Q:What does the Bible say about shopping on Sunday?

A:With our present day culture viewing Sunday as a "holy day" (a word taken from the Hebrew word "Sabbath" which means "to rest or cease from work"), yours is a great question. In the verses below, we'll see that shopping on Sunday is permissible.

We read in Colossians 2:16-17: Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Colossians 2 tells us there is freedom in Christ when it comes to "special laws" of any particular time period (e.g., worshiping on a particular day) vs. "natural or moral laws" that are timeless and always apply (e.g., do not kill; do not commit adultery, etc.).

The main reason for having a "holy day" (or Sabbath) is two fold:

1. The first reason for setting aside a "holy day" is to provide opportunity to find rest and refreshment from the constant demands of work. While not needing to do so, we see God modeling this for us by resting on the 7 day of creation.

2. A second reason to set aside a "holy day" is to be refreshed by God's Word. In Matthew 12:12 we read: "How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." The greatest "good" one can do on "the Sabbath" or "holy day" is worship. God's Word being holy and true, setting apart time for God's Word to be taught, heard, read, pondered, and applied is an essential part to any day being holy or set apart.

With this in mind, feel free to shop on Sunday, or any day of the week, so long as you are also giving yourself opportunity for weekly, even daily, opportunity to rest and find refreshment in God's Word through worship, Bible Study, or your personal devotional life.