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Free Presbyterians Oppose Sunday Shopping Pilot Scheme
Government and Morals Committee of the General Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
Press Release 5th May 2025
The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster has expressed dismay over the proposal by Belfast City Council to extend Sunday shopping in a pilot scheme later this year.
At a Council meeting on 1 May, Belfast City Council discussed a proposal by the Alliance Party to allow shops to open from 10:00 am on Sunday for a six-week pilot. Rev. Gordon Dane, the Convenor of the Government and Morals Committee, stated:
“It is another attack on the Christian and family values of the nation. Not only would it be a breaking of the fourth commandment, but if this was to go ahead, it would be another instance of the undermining of the family in our society. God gave the Sabbath not only as a time of worship but as a time of rest, and it has been one time in the week when families can be together. The undermining of family has been of immense harm in our society. God has set the family as the bedrock of society, and it is no coincidence that it is family that has been a prime target of those who wish to undermine the Christian ethos of society. But this undermining of family has done untold harm on many levels.”
The Free Presbyterians pointed out that Liam English of USDAW has said that if this proposal goes ahead, shop workers will lose family time.
Historical Context
The Church also pointed to the fact that when Sunday shopping was originally brought in, there were assurances that shops would not be open during Church morning services. Now the proposal is for shops to be open from 10 am. Many countries restrict Sunday trading, including:
- Germany: Most retail stores are generally closed on Sundays due to the Ladenschlussgesetz, or “Shop Closing Law”.
- Poland: Stores can only open on a few Sundays in the year.
- France: Most shops are generally closed on Sundays, with exceptions for small food stores and those in tourist areas.
Conclusion
They concluded, “The Free Presbyterian Church is calling on the Councillors of Belfast City Council to oppose this detrimental move. There is plenty of time to shop from Monday to Saturday. Do not forsake the commandment of God that has been given for man’s benefit for a few more hours of shopping.”
Should Christians Keep the Sabbath Day Holy?
Should Christians Keep the Sabbath Day Holy?
A summary of a sermon preached by Rev. David McLaughlin
This exposition addresses the vital question: Are Christians obligated to keep the Sabbath day holy, as commanded in the Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11)? Colossians 2:16-17 serves as the textual foundation, though I use it as a springboard to explore the broader biblical teaching on the Sabbath. I contend that the Fourth Commandment remains binding for Christians, refuting arguments that dismiss it as obsolete or legalistic. The exposition unfolds in three parts: (1) exposing arguments against Sabbath observance, (2) defending the Sabbath’s enduring relevance with Scripture, and (3) celebrating the Sabbath as a delight and sign of God’s covenant. My aim is to demonstrate that keeping the Sabbath is not only a biblical mandate but also a blessing for God’s people, countering the growing trend of Sabbath desecration that weakens the church’s witness.
Introduction: The Weight of the Question
The question of whether Christians must keep the Sabbath is not trivial but foundational, with profound implications for faith and practice. Exodus 20:8-11 commands, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” yet many evangelical pastors, elders, and deacons reject this obligation, labeling it legalistic or irrelevant for New Testament believers. This dismissal, increasingly prevalent since the 1920s, mirrors the Sabbath desecration seen in the days of Moses, Jeremiah, and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 13:17; Jeremiah 17:26). It is both sad and sinful, undermining the church’s testimony and fueling secularization. Colossians 2:16-17, which instructs believers not to let others judge them regarding “Sabbath days,” is often misinterpreted to abolish the weekly Sabbath. I will show that this text, and others, supports rather than negates the Sabbath’s permanence.
1. Exposing Arguments Against the Weekly Sabbath
Many within the church deny the obligation to keep the Sabbath, citing seven common arguments. I will outline and critique each, revealing their flaws:
- The Fourth Commandment is a Jewish law: Critics argue it was a cultural sign for Israel, not binding on Christians. This ignores the Sabbath’s origin in creation (Genesis 2:2-3), predating Israel and applying universally to humanity.
- The Fourth Commandment is absent in the New Testament: Unlike other commandments, it is allegedly not reaffirmed. As I will demonstrate, this is false—Scripture alludes to the Sabbath in multiple passages (e.g., 1 Timothy 1:8-9; Hebrews 4:9).
- The Sabbath is ceremonial, not moral: Some claim nine commandments are moral and eternal, but the Sabbath is ceremonial, fulfilled by Christ. This artificially divides the Ten Commandments, which collectively reflect God’s moral character. If murder and theft remain sin, so does Sabbath-breaking.
- Christians are under grace, not law: Romans 6:14 (“you are not under law but under grace”) is cited to exempt believers from Sabbath-keeping. This misinterprets grace as nullifying God’s commands, whereas grace frees us from the law’s penalty, not its role as a rule of life (John 14:15).
- Paul’s teachings in Romans 14:5-6 and Colossians 2:16: These texts are used to argue that Christians can treat all days alike or avoid judgment on Sabbath observance. In Romans 14:5-6, Paul addresses disputes over Jewish holy days, not the weekly Sabbath, which is never mentioned. In Colossians 2:16, “Sabbath days” (plural in the Authorized Version) refers to ceremonial Sabbaths (e.g., Jubilee-related), not the weekly Sabbath. Modern translations like the NIV, which render it “a Sabbath day” (singular), obscure this distinction, leading to misinterpretation.
- The Sabbath is a type of rest in Christ: Some view it as a ceremonial shadow fulfilled in Christ’s spiritual rest (Hebrews 4:9-10). While the Sabbath foreshadows eternal rest, its weekly observance remains, as Hebrews 4:9 confirms with the term sabbatismos (a Sabbath-keeping).
- Mosaic ceremonial laws are obsolete: All ritual laws, including the Sabbath, are deemed non-binding under the New Covenant. This overlooks the distinction between ceremonial laws (e.g., sacrifices) and the moral law, which includes the Sabbath and endures (Matthew 5:17).
These arguments, though popular, distort Scripture and lead to a false conclusion: that Christians are free from Sabbath observance. I believe this teaching is not only wrong but destructive, eroding the church’s spiritual vitality.
2. Defending the Weekly Sabbath with Scripture
The Bible unequivocally supports the Fourth Commandment’s enduring obligation. I offer a comprehensive defense, grounded in both Testaments, to affirm the Sabbath’s place in the Christian life:
- The Fourth Commandment’s Permanence: The Ten Commandments, including Exodus 20:8-11, express God’s moral character and are universally binding. To reject the Sabbath while upholding other commandments (e.g., against adultery or lying) is inconsistent. The Free Presbyterian Church, along with historic theologians like Jonathan Edwards, B.B. Warfield, and Thomas Watson, affirms the moral law’s permanence. If idolatry or murder remains sin, so does profaning the Sabbath.
- New Testament Affirmations:
- Romans 14:5-6: Paul writes, “One man esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.” This does not reference the weekly Sabbath but addresses Jewish holy days and festivals, debated among weaker and stronger believers. Reading Sabbath abolition into this text is eisegesis.
- Colossians 2:16: The command, “Let no man therefore judge you… in respect of… the Sabbath days,” uses the plural, indicating ceremonial Sabbaths tied to the Mosaic system (e.g., Leviticus 23). These are distinct from the weekly Sabbath, which Paul never abolishes. Jesus Himself upheld the Sabbath’s sanctity (Mark 2:27).
- 1 Timothy 1:8-9: Paul states the law is for the “unholy and profane.” The term “profane” echoes Nehemiah 13:17, where Sabbath desecration is condemned. This passage also alludes to violations of other commandments (e.g., murder, lying), implying the entire moral law, including the Fourth Commandment, applies.
- Hebrews 4:9-10: “There remains therefore a rest [sabbatismos] to the people of God.” The Greek sabbatismos denotes a Sabbath-keeping, affirming the weekly Sabbath’s continuity for believers. This rest is both present (weekly) and future (eternal).
- The Sabbath as a Creation Ordinance: Genesis 2:2-3 records God resting on the seventh day, blessing and sanctifying it. This establishes the Sabbath as a divine pattern for humanity, not a Mosaic innovation. The word “remember” in Exodus 20:8 points to a pre-existing reality, known to Adam and Eve, who imitated God’s rhythm of six days’ work and one day’s rest. The seven-day week is God’s design, not a historical accident—evidenced by the failure of secular attempts, like the French 10-day week, to replace it.
- Christ’s Fulfillment of the Law: Jesus declared, “I am not come to destroy [the law], but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). He fulfilled the Sabbath and all commandments, not by abolishing them but by perfectly obeying and redeeming us from the law’s curse. Being “under grace” (Romans 6:14) means salvation apart from law-keeping, but the law remains a rule of life. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15), and true believers love God’s law, including the Sabbath (Psalm 119:97).
- The Shift to the Lord’s Day: In the New Testament, the Sabbath moves from the seventh day to the first day (Sunday), reflecting Christ’s resurrection:
- Jesus rose on the first day (Matthew 28:1).
- Pentecost occurred on the first day (Acts 2).
- Paul preached and Corinthians collected offerings on the first day (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
- John was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10), a term for Sunday. Early Christians met on Sunday to commemorate Christ’s resurrection, not creation, transforming the Sabbath into the Lord’s Day without abolishing its principle of rest and worship.
- The Sabbath’s Purpose: The Sabbath regulates life, balancing six days of work with one of rest and worship. It is a memorial of creation (Genesis 2:3), redemption (Deuteronomy 5:15), and resurrection (Matthew 28:1). It also foreshadows eternal rest (Hebrews 4:9). As a covenant sign (Exodus 31:13), it marks God’s people as His own, distinguishing them from the world.
This biblical defense dismantles the notion that the Sabbath is obsolete. It is a creation ordinance, moral law, and New Testament practice, binding on all believers.
3. Celebrating the Sabbath as a Delight
The Sabbath is not a burden but a blessing, as Isaiah 58:13-14 declares: “If you… call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honorable… then you shall delight yourself in the Lord.” I urge believers to embrace the Sabbath for its divine purpose and spiritual benefits:
- Purpose: The Sabbath is holy, set apart to keep us from lawlessness and godlessness (Nehemiah 13:17; Jeremiah 17:26). In Nehemiah’s day, Sabbath desecration—merchants trading, wine presses operating—reflected greed and disregard for God. Today’s secularized Sundays, with churches skipping evening services or treating the day as a holiday, echo this sin. The Sabbath calls us to worship and reflect on eternal truths.
- Priority: It is God’s day, dedicated to His honor. Neglecting it is tantamount to turning from God Himself. The Sabbath regulates the week, reminding us to prioritize spiritual over worldly pursuits. It extends beyond weekly rest to cycles like the seventh-year land rest and Jubilee (Leviticus 25), pointing to redemption and freedom.
- Sign: Exodus 31:13 states, “My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you… that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” The Lord’s Day declares we belong to God, a public witness to an ungodly world. When churches close or treat Sunday casually, this witness fades, harming our testimony.
I share the story of Dr. Lindsey Wilson, who as a youth resented church but, after conversion, grew to love the Sabbath. His transformation reveals that delight in the Sabbath flows from a heart renewed by God. The Sabbath is for our good—physically, through rest; spiritually, through worship and reflection. It is not meant to hinder but to help, fostering health for body and soul.
Conclusion: A Call to Obedience and Delight
The Fourth Commandment binds Christians to keep the Sabbath holy, as affirmed by Scripture, creation, Christ’s fulfillment, and apostolic practice. Arguments against Sabbath observance misinterpret texts like Romans 14:5-6 and Colossians 2:16, which address ceremonial days, not the weekly Sabbath. The Sabbath, rooted in Genesis 2:2-3, is a moral law and creation ordinance, transformed into the Lord’s Day to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. It is a sign of our covenant with God, a day to rest, worship, and declare our allegiance to Him.
I challenge you: Do you delight in the Sabbath or profane it? Neglecting it dishonors God and weakens the church, while embracing it strengthens our faith and witness. May God revive a love for His day, that we may call the Sabbath a delight and honor Him in all we do.
Key Truths:
- The Fourth Commandment is moral, enduring, and universal.
- The New Testament upholds the Sabbath as the Lord’s Day, tied to Christ’s resurrection.
- Objections to Sabbath-keeping distort Scripture, confusing ceremonial and moral laws.
- The Sabbath is a creation ordinance, covenant sign, and memorial of redemption.
- Christians should joyfully observe the Sabbath, finding rest and renewal in God’s presence.
