The New York Times Claims that the Spirit of the Blue Laws is Needed More Today than Ever Before

The New York Times is one of the most influential international newspapers. On October 16, 2022, the New York Times published an article by Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren titled: “How to Fight Back Against the Inhumanity of Modern Work.” The author of this article offers solutions on how to combat the inhumanity of the modern workplace cycle, which she says has been altered by digital technology.

Tish Harrison Warren describes how the modern worker has become a “limitless, sleepless, unemotional machine” thanks to the pandemic and the digital revolution, which has made it “more difficult to unplug from work.” She says that it is time to “reexamine what it means for work to be humane.” Pay close attention to the solution that is being proposed in this New York Times article. They are calling us back to a “common cause” found in Sunday rest by law. The article went on to say:

• “In the early labor movement, a broad and diverse base of religious people found common cause around Sabbath laws. These laws (often called blue laws) are now usually seen as examples of antiquated, puritanical, even theocratic impulses: prim religious people running around trying to make sure no one enjoys a beer on a Sunday afternoon. Advocates of Sabbatarianism, however, saw their work as an act of resistance to greed and a fight for the laborer.” [1]

• “A key issue in the burgeoning industrialist economy of the North was the preservation of time for worship, rest and family life to preserve the dignity of the worker. They looked to Sabbath laws, in part, to help achieve this.” [1]

• “Keeping the Sabbath wasn’t merely a religious observance but served a civic function. It was a practical way, through time itself, to treat workers as valuable humans with whole lives to be lived.” [1]

• “Sabbath rest” is necessary for both body and soul; that it preserves “health, wealth and the temporal happiness and prosperity of individuals and communities.” [1]

• “Take away the Sabbath and you destroy the most humane and democratic institution,” which is made particularly for “the man of labor and toil, of poverty and sorrow.” [1]

This is what is being advocated in the New York Times. With all this talk about the history of blue laws, the idea of mandating Sunday rest by law is being revived once again. The following appeal was then made in the New York Times to revive the “spirit” of the blue laws:

• “I don’t expect us to put blue laws back on the books. I understand that most Americans — including religious Americans — no longer observe a strict day of rest. I also understand, of course, that the Sabbath lands on different days for different religious traditions. Still, with the boundaryless work of the digital age, with consumer pressure for retail stores and e-commerce companies to remain open at all times, and with our unholy worship of productivity and convenience, the spirit of these laws is more needed than ever before.” [1]

She might not expect the return of Sunday laws, but Rome does, and inspiration indicates that they will:

“Sooner or later Sunday laws will be passed. But there is much for God’s servants to do to warn the people” (Review and Herald, February 16, 1905).

Then the author of the article goes on to explain how she keeps Sunday holy from Saturday night until Sunday night. That’s exactly how the blue laws used to work, and that’s the example she is giving to the public:

• “At the very least, workers ought to be able to completely shut off from work one day a week or more — no email, no notifications, nothing. My family attempts to avoid all digital devices from Saturday night to Sunday night, some weeks with greater success than others. This aids our goals for our Sabbath day: rest, play, worship and delight. This practice has shaped our family life, our work, our habits and our very bodies.” [1]

In spite of all the arguments for workers needing time to rest, this New York Times article is basically saying that our society is not keeping Sunday holy as it ought to be. All these statements and arguments plainly show that the real objective of the whole Sunday-law movement is to get people to attend church on Sunday in order to preserve worship. As you can see, this article makes several references to Sunday in relation to worship. One of the most well-known publications is making the case that in order to save the family, society, and worship; we must prepare to dedicate ourselves to bringing back Sunday laws.

Blue laws are religious legislation, and according to Bible prophecy, they will only result in the loss of our civil and religious liberties. Are we preparing for what is soon to come? The case is being made today that a day of rest is needed for workers so that they can rest, spend time with their families, and get back to worship. We are being told that people need time off work to reconnect with God and family, and the spirit of blue laws is needed today more than ever.

An Anglican priest is making these arguments in the New York Times. Church leaders will soon call on the government to step in and address these problems. They aren’t going to stop making these public calls for Sunday rest. This is only the first phase of a campaign that will lead to the civil government formally imposing Sunday rest by law.

We must be opposed to any push toward a union of church and state that will work together to secure Sunday legislation. By pen and voice and by massive evangelism, we must speak out against the dangers of the Sunday movement that seeks to encroach on our freedoms.

The American people are unaware of the false justifications being used to secure Sunday rest. They don’t know that the mark of the beast crisis is imminent. And the greatest danger is that the people will not realize it until it is too late.

“The Sabbath is the Lord’s test, and no man, be he king, priest, or ruler, is authorized to come between God and man. Those who seek to be conscience for their fellow men, place themselves above God. Those who are under the influence of a false religion, who observe a spurious rest day, will set aside the most positive evidence in regard to the true Sabbath. They will try to compel men to obey the laws of their own creation, laws that are directly opposed to the law of God. Upon those who continue in this course, the wrath of God will fall. Unless they change, they cannot escape the penalty. The law for the observance of the first day of the week is the production of an apostate Christendom. Sunday is a child of the papacy, exalted by the Christian world above the sacred day of God’s rest. In no case are God’s people to pay it homage” (Testimonies, Vol. 9, pp. 234, 235).

The author of the New York Times article, Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren, can be reached at the following email address: HarrisonWarren-newsletter@nytimes.com

Sources

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/16/opinion/work-rest-sabbath.html