Newspapers and media outlets will sometimes publish Letters to the Editor to express the views of their readers. These are opinion pieces that provide different perspectives on different issues to the broader community. The reason why these communications are important is because they highlight concerns that people have that are not receiving sufficient coverage in the media or in the ongoing public discourse. And as Seventh-day Adventists, we should be concerned whenever members of any community start advocating for the return of rigorous Sunday laws.
The Meadville Tribune published a Letter to the Editor on November 13, 2023, urging for the reinstatement of the Blue Laws and the closure of all businesses on Sunday. The letter also compared Sunday closing laws with the work of Jesus when he drove out the money changers from the temple. The paper reported:
• “In the religious fervor sweeping the conservative ranks, why is it we never hear anything about ‘blue laws’ being reinstated? [1]
• “For those of you too young, blue laws prevented the operation of stores and other establishments on Sundays. Mar-A-Lago (Donald Trump’s resort) should be closed, Wal-Mart should be closed, CVS as well.” [1]
• “Did not Jesus drive the money changers from the temple? You bet he did, and if the religious right is for real, then why have we not heard one peep or seen one far-right Southern city shuttered on Sundays?” [1]
There is absolutely no connection between Jesus’ cleansing of the Jewish Temple and the establishment of Sunday laws, so equating the two is a very poor application of theology. One has to do with preserving truth, while the other establishes error. But this is the mindset of many Protestant evangelicals. There is a growing political ideology that seeks to merge elements of apostate Christianity and public policy. What we are witnessing here is a call for the state to uphold Sunday as the preferred religious day of rest for society, in the name of Jesus.
These are the same arguments that will bring about the Sunday law here in America. In order for this to happen, there must be an alliance between church and state. Whenever religious perspectives significantly influence political decisions, this opens the door so that Sunday laws can be implemented. This act will violate the separation of church and state, which is a fundamental principle in many free societies.
Sunday laws restrict the rights and opportunities of minority groups, both religious and nonreligious, who don’t observe Sunday as a special or holy day. On the other hand, Sunday laws favor the larger Christian populations, who do regard Sunday as holy and deserving of protection. These laws are unfair because they were historically intended to establish a uniform day of worship for society. Therefore, these laws not only go against the teachings of Scripture regarding the true Sabbath day as established by God, but they also discriminate against other religious groups. There is no place for discrimination in a free society.
We believe that Sunday laws will soon make a comeback to the forefront of national discourse in the United States in accordance with Bible prophecy, considering the global agitation many are making to reestablish this day as the official day of rest. We’ve been told that Satan himself is directly behind every attempt to bring Sunday back to life.
“Not a move has been made in exalting the idol sabbath, in bringing around Sunday observance through legislation, but Satan has been behind it, and has been the chief worker” (Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 977).
“This false sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law. Satan and his angels are wide awake and intensely active, working with energy and perseverance through human instrumentalities to bring about his purpose of obliterating from the minds of men the knowledge of God” (Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 985).
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Something that springs to mind when I hear blue laws is how a policeman killed a child at a park who was kicking a ball around in the name of sunday blue laws,
Blue laws will be Draconian.
So called Sunday keepers probably constitute less than 1% of Christians. I have personally have never met one despite many years of working among people of all faiths and my only knowledge of one in modern times is from watching the movie Chariots of Fire.
Something absolutely drastic will have to occur before a majority of people start clamoring for a Sunday law let alone a law restricting observance of the 7th day Sabbath. I do believe, however, that the final movements will be rapid ones so something drastic may be just around the corner. Will it be a series of natural disasters that upend society? How about a pestilence with a 25% or greater mortality rate? Or perhaps it will be Satan and his angels appearing to mankind.
Yet, it was considered perfectly acceptable to restrict our freedoms for a simple disease….. and to force vaccination for same.
Many evangelic Christians feel this way.