This is a question that I hear often, but it can be especially pressing for those who are considering what is referred to as the “Blue Laws” or “Christian Sabbath”. In fact, this has become an issue in many countries as employers increasingly demand that employees work on Sundays rather than Saturdays. This is a complex matter and I will attempt to provide you with some answers.
Can A Christian Work On Saturday?
No, Christians should not work on Saturdays.
There are several reasons why Christians should not work on Saturdays. First, God is not a liar and He never changes His mind. The 7th day is the Sabbath and it is Saturday because that’s what it says in the book of Genesis where God defines it as such. “And on the seventh day, God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made” (Genesis 2:2).
We must remember that when we believe in Christ, we believe in everything that was written by Moses and all of Scripture because these books were inspired by God Himself. If something isn’t written down clearly enough for us to understand then we should ask someone who knows more about these things than us or read further into the Bible until we find an answer to our question. In this case, I recommend going straight to Genesis 2:2 for answers instead of listening only half-heartedly when someone tells you about something without giving full credit where credit is due!
Because Saturday is the 7th day of the week.
Because the Sabbath is the 7th day of the week. This can be confusing for some people, because we typically think of Saturdays as being Sundays. But in fact, it is Saturday that is the Sabbath day when you consider that Sunday was originally part of Saturday:
In Exodus 20:8-11, God commands us to keep holy (or set apart) His covenant with us by celebrating a weekly time of rest and worship. He also tells us not to do any work or create any unnecessary burdens during this time, called Shabbat (Hebrew for “rest”). The Bible teaches that this commandment still applies today because Jesus said “The Son of Man has authority over seven days but no one has greater authority than God who rests on the seventh day” (Matthew 12:8).
This means there are two ways to look at your schedule each week:
- First, see if there are any days where nothing is planned for you and/or your family members throughout the whole day; if so, then those will be your Sabbath days throughout every week until further notice from someone else higher up than yourself who may have different plans for their own families as well . . . . . . .
- Secondly, see which specific days out from all those possibilities above would work best within your own personal needs such as having enough energy left after work each night before going home so that
The Bible says that God rested on the 7th day.
The Bible says that God created the world in six days, and then rested on the seventh. This is a very important point because it shows that God created a day of rest for people to enjoy. The Bible also says that this day was blessed by God, and was made for man.
When you work on Saturday, you are going against what God wants from you as a Christian because He has already given us a day where we can rest from our daily tasks and enjoy the blessings He has given us.
Therefore Sunday is not a special day like we have been taught to believe.
The Sabbath is the 7th day of the week.
It is not Sunday.
This is why we have been taught to think that Sunday should be a special day like Saturday was before God gave us His rest on the 7th day, which was not Sunday.
But if you think about it, when did God give His rest? He rested on a day that was not a special day for us because we do not know when it was or how long it lasted; however, He told us how long it would last if we follow His instructions and keep His commandments (see Deuteronomy 5:12-15). The Sabbath for Israel was Saturday until Jesus came into our lives through his death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter morning after three days from Friday sunset to Monday sunrise.
The Sabbath is actually Saturday.
Some Christians believe that the Sabbath is Sunday. The problem with this view is that Saturday is the seventh day of creation and God rested on that day. Therefore, it can’t be any other day than Saturday! This means if you are a Christian working on Saturday, you are not keeping God’s law.
What Does the Bible Say About the Sabbath?
The Bible teaches that the Sabbath was a day of rest and worship. It was a day to set aside from work and focus on God. The Sabbath was also a day to come together as a community and celebrate God’s goodness.
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 (NIV) “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.”
If you fail to do any of these, you aren’t keeping Shabbat!
What Does the New Testament Say About the Sabbath?
In the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled the law of the Sabbath. This means that Christians are no longer bound to observe the Sabbath on Saturday. However, the New Testament does not say that Christians should never work on Saturdays. It simply says that Christians are free to work on Saturdays, as long as they do not do anything that would be considered sinful.
According to the biblical teachings, a Christian is allowed to work on Saturdays. The Old Testament Sabbath laws, while emphasizing the importance of rest and worship, do not explicitly prohibit work on Saturdays for Christians under the New Covenant.
Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV) – “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
The New Covenant brought a shift in emphasis from external observances to the redemptive work of Christ. Christians are not bound by the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, including strict Sabbath observance.
Jesus’ Teaching on the Sabbath
Mark 2:27-28 (NIV) – “Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.'”
Jesus emphasized the compassionate purpose of the Sabbath, indicating that it was made for the benefit of humanity.
The Apostle Paul’s Perspective
Romans 14:5-6 (NIV) – “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.”
Paul highlights the freedom that Christians have in choosing to observe certain days. The key is to do so with a sincere heart, dedicating the time to the Lord.
What Are Some Reasons Why a Christian Might Choose to Work on Saturday?
There are many reasons why a Christian might choose to work on Saturday. Some of these reasons include:
- They may have a job that requires them to work on weekends.
- They may have other commitments on Saturday, such as family or church activities.
- They may simply not believe that the Sabbath is a binding requirement for Christians.
If you are a Christian who is considering working on Saturday, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Make sure that your work does not interfere with your worship of God.
- Be careful not to do anything that would be considered sinful, such as working on the Sabbath for purely selfish reasons.
- Be respectful of the beliefs of other Christians who choose to observe the Sabbath on Saturday.
Conclusion
The question of whether or not Christians can work on Saturday is a complex one. There is no easy answer, and what is best for one person may not be best for another. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to work on Saturday is a personal one that should be made prayerfully and with consideration of all of the factors involved.
If you are a Christian who is considering working on Saturday, I encourage you to do the following:
- Pray and seek God’s guidance.
- Consider your personal beliefs about the Sabbath.
- Consider your work commitments.
- Consider your family and social commitments.
- Consider your overall health and well-being.
Once you have prayerfully considered all of these factors, you will be in a better position to make a decision about whether or not to work on Saturday.