It’s hard to say at what point Christian virtues and Old Testament Law came under the jurisdiction of the State’s heavy hand. They are commonly referred to as Blue Laws, of which conformance to, and admiration of, have long been the standard of conformance to, and admiration of, godly behavior.They aren’t touted nearly as much by later generations, as that of the baby boomers, but they are still around today in some form. The most unfortunate aspect may not be people’s disregard to general freedoms, but, as I’ve already mentioned, that they seem to evoke a sense of self accomplishment to God’s Law.
The individual rules and regulations of the Mosaic Covenant with Israel surrounding food, drink and Sabbath are lengthy and very specific. The curiosity is the lack of confusion from the Christian when they substitute the approval of Blue Laws with actually observing the Sabbath. As they travel to Church, they might see a closed liquor store on Sunday and be content as they appease God’s law. Or we celebrate not working on Sunday while patronizing a restaurant and commenting how others are working on The Lord’s Day.
This isn’t meant to be a finger-pointing event of calling out Christian hypocrisy. However, my intent is to start looking at things outside of our 20th century brand Puritanism. A personal observance of “the Lord’s Day” is commendable. But let’s keep it there. It is really the injection of the State into these matters that has eroded Christian rights to begin with. As we’ve noted, Blue Laws don’t actually follow God’s law, its our own pride that’s appeased. The danger really sets in when we see the State validating that pride, and then punishing for breaking our compromised commandments. Do you think the Lord is really uplifted if we fine an individual for working a particular industry on Sunday, as we travel to a cookout? Is it really God’s intention for His people to advocate the jailing and separation of a father from his family because he broke our modern version of God’s Law. The compromise is twofold: Spiritually, the implications are damning; Physically, the reactions are disastrous to your liberty.
In a Broadcast Talk, June 11th, 1935, G. K. Chesterton had this to say; concerning men, the actions we’ve put under blue laws, and the business of it being a State issue,
“The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or drinking; he can ruin himself with gambling. If he does he is certainly a damn fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a free man any more than a dog.”
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