Christians worshipping on Sunday has been a tradition for centuries, but many wonder why Sunday rather than Saturday, the biblical Sabbath. There are several reasons Christians worship on Sundays:
The Resurrection of Jesus
The most significant event is the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, Sunday (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1, John 20:1). His resurrection is central to the Christian faith and therefore early Christians began meeting to worship on Sundays to commemorate this act. Scripture records the early church meeting on Sundays (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2) in honor of Christ’s resurrection.
Breaking Bread
Acts 20:7 describes believers coming together “to break bread” on the first day of the week. The practice of sharing a meal has been an element of Christian worship from the start. Sunday became the customary day for believers to gather for worship and community.
The Early Church
For the early church, Sunday was set apart as a day of worship. Scripture records believers meeting on Sundays for prayer, preaching and fellowship (Acts 2:42, 20:7). The writings of early church leaders like Ignatius, Justin Martyr and Tertullian confirm Sunday as the established day of worship. The early church saw Sunday as “the Lord’s Day” based on Jesus’ resurrection.
Distance from the Sabbath
The Sabbath was the day of rest and worship under the Law of Moses. As the early church contained both Jews and Gentiles, a departure from the tradition of Saturday worship to Sunday worship helped distinguish Christianity as distinct from Judaism. Sunday accentuated that grace has replaced law (Romans 6:14-15, Galatians 3:23-25, Ephesians 2:15).
Honoring both God and Christ
Keeping the Sabbath holy was a commandment given to the Jews in honor of the Creator (Exodus 20:8-11). Sunday is seen as a day to honor both God the Father as Creator and Jesus Christ as Redeemer. Believers worship on Sundays to commemorate Christ’s resurrection and acknowledge his sovereignty.
Evidence from Early Church Fathers
Several early church fathers and Christian writers confirm Sunday as the day of worship:
- Ignatius of Antioch (AD 110): “Let every friend of Christ keep the Lord’s day as a festival, the resurrection-day.”
- Justin Martyr (AD 150): No longer observing sabbaths, but fashioning their lives after the Lord’s day on which our life also arose through him.”
- Irenaeus (AD 180): “The mystery of the Lord’s resurrection may not be celebrated on any other day than the Lord’s day.”
- Tertullian (AD 200): “We solemnize the day after Saturday in contradistinction to those who call this day their Sabbath.”
- Roman emperor Constantine (AD 321) decreed Sunday as a day of rest across the empire.
These church fathers confirm that from the earliest days of the church, Christians designated Sunday as the Lord’s Day for corporate worship.
Practical Considerations
Sunday worship also developed because:
- Most early believers were Jewish and already worshipped on Saturdays at synagogues.
- Gentile converts were less likely to observe Saturdays as a day of rest.
- Sunday, being a work day in the Roman empire, allowed believers to worship without missing work.
- Doing business and obtaining necessities were easier on Sundays following worship.
Practical considerations made Sunday a sensible choice for a designated worship day alongside its theological significance.
Continuation through History
This precedent of Sunday worship has continued through history until today. Though initially a Roman practice, the tradition took hold across Christendom. Even the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century did not challenge Sunday worship. While the Sabbath remains on Saturdays, Sunday continues to be the primary day of worship for the majority of Christians worldwide.
papal declarations that solidified Sunday
Various papal decrees through the centuries have reinforced Sunday observance among Roman Catholics:
- Pope Sylvester (314-335) officially changed the title of the first day, calling it the “Lord’s Day.”
- Pope Innocent I (402-417) placed the observance of Sunday under the authority of the church rather than Scripture.
- The Council of Laodicea (364) decreed rest on Sundays.
- Pope Leo the Great (440-461) confirmed that fasting ought to be forbidden on Sundays.
- Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) dictated that church services must be held on Sunday.
These and other decrees over the centuries established Sunday as the official day of worship for Roman Catholics.
Differing Perspectives on Continued Sabbath Observance
There are differences among groups regarding the continued observance of the seventh-day Sabbath:
- Roman Catholic/Mainline/Reformed: Sunday fulfilled and completed the Sabbath commandment. Worship transitioned fully to Sundays.
- Seventh-day Adventists: The Sabbath remains Saturday; Sunday worship is not biblically justified.
- Messianic Jews: Both Saturdays (Shabbat) and Sundays can be honored as worship days.
- Hebrew Roots: Saturday Sabbaths and Old Testament laws are obligatory for Christians.
While consensus exists on Sunday worship, some disagreement surrounds the permanence of seventh-day Sabbath observance. Nevertheless, for most of church history Sunday has been the primary gathering day for collective worship.
New Testament Liberty Regarding Holy Days
While early believers set Sunday aside for worship, New Testament instruction allows some liberty on spiritual calendars:
- No command exists to rigidly observe either Saturday or Sunday (Romans 14:5, Colossians 2:16).
- Motive behind observance matters more than the day itself (Rom 14:6).
- The kingdom of God is not about religious ritual but righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17).
- Alike treatment of all days with the motivation to honor the Lord (Romans 14:5-8).
The New Testament emphasizes motive and sincerity behind whatever days believers choose to observe. The apostles gave liberty regarding sacred days.
Practical Reasons for Worshipping on Sunday Today
Several practical reasons explain why Sunday continues as the primary worship day for Christians today:
- Work schedules: Meeting on Sundays enables most believers to attend without missing work or school.
- Church tradition: Centuries of tradition have solidified Sunday as the church’s corporate worship day.
- Sabbath activities: Sunday worship allows believers to utilize Saturdays for rest, sports and other Sabbath activities.
- More church events: With widespread Sunday worship, more ministry activities tend to be scheduled on those days.
Alongside theological meaning, practical conveniences help explain why Sunday remains the chosen day for congregating in churches worldwide.
Summary
In summary, Sunday emerged as the day of Christian worship due to:
- Its commemoration of Christ’s resurrection.
- Following the pattern of the early church recorded in Scripture.
- Departing from Jewish customs like Sabbath observance.
- Honoring both the Creator and Christ the Redeemer.
- Practical considerations like work schedules.
- Reinforcement by church tradition and papal decrees.
While some disagree, the precedent of meeting on the Lord’s Day has been established for much of church history. Christians continue commemorating Christ’s resurrection through corporate Sunday worship.