for guiding believers in using the Lord’s Day to honor Him. “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.”
The Spirit specially connects John’s being “in the Spirit” with “the Lord’s Day.” The Apostle was enjoying fellowship with God a condition which allowed him to receive a special divine communication. Should we not desire to hear what He would communicate to us? Let’s not devote the Lord’s Day to selfish, fleshly interests, causing us to miss the Spirit’s communications of the glories of Christ to our hearts, as well as His will for our feet.
In Ephesians 5:1818And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18) the Apostle admonishes, “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” There is a need to guard against becoming intoxicated with the pleasures of this life, if we are to experience the joy of communion with the Lord. It is impossible to be “filled with the Spirit” while satisfying the flesh.
The Lord’s Voice
John heard the sound of a great voice behind him. Those who are “in the Spirit” will receive a clear “trumpet sound,” providing a divine communication directing the heart to use His day according to His will. There are many “voices” in this world which demand our attention some very rightly. But none has as much right to claim a Christian’s attention as His great voice. Six times in Revelation we read that a “great voice” is heard, but only here is that voice connected with the Lord’s Day. Are we willing to spend His day listening to His voice or do we allow the voices of this world to drown out the communications of that great and blessed voice?
In 1 Thessalonians 4, believers are told they will hear “the trump of God” at any moment a sound and a voice calling us home to be with our blessed Lord Jesus forever. Let us desire to listen as eagerly to hear His voice communicating His will to us on His day as we are listening for His blessed call to “come up hither. ”
Ed.