Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/86

Contributor - Will Kroon

Title - The Church in the World

Topic - The Sabbath

A Reflection on the Meaning of the Sunday

For most of us the Sunday was and is a special day. I was strengthened in that conviction when I heard a group of elderly patients discuss how they used to celebrate the Sunday during their youth. They shared that for them the Sunday was a day for worship, a day for the family, a day to nurture the soul and to refresh the body. Part of the Saturday was used to prepare themselves for the Sunday.

My reason for bringing up this subject is that all across Canada big and small businesses are challenging the Sunday closing laws. They put tremendous pressure on politicians, police, as well as on the courts to change present legislation re: Sunday closing laws. We see this happen all around us with very little protest. This not only erodes the way we have been keeping the Sunday; it also undermines our faith and the structure of the family.

While reading the newspapers one is given the impression by the business giants, that we need to have our Stores open on Sundays. They give various reasons for wanting a change in laws. They pretty well say that they owe it to the public to do so. Now if the Church is concerned about this matter, it needs to examine these arguments and offer alternatives. I for one don't believe that there is a need to have longer shopping hours. People have only so much to spend on food. No one is going to eat more or is going to eat differently when they can buy groceries on Sundays. Basically it is greed that motivates them. By being open they seek to draw customers away from a competitor.

How to Speak So That We Will Be Heard

If the Church wants to speak out on this issue and expects to be taken seriously it needs to give the impression that it understands the complexity of today's society. Giving a doctrinal message on the use of the Sunday is useful in Church but it will do little to the outside community. The community will only listen if it perceives the issue to be relative. Today's society is different from even a few decades ago. in my home town the majority of people belonged to a church and most politicians where leading members in the Church. This is no longer the case, although many politicians are active in their local congregations. A large percentage of the population has lost touch with the Church. Furthermore, many immigrants worship on Friday, the Jews and the Seventh Day Adventists worship on Saturday, while the majority of Church people still worship God on Sunday. The issue becomes even more complex when we see that more and more people have to work on Sundays in places such as hospitals and nursing homes, etc. How then can we reflect on the meaning of the Sunday and be heard. The Canada Conference of Catholic Bishops have made such an attempt.

The Meaning of Sunday in a Pluralistic Society

The Conference of Catholic Bishops, which in recent years have cooperated with the Canadian Council of Churches, have, on Sept. 4, 1986, issued a pastoral reflection on the meaning of the Sunday with the above mentioned title. This letter was first of all meant for their own members. However, the bishops made it quite clear that they wish to "unite with . . . brothers and sisters from other faiths in renewing their reflections on the Sunday." They forwarded a copy of their reflections to us and I would like to share their concerns and quote some of their suggestions. They feel that it is of concern to the churched and the unchurched alike to keep the present legislation on Sunday closing.

The Need to Review the Meaning of Sunday

"Most Christians celebrate the first day of the week as the day on which Christ rose from the dead." They point out that "on Sunday, our original feast day, we come together to hear the Word of God and to offer thanksgiving and praise." The bishops go on to say that "we celebrate our salvation in Christ and await in joyful anticipation the fullness of life in God's eternal glory." Furthermore, "there are several other profound human reasons why one day of the week should remain free of commerce." What the bishops stress is that keeping the Sunday free from work and commerce is not only a Christian concern but a concern for all who wish to protect the social, cultural and spiritual needs of the whole person.

A Common Day of Rest

Most people will readily admit that in our hectic, competitive society, we need at least one day a week to rest from the hardships of daily work so as to renew and restore our spent physical and mental energies. It is not only important for all to have a day of rest each week, it is also important to have such rest on a common day. For instance, if the members of the family all rest on a different day it will be impossible to worship together, to visit each other or to enjoy a mutual sharing.

A Day of Inner Renewal

By refraining from work during one day a week we will restore our physical and mental energies. It will renew our inner beings and help us to be at peace with God, with ourselves and with our fellow human beings. "At present, economic interests tend to dominate our society. The move to permit shopping on all days of the week seems to reflect this emphasis on material prosperity," the bishops believe. By saying "no" to the "Sunday shopping movement" the Church opposes this trend and supports the principle that there is more to being human than material prosperity. "A fullness of life is more than efficiency and profit making."

A Christian Celebration of Sunday

I believe that many of us agree that "in the long run, Sunday will retain its character as a special day not through the force of law but because people wish it to remain so." If we do worship on Sunday and refrain from shopping on that day, business will get the message. If all Christians would ban together on this it might not even be profitable to open on Sunday.

"As Christians, we are called in a special way to live the full meaning of Sunday. To begin, we will continue to honour Sunday as the Lord's Day whether commercial activity is permitted or not. Following the example of the early Church, we will always come together on this day to remember and celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. It will remain for all Christians a day of extra time to spend with God in prayer, spiritual reading and Christian conversion."

Some Practical Suggestions to Help Us Keep Sunday Special

In conclusion here are briefly some of the suggestions given; suggestions, I believe, which are shared by many of us.

1. Personally respect the Sunday and keep it as a day of rest.

2. Participate in public debates re: Sunday shopping.

3. Write letters and make phone calls to the electronic media.

4. Support other denominations who share a similar view on the use of the Sunday.

5. Do business with those people who respect Sunday as a day of rest.

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