Why do Christians worship on Sundays?
Many Christians and non-Christians wondered why and when it was decided that Sunday would be reserved for Christ rather than the Sabbath or the seventh day of the week. After all, in Biblical times the Jewish custom was, and still is today, to observe the Sabbath day. We will see why one Saturday is no longer observed by most Christian churches and we will try to answer the question "Why do Christians worship on Sunday?"
Saturday adoration
There are many references in the book of Acts on the meeting between the early Christian church and the Sabbath (Saturday) to pray and study the scriptures. Here are some examples:
Acts 13: 13-14
Paolo and his companions ... On Saturday they went to the synagogue for services.
(NLT)
Acts 16:13
On Saturdays we went a little out of town to a river bank, where we thought people would meet to pray ...
(NLT)
Acts 17: 2
As was Paul's custom, he went to the synagogue and, for three Sabbaths in a row, used the scriptures to reason with the people.
(NLT)
Sunday worship
However, some Christians believe that the early church started meeting on Sunday immediately after Christ rose from the dead, in honor of the Lord's resurrection, which took place on Sunday or the first day of the week. In this verse Paul instructs the churches to meet on the first day of the week (Sunday) to offer:
1 Corinthians 16: 1-2
Now on the gathering for God's people: do what I said to the churches of Galatia. On the first day of each week, each of you should put aside a sum of money in line with your income, saving it, so that when I arrive I won't have to be cashed out.
(VIN)
And when Paul met the Troa believers to worship and celebrate communion, they gathered on the first day of the week:
Acts 20: 7
On the first day of the week, we got together to break the bread. Paul spoke to the people and, since he intended to leave the next day, continued to speak until midnight.
(VIN)
While some believe that the transition from Saturday to Sunday began immediately after the resurrection, others see the change as a gradual progression through history.
Today, many Christian traditions believe that Sunday is the day of the Christian Sabbath. They base this concept on verses such as Mark 2: 27-28 and Luke 6: 5 in which Jesus claims to be "Lord of the Sabbath also," which implies that he has the power to change the Sabbath on another day. Christian groups who join a Saturday on Sunday feel that the Lord's command was not specific to the seventh day, but rather one day out of seven weekdays. By changing the Sabbath to Sunday (what many call "the day of the Lord"), or the day the Lord is risen, they feel that it symbolically represents the acceptance of Christ as the Messiah and his growing blessing and redemption by Jews throughout the world .
Other traditions, such as Seventh-day Adventists, still observe a Saturday Saturday. Since honoring the Sabbath was part of the original Ten Commandments given by God, they believe it is a permanent and binding command that should not be changed.
Interestingly, Acts 2:46 tells us that from the outset the church in Jerusalem met daily in the courts of the temple and came together to break bread in private homes.
So perhaps a better question might be: Do Christians have an obligation to observe a designated Sabbath day? I believe we get a clear answer to this question in the New Testament. Let's take a look at what the Bible says.
Personal freedom
These verses in Romans 14 suggest that there is a personal freedom regarding the observance of the holy days:
Romans 14: 5-6
Similarly, some think that one day is holier than another day, while others think that every day is the same. Each of you should be fully convinced that whatever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any type of food do it to honor the Lord because they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and thank God.
(NLT)
In Colossians 2, Christians are ordered not to judge or allow anyone to be their judge regarding the Sabbath days:
Colossians 2: 16-17
Therefore, don't let anyone judge you based on what you eat or drink, or in relation to a religious holiday, a celebration of the New Moon or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; reality, however, is found in Christ.
(VIN)
And in Galatians 4, Paul is worried because Christians are returning as slaves to the legalistic observances of "special" days:
Galatians 4: 8-10
So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back and become a slave to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world again? You are trying to gain favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.
(NLT)
Drawing on these verses, I see this Sabbath question similar to tithing. As followers of Christ, we no longer have a legalistic obligation, since the requirements of the law have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Everything we have, and every day we live, belongs to the Lord. At the very least, and as far as we are able, we happily give God the first tenth of our income, or one tenth, because we know that everything we have belongs to him. And not for any forced obligation, but gladly, gladly, we put aside one day every week to honor God, because every day really belongs to him!
Finally, as Romans 14 teaches, we should be "fully convinced" that whatever day we choose is the right day for us to reserve as a day of worship. And as Colossians 2 warns, we shouldn't judge or allow anyone to judge us about our choice.