Brief thought on our observance of our Lord’s Day:

Having been laid low by a chest infection, I’ve been unable to get to church today, a first in a long time, and one of the very few Sundays I have ever missed (I even attempt to find a local church to attend when on holiday). For once it has felt fairly nice (despite my illness) to have a ‘day of rest’ – is that not what it’s meant to be?

Yes, I take my ministry seriously – worship is something I believe passionately that all believers should engage in wholeheartedly, and I miss not playing.

Yes, we should “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” (Hebrews 10:25).

Yes, we are to attend The Lord’s Table and remember (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

But consider this: for about six years I drove a wheelchair minibus for the disabled on a long run to church and back (a round trip of around 75 miles) twice on Sunday. The few nice Christians who were unwilling to even give me space to get the bus out of the church car park didn’t help with the time it took or my temperament! I was grateful I had no afternoon Sunday School run too, as other drivers did – some were only sitting down to eat lunch and tea throughout the day! Though I also did it on Monday and Wednesday evenings after a full day’s work and an hour-long commute home.

How much of our tradition-built ceremonial observances are biblical? Didn’t Jesus challenge the Pharisees on their extensive regulations by saying “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27). Can we get a balance on this?

Grace be with you.