Why The Lord's Day Matters To Me

by Rodney Nelson

Editor's Note: A number of people write asking why we emphasize Sunday as the Lord's Day. The Lord's Day Alliance of The United States represents the convictions of a number of Christian denominations that follow in the tradition of the early church. After the resurrection of Jesus, Christians met on the first day of the week to celebrate that pivotal event in history. In the following article, Rod Nelson of Vancouver, Washington expresses his personal convictions about Sunday observance. While we believe that Sunday is The Lord's Day, we believe that the constitution of the United States protects the rights of all Americans to practice their religious convictions, including the choice of their day of worship.

As a former Seventh Day Adventist, observance of the seventh day Sabbath was very important to me. The seventh day was truly the climax of the week. While a seventh day Sabbatarian, I viewed the Lord's Day either as a counterfeit Sabbath or as a day inconsequential to my Christian life.
Christians are encouraged not to judge one another respecting days of the week (Romans 14:5-6). Specifically, Christians are not to judge one another regarding yearly, monthly, or weekly observances (Col. 2:16). This realization challenged my attitude toward those not observing the Jewish Sabbath.
Over time I became convicted that I would no longer observe the Sabbath. I began to recognize the meaning of the Lord's Day without the bias of Sabbath observance. Understanding the true origin and meaning of the Lord's Day afforded me a new perspective on the first day of the week. I am fully persuaded and convicted the Lord's Day is important for Christians. Following are the reasons why.

(1) It is the day of the Lord's resurrection. Though the Bible nowhere commands Christians to observe the Lord's Day, it was on the Lord's Day that the "third day" predictions of the Lord's resurrection were fulfilled (Luke 24:21). The Lord's Day points to the final resurrection of all believers through the resurrection of the Lord. Christ was raised triumphant over sin and death having purchased salvation for mankind. Certainly this merits good reason to worship God on the Lord's Day.

(2) The Lord's Day is the Christian day for worship. The Lord's Day was not only the primary day for Christian worship in the early church, but has been throughout Christian history. By worshipping on the Lord's Day every Christian stands with all believers throughout history in confessing the event that occurred on that day, the resurrection.

(3) The Lord's Day is a day which belongs to the Lord. The term "Lord's Day" appears only in Revelation 1:10. The Lord's Day's significance is the resurrection (Rev. 1:10, 18). Clearly, the usage indicates a unique and special meaning given to the day.

(4) The Lord's Day reminds us to take God seriously. A Christian's time of worship is a very serious occasion. It is the time we approach God in the reverence due Him. It provides a unifying occasion for Christians to worship God. Worship in the Bible is followed by fellowship. The Lord's Day affords Christians the increasingly rare opportunity to fellowship with one another.

(5) The Lord's Day allows Christians the freedom to worship God. The Bible does not provide a rule for Lord's Day observance because Christians do not observe the day, they worship the Lord of that day. The Lord's Day is not guided by rules. It provides occasions for worship and fellowship. It can provide occasions for rest, though this is not the primary meaning of the Lord's Day. Work on the Lord's Day is not wrong, but if it interferes with worship then it becomes a problem. The Lord's Day is the time for Christians to make time for God.

(6) The Lord's Day means that we take the scripture seriously. The model for the Lord's Day is the Bible. In it we find Christians worshipping, having fellowship, giving, and receiving instruction (Acts 20:7-11; I Corinthians 16:1-3). The Lord's Day reminds Christians that God reveals himself in scripture by mighty acts of redemption.

These are six reasons why I believe the Lord's Day is important for Christians. It has taken me many years to come to these conclusions. It is time for a rebirth in Lord's Day importance within the Christian Church.
If the Lord's day is seen merely as a day off from work or a day church happens, then it will cease to be a vital issue in the lives of Christians. The heart of Christian worship on the Lord's Day is the action of God on that day and the possession of it by the Lord. It is His day. It is the day that he accomplished salvation for all.
Throughout the centuries Christians have chosen to worship on the Lord's Day far more than on the Sabbath. The primary reason is that Christians no longer had to observe the Jewish Sabbath as a covenant sign. The Lord's Day took up much of what occurred on the Jewish Sabbath, except rest, and focused it on Christian reality. Christians today can still enjoy the original blessings of worshipping God on the Lord's Day not because they have to, because they want to.