The Bible Does Not Forbid Sunday Work
By Editor
IN his speech on "Liberty and the Sabbath," quoted in special document of American Sabbath Union, entitled "Reply to Misrepresentations Circulated by Advocates of the Saturday Sabbath," Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts, says:— "Of the ten commandments there are several which forbid the same things as are forbidden in the laws of our land—murder, theft, adultery, false witness, Sunday work." We do not know how to characterize the statement that the ten commandments forbid Sunday work. Is it "criminal inaccuracy," "malicious slander" against the Bible, or is it "invincible ignorance?" Whatever it is which prompted Mr. Crafts to say this, the statement is not true. The ten commandments not only do not forbid Sunday work, but they inculcate Sunday work. "Six days shalt thou labor 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." Sunday is the first day of the week, as attested by all history. It seems as if Mr. Crafts ought to know this. What he may say against us does not hurt half so badly as does this perversion of Bible truth. It may deceive some poor soul into the belief that God requires us to keep Sunday. But, notwithstanding the entire American Sunday Union, it is still true that the Bible does not forbid Sunday work.