In many places where the church possesses significant political power, it will often use its influence to advocate for laws that protect what they call the sanctity of Sunday as a day of rest and worship. Such efforts seek to encourage people to focus on religious activities and family time rather than secular pursuits and sports. Historically, these laws were based on religious traditions and reflected the social and moral values of the past. While such laws have gradually relaxed over the years, there is a movement underway that is seeking to reintroduce Sunday into society.
On June 5, 2024, the Belfast News Letter Today published an article titled “Free Presbyterian Church Accuses Northern Ireland Football League of Anti-Christian ‘Discrimination’ for Staging Matches on Sunday” that called for an end to the desecration of Sunday. In other words, playing football on Sunday violates both the Sabbath and discriminates against Christians, neither of which is true.
The Belfast News Letter Today published the following:
• “The Free Presbyterian Church has written to the NI Football League (NIFL) to complain that it is discriminating against practicing Christians by staging matches on the Sabbath.” [1]
• “The letter says … ‘We, in keeping with the historic position of Protestant Churches hold Sunday to be the Christian Sabbath’.” [1]
• “We hold it to be a special day and a day that is marked by the worship of God and rest and it has been kept this way by thousands of evangelical Christians for hundreds of years.” [1]
• “Now, however, with Premiership football matches to be held on Sunday NIFL are robbing Christian fans of the opportunity of supporting their team from week to week and they are closing the door for Christian footballers to be able to play in the top league in Northern Ireland.” [1]
• “In a day when we are being told that there should be equal opportunities for all, this does not seem to include evangelical Christians.” [1]
• “We are calling on NIFL to reverse course on the matter of Sunday football.” [1]
Basically, the argument that the Free Presbyterian Church in Ireland is making is that playing football on Sunday is both immoral and illegal. This message was not just conveyed to the football league but also published in the local press. The terms “robbing” Christians, “discrimination,” “closing the door” for Christians, and “equal opportunity” are all loaded with legal implications.
These are the types of pressure tactics that the church will use on its citizens in order to revive Sunday laws. As societies grapple with issues like the loss of spirituality, overwork, burnout, and the erosion of family time, there will be renewed interest in preserving Sundays as a day for worship, reflection, and community engagement. The revival of Sunday rest will be driven by a desire to promote a sense of well-being and solidarity in an increasingly fast-paced and spiritually devoid world.
“The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, persuade, or compel all classes to honor Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators, in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance” (Great Controversy, p. 592).
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Sunday-Law Advocates Do Not Realize What They Are Doing
The Sunday movement is now making its way in darkness. The leaders are concealing the true issue, and many who unite in the movement do not themselves see whither the undercurrent is tending…. They are working in blindness. They do not see that if a Protestant government sacrifices the principles that have made them a free, independent nation, and through legislation brings into the Constitution principles that will propagate papal falsehood and papal delusion, they are plunging into the Roman horrors of the Dark Ages.—The Review and Herald Extra, December 11, 1888. LDE 125.3
There are many, even of those engaged in this movement for Sunday enforcement, who are blinded to the results which will follow this action. They do not see that they are striking directly against religious liberty. There are many who have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath and the false foundation upon which the Sunday institution rests…. LDE 126.1
Those who are making an effort to change the Constitution and secure a law enforcing Sunday observance little realize what will be the result. A crisis is just upon us.—Testimonies for the Church 5:711, 753 (1889). LDE 126.2
Not to Sit in Quietude, Doing Nothing
It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger…. A vast responsibility is devolving upon men and women of prayer throughout the land to petition that God may sweep back this cloud of evil, and give a few more years of grace to work for the Master.—The Review and Herald Extra, December 11, 1888. LDE 126.3
Those who are now keeping the commandments of God need to bestir themselves that they may obtain the special help which God alone can give them. They should work more earnestly to delay as long as possible the threatened calamity.—The Review and Herald, December 18, 1888. LDE 126.4
Let not the commandment-keeping people of God be silent at this time as though we gracefully accepted the situation.—The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 7:975 (1889). LDE 127.1
We are not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of conscience. Fervent, effectual prayer should be ascending to heaven that this calamity may be deferred until we can accomplish the work which has so long been neglected. Let there be most earnest prayer and then let us work in harmony with our prayers.—Testimonies for the Church 5:714 (1889). LDE 127.2
There are many who are at ease, who are, as it were, asleep. They say, “If prophecy has foretold the enforcement of Sunday observance the law will surely be enacted,” and having come to this conclusion they sit down in a calm expectation of the event, comforting themselves with the thought that God will protect His people in the day of trouble. But God will not save us if we make no effort to do the work He has committed to our charge…. LDE 127.3
As faithful watchmen you should see the sword coming and give the warning, that men and women may not pursue a course through ignorance that they would avoid if they knew the truth.—The Review and Herald Extra, December 24, 1889. LDE 127.4
Oppose Sunday Laws by Pen and Vote
We cannot labor to please men who will use their influence to repress religious liberty and to set in operation oppressive measures to lead or compel their fellow men to keep Sunday as the Sabbath. The first day of the week is not a day to be reverenced. It is a spurious sabbath, and the members of the Lord’s family cannot participate with the men who exalt this day and violate the law of God by trampling upon His Sabbath. The people of God are not to vote to place such men in office, for when they do this they are partakers with them of the sins which they commit while in office.—Fundamentals of Christian Education, 475 (1899). LDE 127.5
I do hope that the trumpet will give a certain sound in regard to this Sunday-law movement. I think that it would be best if in our papers the subject of the perpetuity of the law of God were made a specialty…. We should now be doing our very best to defeat this Sunday law.—Counsels to Writers and Editors, 97, 98 (1906). LDE 128.1
The real targets of discrimination will be the seventh-day Sabbath-keepers.