What an interesting question!  We know from the scriptures that in the ‘church age’, the Lord’s people gathered on the first day of the week for worship and fellowship.  For example, we are told in Acts 20:7, “And upon THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”  We also read in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”  It is because the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead on the first day of the week, that this day has become important to His followers.  We read in Mark 16:9, “Now when Jesus was risen early THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”

With that being said, should we treat the Lord’s Day as a Sabbath day and rest on that day?  In the Ten Commandments, the Lord told His people, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:8-11).  These commandments were for the “the children of Israel.” (Exodus 20:22).  We are not under the Law as we read in Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”  It is interesting that all of the ten commandments are repeated in Paul’s epistles EXCEPT for the keeping of the Sabbath as a day of rest.

I think most would agree that it is proper that we gather together with fellow believers on Sunday, according to what we have already read about the first day of the week.  After our meetings or services are over, should we rest for the remainder of the day?  Should we go to restaurants to eat, which cause others to work on our behalf?  Should we mow our lawns?  Should we work at our secular jobs?

Romans 14:5-6 tells us, “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”  The main point here is that we should “LET EVERY MAN BE PERSUADED IN HIS OWN MIND.”

While some regarded a particular day as more holy than other days, there were also those who regarded every day alike, for each day is a day given to us by the grace of God…each day is to be used to serve and honor Him.  They understood that the first day of the week was not a Sabbath, but rather a day to remember the Lord in His death, to fellowship together with fellow believers, to pray together, and to learn more about their precious savior and Lord.  Yet, the Lord calls for patience among His people.  “LET EVERY MAN BE PERSUADED IN HIS OWN MIND.”  I will admit that I do not like to work on the Lord’s Day, even though I used to have a job that required me to do so.  I do not mow my lawn on Sunday.  I do not do manual labor that I can do on another day.  However, that is my own persuasion that is steeped in tradition.  I cannot condemn someone who has a clear conscience about mowing his lawn or doing any other physical activity on a Sunday afternoon.  As long as we do everything ‘to the Lord’, and as long as we ‘give God thanks’ for all things, the Lord is pleased.

I’m reminded of the exhortation we receive in Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”  (357.6)