Christians commanded to keep Sunday different than other days

The “Our View” article in the Winchester Sun dated Sept. 7-8, 2019, suggests that “Any argument about the religious or moral implications of Sunday alcohol sales should be null and void.” Why? Because of the established policy of separation of church and state.

No where does the First Amendment say “separation of church and state.”

The First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The Constitution only forbids government sponsorship and compulsion of religious exercise by individual citizens. It does not preclude Christians from holding civil or government positions and voting their religious convictions nor does it exclude religious persons from expressing their religious views.

Michael Stokes Paulsen a distinguished university chair and professor of law at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, said this in an article on the First Amendment: “Under the original meaning of the Constitution, government must protect religious choices and include religious persons, groups, and speakers on an equal basis. It may recognize and accommodate religion, as long as it does not in effect compel persons to engage in religious exercises or practices against their will.”

There is clearly a difference of opinion about drinking alcoholic beverages, even among Christians, but there should be no difference of opinion among mainstream Christianity on the following commandment.

Exodus 20:8: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. (hallowed= make holy, set apart for holy use)”

Selling alcoholic beverages on Sunday does not compel Christians to drink against their will.

Not selling alcoholic beverages on Sunday doesn’t compel non-Christians to observe the Sabbath against their will.

But obeying the fourth commandment does honor God’s word to keep Sunday different from the other six days of the week and that is what would we are commanded to do.

Frank R. Johnson

Winchester