Blue Laws
Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, are laws designed to restrict or ban some or all activities on Sundays for religious reasons, particularly to promote the observance of a day of worship or rest. Blue laws may also restrict shopping or ban sale most often on Sundays in the western world. These laws are enforced in parts of the United States and Canada as well as some European countries, particularly in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Norway, keeping most stores closed on Sundays.
In the United States, the U.S. Supreme Court has held blue laws as constitutional numerous times citing secular basis, even though the origin of the blue laws were for religious purposes. Most blue laws have been repealed in the United States, although many states still ban the sale of alcoholic beverages or cars on Sundays. Bergen County, New Jersey is notable for their blue laws banning the sale of clothing, shoes, furniture, home supplies and appliances on Sundays kept through county-wide referendum.
In the soon future Sunday laws will be re-enacted again and Sunday as a day of worship will be legislated worldwide as a misguided solution to a global crisis. Here are some recent headlines in the news showing that Sunday legislation is now being discussed:
- “Using Sunday as a day of rest and renewal would be good for our personal health as well as the health of the planet” (The Guardian, Sept. 17, 2009).
- “Let’s Make Sunday a day of rest, for God’s sake” (Fox News.com, April 22, 2012).
- “Keeping stores open on Sunday is not beneficial for society: Pope Francis” (NY Daily News, July 6, 2014).
- “Arizona State Senator: Make Sunday Church Attendance Mandatory” (CNN, Mar. 27, 2015).
- “You need & deserve a secular sabbath” (New York Daily News, May 23, 2015).
What’s Wrong With Having Sunday laws?
First: The fourth commandment states that “the seventh day (Saturday) is the Sabbath of the Lord” (Exodus 20:8-110), not Sunday the first day of the week.
Second: God never forces people by law to worship Him. The Bible says “Whoever wills [chooses],” says the Lord, “let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17). “Whoever wills” and “freely” reveal freedom of choice, not compulsion by civil law. Force is used only by the devil.
Although most blue Sunday laws have been repealed in the United States, Bible prophecy predicts that Sunday observance will be reenacted again. For more information, check the following links:
See also:
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
