Is Sunday just for Jesus, or should it belong to everyone?
That’s the question New Jersey’s largest county is reckoning with, as Bible-based “blue laws” prohibiting shopping and commerce are now hitting the county’s bottom line.
Should keeping the Sabbath holy be mandatory – even for non-Christians?
What Are Blue Laws?
Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, are restrictions on commerce or certain activities on a designated day of rest – almost always Sunday, in accordance with the Christian Sabbath.
Though they exist in a handful of European countries, blue laws are primarily an American idea. One could even argue that blue laws were among the very first laws enacted in the U.S. (or as they were called back then, the Colonies).
How Did Blue Laws Start?
English settlers fresh off the boat in 1619 implemented blue laws in Jamestown Colony, requiring mandatory church attendance for all colonists, as well as bans on what they viewed as Sabbath-day sins and excesses, including drunkenness, gambling, and idleness.
The Puritans later expanded these rules to include commercial bans, and by the early 20th century, prohibitions on the Sunday sale of alcohol were widespread. While most shopping restrictions have since been repealed, vestiges remain, especially around alcohol sales.
Unsurprisingly, blue laws have faced various constitutional challenges. In 1961, one such case made its way to the Supreme Court, which ruled that blue laws are legal so long as the law is written in secular terms.
In other words, states and counties cannot ban commerce on Sunday because the Bible commands rest. But a law that declares a general, secular day of rest, which just happens to line up with the Christian Sabbath? Perfectly fine.
Should Stores Be Closed on Sundays?
That brings us to Bergen County, New Jersey. Unlike the rest of the state, Bergen County voters have consistently supported closing nearly all retail outlets on Sunday. Many speculate that this wealthy community defends blue laws less out of piety and more to reduce the crush of out-of-town weekend shoppers.
Unless you’re buying gas, checking into a hotel, or purchasing food, don’t expect to do much shopping on a Sunday in Bergen County.
The rules get even stricter in the town of Paramus, where blue laws are so intense they’d make the Puritans proud. Unless an establishment is selling food, Paramus demands it be closed on Sunday – lest citizens succumb to “physical and moral debasement.”
But recently, county officials discovered that the American Dream mall – the nation’s second-largest – was opening on Sundays in defiance of county law. Officials argued this gave the mall an unfair advantage over competitors. The mall countered that the laws didn’t apply because the property sits on state-owned land, pointing to the sale of football jerseys and souvenirs at MetLife Stadium during Sunday games as precedent.
Now, the county is suing American Dream, alleging it has broken the law hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Officials are even threatening to shut the mall down. In response, the mall blasted the lawsuit as a “meritless political stunt.”
So what do you think? Do blue laws still serve a civic purpose by forcing a collective day of rest, or are they outdated holdovers of religious rule that no longer fit a pluralistic society?
Should Bergen County’s thousands of Jews, Muslims, atheists and other faith adherents be forced to live under Bible-based rule?
104 comments
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James Trenton Smith
It is more than likely that this use of Bible and verse to limit retail on Sunday has nothing to do with Christians or Jesus or HIS word at all ... and everything to do with politicians who want control of retail markets for the purposes of profit and gain...but will use whatever angle or tool to see it done... But, it's easier to blame the Christian Brother who actually does love you. So ... I guess run back on down to the Country Club, shuck and jive, and high-five with the Tax-Collectors and the Publicans who will literally say and do anything. If you act like they want you to, they will pat you on the head like a puppy....and you can grin and shine... and do a little dance... and be so proud that they acknowledged you in town...
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Pastor Wm. Dawson
You know it's amazing on how many people in this world still does not understand scriptures it is truly amazing first off if you want to go by scriptures there is no day of rest for people in this day of age this is called the age of Grace we are not under the age of law the law was for the ancient Hebrews up until the time that Jesus Christ died from Genesis forward till the day Christ was put on the cross was Old testament that is called living under the law and the law stated back then that under the day of rest the Sabbath that no work of any sort shall be done on that entire day that means no gathering wood for fires no going to the gardens for food no cooking no cleaning no washing your body no nothing you were to do absolutely nothing for that one entire day other than praise God for the entire day and if you want to be technical about it the Sabbath day would have been on Saturday not Sunday Sunday is Catholicism Sunday is the very first day of the week not the last when people are thinking 7 days they're looking at work weeks in the modern age this is not true in scriptures now fast forward to the age of crease there is no Sabbath in the New testament anywhere not until after you hit Hebrews until revelation those books are the books for after the second coming of Christ for the thousand year reign that's when all Hebrew men on Earth at that time for that thousand years will be the teachers for the world and every human on earth will flock to those people for education for the purpose of salvation it will be just as it was during under the law of old people have to understand that we do not live just by the law of the land the law of the land does not control anything spiritual can people need to wake up and understand this before the end times come read the scriptures do not read into anything it is not meant to add your own interpretations to meet your standards and your beliefs the scriptures are the scriptures it says what it means and it means what it says the laws in the Old testament just like the ten commandments are no longer ours to live under they are a means of representation and for the purpose of a fundamental type of living they are not to control our lives or our souls you must read from Acts chapter 9 through Philemon those are the books of the Bible that we are to follow and those are the only books that is meant for the age of Grace that is it please study
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Steven Michael Lanham
To be correct about it, Sunday is the first day of the week an the Sabbath is Saturday the day God rested after creating everything
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James Trenton Smith
Free will is not theirs to take ... cities don't really have the authority they think they have to tell free men what freedom they have to interact with other persons on any day of the week. I'll bet they don't make the Restaurants close. I'd be willing to bet a small fortune that some of these city councilpersons, if not all, go out to eat on Sunday after they leave church. They will expect the Restaurant to be staffed, and all warmed up by the time church lets out at dinner... Are we shutting them down...? I mean many of those waitresses are single mothers...we want them to bring their children to church right? Yes, we do...just so long as it doesn't mess with our favorite Sunday out-to-eat dinner spot...is the selfish message they send. It's ridiculous to tell a merchant that he cannot offer his wares at any date or time on his or her own property. Wouldn't it be a mess if Hotel lobbies were only open M-F 9 to 5...like government hours... Just about anything "They" touch "They" mess up. The Law they support is the Law the WE support, and it's written on our hearts already. I thank them for the good they do. But sometimes they get too busy...
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William Robert Wall
In Colorado, car dealerships are closed on Sundays. This allows the mom and pop/smaller dealerships a chance to get one day off each week. Back in the stone age, when I lived in Montgomery County, MD, a (at that time) big box store hired a security company I was employed by, to patrol the aisles for loss prevention, and if necessary, provide assistance (limited to helping them find things) within the store.
I would hope that Bergen County can justify their restrictions with sound, secular reasoning.
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William Robert Wall
Addendum - There is the issue of persons in Bergen County/Paramus who are trying to maintain a certain atmosphere by Sunday business closures. If it's a fiscal issue, then the voters should decide, revenue vs. atmosphere.
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
The 1st amendment even states, strictly, that there is a separation of Church and State.
If I want to go shopping on Sunday, then I will. If I ran a store and wanted to be open on Sunday then I would. But the fact that there are those now trying to RAM their religion down people's throats and FORCE stores to shut down, by threatening prison time and ripping their businesses out from under the owners, all in the name of religion, they are not only wrong, they're EVIL.
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Joseph Grieco
A bit over 50 years ago, I worked in a Supermarket in upstate NY. The Blue Laws in place left more questions than it resolved issues. One problem - the Meat Department. NYS restricted the sale of "Fresh Cut Meat" on Sundays. The first question was did it impact our Deli operation? No, because the meat products there were already cooked and ready to serve. This was a similar manner to stand alone delis being able to sell cold cuts on Sundays. Now the other question was the meat department where I worked. It took a couple of weeks but they were finally able to determine that we could sell "Fresh Cut Meat" as long as it was not cut on Sundays. This meant the company didn't need to have a butcher on staff on Sunday, just someone (namely me) to keep meats that were already cut in the sales cases. When I went to work in a mall, some businesses were required to be closed on Sundays, while others were allowed to remain open. Eventually, a group comprised of Halal and Kosher butchers were able to sue the state for forcing them to not be available for their customers on days that were not their respective sabbaths (Friday and Saturday) by making them close on the Christian Sabbath. A judge agreed that this was an imposition under their 1st Amendment rights under the Establishment Clause, and the Blue Laws were thrown out.
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Tom Herman
Funny how we support individual rights on one hand and work hard to take them away on the other. If your faith opposes working on Sunday then don't work but do not impose your beliefs on others.
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Patricia A. Gougelmann
Yes, the mall should be open. If your belief is that it should not be open then don't shop. Be respectful of what other people may think is the right thing to do.
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Najib Muslim-El
If you are a part of a community that was built on Christian or Biblical law you follow that law. If you do not like such laws you go through the proper channels to change it. If you are a Non-Christian living in a Christian community where its laws are based on Biblical law you need to move. Why stay where you will never be happy. As for the business, it should follow the law.
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Joseph Grieco
And then you get folks like the Seventh Day Adventists who insist ALL commerce cease on THEIR sabbath, whether you are a member or not. The SDAs in one community even tried to force their local post offices to NOT deliver mail on Saturdays, because it was a violation of THEIR sabbath, to anyone in the community regardless of their religious beliefs.
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Steven Keith Holdsworth
Ridiculous Bible thumpers.
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Rev. Mark
As stated in the story... if a town or county make up a "Day of Rest" rule, that aligns with religion, then that's fine! But otherwise it sounds like the Christian version of what the Muslims are doing in Texas and Michigan, where they are strongly encouraging the community to comply with their Sharia Law when it comes to what merchants can and cannot sell. It just kills me that some people go to great lengths over man-made religions!!
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Roy S. Thorpe
The seven day week was an old testament story that was used to explain why the ancient Hebrews used it! GOD is a spirit to which time is unlimited! God did not rest as he needed none! Man needs rest! The thumpers who go around espousing old testament rules need a reality check! God should be honored every day not just Sunday!
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Pastor George Day
Roy,
God is a Trinity, and one of the persons in the Godhead is a man; therefore, he requires rest.
The incarnation of Christ took place at a specific moment according to human perception. However, for God, time does not exist.
Emmanuel, also referred to as the Angel of Yahweh, serves as the human manifestation of God in the Old Testament, possibly the one who physically walked in the Garden of Eden following Adam and Eve's consumption of the fruit.
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James L Eubanks I I I
The Sabbath day is not Sunday so the mall should be able to stay open. The Sabbath day is Saturday and starts from Sundown Friday to Sundown Saturday. When Jehovah created the days He used numbers and the 7th day is Saturday and Sunday is the 1st day of the week. The Bible says "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the 7th day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." The Resurrection of Jesus 👑 has nothing to do with the Sabbath as some may think. Jesus 👑 also worked on that day and went into the synagogue and read on the Sabbath. The Sabbath day of worship was changed by Constantine and the Catholic Church admits to this. There is a video on YouTube entitled The Catholic Church Admits to Changing The Sabbath From Saturday To Sunday. Please do your research on this topic because the National Sunday Law is coming soon!
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Pastor George Day
James,
Your comment is misleading.
The Sabbath can, and sometimes is, extended up to Tuesday. Havdalah (farewell to Shabbat) marks Tuesday night as its liturgical deadline.
Early Christians were predominantly Messianic Jews. They would extend Shabbat to Sunday. Both the Book of Acts and the Book of Revelation reference Saturday night (the beginning of Sunday in biblical chronology) as the time they gathered for an additional Shabbat service to commemorate the resurrection and partake in holy communion. The entire Book of Revelation represents, in context, such an additional service, culminating in the full revelation of Jesus' divinity.
You are correct that Jesus was a Jew and observed all the Moadim, including Shabbat. He also stated that his message would extend to the Gentiles, who, according to Acts 15, were exempt from following Rabbinic law, meaning also exempt from observing Shabbat on Saturday but only on Sunday. The big controversy was, nonetheless, around circumcision, and Jesus was circumcised.
Constantine sought to separate the Gentile Church (the New Temple) from Israel, as the majority of Israel had rejected Jesus as the Messiah. This separation was detrimental to both sides and fueled antisemitism, ultimately culminating in the Holocaust.
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Colleen McAllister
It is wrong and unconstitutional to expect non-Chrustisns to follow Biblical rules. And if that county wants to force it then remember God told the Israelites that they could not gather food that day so ALL business needs to cease on that day.
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Oden Miller
It's just controlled structured religion trying to control the masses besides I think Jesus would want you to go shopping but not slave at work unless it was something meaningful like cooking or cleaning or feeding family but hell yeah no close stay open shop away my peeps.
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Edwin Wilfred Mckinney
PEACE FROM Yeshua, may the Lord through the grace of mercy be with us all. Show me in any book that, SUNDAY was the official day for worship? Show me, that, SUNDAY was the official day or even Saturday the official service in the old to new testaments, out of the torah, Koran, new international bible, king James, and so forth and so on. Then, let the community honor the true day is when, every day is worship for the lord of more than 1 praise the LORDS name.
NOW, SHOULD SUNDAY BE THROWN OUT. OR SHOULD SUNDAY, SATURDAY OR EVEN FRIDAY OR THURSDAY BE SUBJECT TO BE INPUT
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Rev. Donut
No.
I do believe that it is nice to not have so much going on on a Sunday. But, I'm not going to tell a business to close because I want it to.
The business can be open any day. If you don't want to go there, don't. The business will get the message one way or another to open or not be open. Kind of like TV, if you don't like the programming, don't whine about it, change the channel.
How do we know what day is the first or last day of the week or "sabbath"?
A well known "Deacon" of a local church was in a bar on Saturday evening slamming back beers like the bar was going to run out of it..
He saw me, the not whacky, but not quite as pious son of another "Deacon" that attended the same church as him and as I walked over to say Hi. Old Don turned seven shades of red and ran out. Ran out. I don't know why.
Did I have ketchup on my shirt?
Or, did he get caught, by himself, in his own mind, doing something that he thought was "wrong" ?
He brought the misplaced "guilt" on himself. Nobody else in the place cared if he was drinking beer on Saturday night.
If you don't want to go shopping on Sunday or whatever day you choose to call your Sabbath, then don't.
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Carolynn P Isbell
I wonder if this attempt to 'pigeon-hole' God to a single day is harming our society? We are taught to 'pray always' not just on Sunday. I understand the need to set aside a specific time for fellowship with others of our faith experience but I believe that is your choice. Would our lives be better if everything was shut down for a day? I think so, but it can not be mandated. That requires interpretation- who determines if football is okay, but buying clothes is not? This is an interesting concept to ponder.
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Pastor George Day
Carolynn P Is
Is football considered a religion?
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Stella L. Wright
God gave us the right to choose. He also said that we will remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. That being said, God gave us the choice about whether or not to keep the Sabbath holy. We do not need laws for that. Who knows which day God meant for Sabbath? Who decided it would be Saturday or Sunday? You can keep the Sabbath on YOUR seventh day.
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Michele Marie Miles
Capitalism is not based in religion. It should be up to the individual business if they are to be open on a Sunday or not. There is a fast food restaurant that has done so since it's inception and did fine. A church should not impose it's beliefs on an entire mall/shopping center as not everyone in that area has the same beliefs and neither do the business owners.
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Pastor George Day
Dear Michele,
The very foundation of capitalism lies in the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, with the blessings of the elect serving as evidence of salvation out of God's mere unsolicited sovereignty. Some mistakenly refer to it as the 'prosperity gospel,' largely due to their lack historical understanding, much like yourself.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
What an absurd concept, forcing other people to observe your particular holy days. Especially since the Sabbath is supposed to be Saturday. What if I forced everyone to shut down on MY holy days? Every full moon, every new moon, every equinox or solstice, every time a planetary hour coincides with the proper day of the week OOPS, EVERY DAY IS HOLY. At least to someone. These legislators need to get over themselves and abide by the Constitution. Blue laws are religious laws, and thus unConstitutional.
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James Graziosi
In todays America with the religious divercity and different ethnic backgrounds and beliefs. I don't believe enforcing old purtain beliefs (blue laws) on all, is right. It's painting with a very wide brush.
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Camille Ann McCully
Stay home if you practice your Sabbath. Please do not tell me I must follow your believe. 💙
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Steven Ferrell
Being old enough to remember when most stores and businesses around me were closed on Sundays, by I personally think it is a good idea. It does not force anyone into any religion or force anyone to attend church services. What it does do is make a day for more families to be together as a family.
A day for families to be together has been lost and it shows in the disconnect of families on a whole.
There will always be some that must work like hospitals and emergency services, but the stores being open is only due to corporate greed-
Amber Fry
It also makes for a lot of bored non religious people to cause all kinds of trouble. No, closing things for non religious people just because the religious people say so is very specifically against the constitution as it pushes laws that favor a religion. The US was specifically set up not to do that as it established itself no longer under British rule.
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Pastor George Day
Steven Ferrell
Precisely!
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Reverend Robyn
Yeah. No. Blue laws are antiquated. Even repressed Texas allows shopping, eating, and drinking adult beverages.
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Jacqueline Ellis
No. Unless you are SPECIFICALLY A Christian store (and POST your policies and hours) then stay open. Whole "Towns" that "Shut down" are FORCING people to be ONE religion or another. As a Kemetic Minister my Holy days are sometimes different and for different REASONS, than just "Shut down because Sundays". I'm an older lady, as a youngster I remember whole towns shutting down (EVERY store) and it was not quaint nor did it keep people from drinking and committing crimes. In fact since they were HOME, the alcoholics and abusers got WORSE. Something to think about "Politicians" not everything is your way or the Highway.
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Walter Abington
Tax churches. Just say NO to religious laws. I pay taxes not tithings to the local government.
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David Hinckley
Tax the churches, and the properties they own.
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Philip Walker
It not god. It is people that do. Some people unable to change. Prevent shopping on a Sun. If people actually comprehend gods words. Maybe world would not be so bad.
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Rev Ned
Taliban Christians ?!?
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David Hinckley
Fundamentalists are Fudamentalists, be they christian or islamic.
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Pastor George Day
Reverend Ned,
What kind of remark is that?
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
I remember when a store called Sky City opened on Sunday and defied the Blue Law. A cashier would ring up a sale, they would be arrested, taken to jail, where they were bailed out by attorneys working with some group against the law, come back to the store and ring up another sale.
The blue law didn’t last long after that. Religious delusional individuals are good for a laugh sometimes.
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Patricia Ann Gross
The blue laws, when I lived in Texas, was completely insane. You could buy baby formula, but not a baby bottle. You could buy lightbulbs, but not lamps. You could buy canned goods but not a can opener. Other than that it was only something that could be classified as "food" (and some of that was rather suspect).
In order to honor all religions equitably, religious organizations should be allowed to designate the days they are not open and in accordance with their specific traditions regarding "days of rest." It's ironic that they require retail establishments to close on Sunday because of a Christian interpretation of "day of rest," but they still expect the pastors and priests to be in the pulpit working. Other than that, beyond having PTO available to accommodate religious rituals of observance beyond the traditional days where every business is closed, should be standard HR policy.
Some places require 24X7X365/6 availability (first responder services of fire, police, and emergency medicine and the power grid are examples) but beyond that there should be a limit to what is allowable , as everyone needs significant down time. As a Chaplain resident, I had one or two 36-hour overnight shifts at a level one trauma center. While I had a room where I could lay down and nap, I was required to be able to answer a page within a few minutes. There were also times when I had to travel between facilities, as I covered two hospitals when on call. Company policies and oversight organizations need to spell these out and verify that they are being adhered to. Days of rest are necessary. I've lived through sleep deprivation, and it's not pretty.
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Pastor George Day
Patricia Gross,
Your comment is logical and well-articulated.
Thank you for contributing.
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Anthony Bernard Wells
Hello to all.
What is the "Sabbath?" "Shavat" is the origin of the word "Sabbath," and it means "cease" and/or "desist." It is easy to see that Sabbath is simply known more commonly as meaning "rest."
The Sabbath day is usually a term meaning from the Holy Bible a day of rest in Him, the One True God.
Should not we take our rest, if we believe in Him, everyday rather than just one?
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Pastor George Day
Anthony Bernard Wells
so, when do you clock in for the daily grind?
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William E Muldrew
First of all Sunday is not the Sabbath day, and second off this world do not respect the real Sabbath why would they do anything different on a forced imposed one. Keep it real your Sabbath is between you and God.
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Pastor George Day
Sunday remains part of the Sabbath as it includes Havdalah.
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B/W Clerg. Clive Orlando Hessing
Sunday is community day
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James Riggle-Johnson
If your religion requires you not to work, drink, or play on the Sabbath, then don’t do it. Will they make everyone attend church next? Why do religious institutions have to impose their agenda on everyone? Stop the enforcement of religious agendas!
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Stacey Owens
The Word is God, not man. As it is written, those that are led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God.
Once man dictates it its know more the spirit of God in control but the law of the flesh. As it is written, "do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, thar there is not a wise man among you, even one, who will be able to judge between believers and unbelievers?" Let God be true and every man a liar.
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Lionheart
Thank you for letting us know what you like to believe is true even though there is no demonstrable evidence to support your claim. Phrases like “spirit of god” is of course a human construct used by all of the worlds faiths that keep them involved with their own religion, all claiming theirs is the one and only true religion because the “spirit” has confirmed it to them. Mormons, JW’s, etc all say the same.
🦁❤️
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Stacey Owens
The evidence is already in you, you just fail to believe in the image of God. Your just matter, the dust of the ground. A partical that can not see who he is. You just know, your matter, driffting in the wind. If you would just open your minds eye and see and believe. Your the life in the world, created in the image of God the Life in Christ Jesus. But your just blinded by the form, the dust of the ground, a partical blown to and frow.
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Lionheart
Thank you for saying things that you firmly believe, Lady Stacey. I had someone from the Mormon faith say something to me that was very similar. No doubt messengers from the Islamic faith would tell me that I just need to bend my will to Mohammed to believe in Allah, and that’s okay. I know everyone means well with them all thinking they “have the truth”, just like your good self.
I’m so grateful that I have not only opened my heart to everything around me, but I have also opened my mind, using logic, reason, and critical thought, (which is a wonderful use of the cerebrum 🧠), that has saved me from being blinded by all of the worlds religious dogmas, and indoctrinations.
Thank you for your comment.
🦁❤️
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David Hinckley
Logic? Reason? Critical thought? Logic, reason and critical thinking have no place in religion. That's why the Pilgrims had the stocks, to punish those things.
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Lionheart
You are so right, Sir David. It’s very important everyone involved in their religion attends their mind numbing weekly programming to make sure they never use logic, reason, and critical thought. 🤭
🦁❤️
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Pastor George Day
Lionheart
What is the origin of the universe, and what initiated and sustains its motion?
What grants us the consciousness of existence?
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Pastor George Day
Lionheart
What about Messianic Jews?
The Spirit, or Ruach in Hebrew, translates to wind. If you breathe, you possess the wind. Life is associated with blood and the ability to breathe.
It is notable that Ruach in Hebrew carries a feminine grammatical ending, while in Greek it is neutral and in Latin, masculine.
Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses do not incorporate the concept of motherhood within God. God, as Father, Son, and Holy "Wind," is also understood as our mother.
Good to hear from you.
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James Riggle-Johnson
The bible might be your law but the Constitution is the law of the land. You cannot expect non-Christians to live by a book made centuries to over a millennium ago. It doesn’t apply to everyone. Nobody is stopping you from living your truth. Don’t force others to live theirs. You may believe there is only one truth but that’s you. Not everyone believes the bible is true. If you truly believe God will judge those people, then let him do it.
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Pastor George Day
James Riggle-Johnson
The Bible is true, regardless of whether one believes it or not.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Again, that is your belief, and not everyone has to share it. You should not be able to force everyone to live by your beliefs.
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David Hinckley
Does your bible think that women should vote, or are they just supposed to shut up and do what they're told?
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Rev_Shaun
prove it
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Pastor George Day
Rev_Sun & James,
Sooner or later, the truth will hit you. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come with a flaming pitchfork!
After all, eternity with the devil isn’t exactly a vacation!
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Lionheart
The truth has hit me, as you well know. Christians and their ilk will often use the burning in Hell blackmail to ensure all their parishioners/followers toe the line to ensure they never use their brains.
Sooner or later, Sir George, the truth might hit you, but to be honest, I’m starting to doubt it. 🤭
🦁❤️
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ServantOfJudgement
Poor Mankind. Even now the poor demand the poor work seven days a week. If there were eight they'd clamor for eight per week.
It's sad that laws are needed to give us biological robots rest. Human capital, human resources, bodies, heads, tax payer, expendables, hands. Property in so many words.
See how the rich manipulate the poor to cannibalize the poor and even themselves.
For 30 years I've been in factories that demand 24/7/360. The hands of thousands upon thousands of worn souls made billions to their own demise like a honey bee destroys herself for the hive only to be discarded in the end.
God help us all.
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James Riggle-Johnson
SOJ, although I agree that some people are required to work way too much, I have to consider the other side of the argument. Do these people’s budgets force them to work so many hours? I know people who have to work two or three jobs to pay rent and put food on the table for their children. That’s the real problem. They work themselves ragged trying to survive while their corporation makes record profits. That’s the real tragedy.
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Blanca Elizabeth Menjivar Thompson
If we all, or at least a good number of people put family first and do not go out to eat at restaurants on Sundays instead of cooking at home (barbeques and picnics are so much fun), then the corporations will have no motivation to continue exploiting the people that are making them richer to a point that they have no incentives to consider the life of others, the life of the working class.
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James Riggle-Johnson
It’s the employees who need to work so they can afford to live, which worries me. Some of these people are working their second or third job to pay rent and buy food. If they suddenly lose that income, will their children go to bed hungry? I’m sorry if that offends anyone’s religious beliefs, but God will not pay the rent.
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Douglas William Mitchell
What victim mentality rubbish.
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Pastor George Day
Douglas William Mitchell
I completely concur!
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David Hinckley
Please don't tell me when i can go get my groceries and clothing. SOME of us have real jobs and work on Mondays. Actually, if your job is a minister and you preach a sermon on Sundays, aren't you working on the Sabbath?
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Robert Gagnon
It's their town, let them spin their wheels, just go spend your money in a neighboring county since they're so rich. Just like where they make Jack Daniels is a dry county(no employee discounts). I wouldn't live there because of the inconvenience, and Jerseys taxes are notoriously high. What about the Jewish Sabbath isn't that Friday sundown through Saturday? The Pilgrims and other first settlers were already religious fanatics that were cast out of a few countries. So why continue this cultish culture?
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Chris
How many of those fine, upstanding Christians go home and mow the lawn after church? Or watch football? Or do basically anything secular? The whole point of the Sabbath Day was to do things non-secular, to spend time in contemplation of God. It's supposed to be a Holy Day set apart from regular non-religious toil.
Now, if they can prove they're following THAT, I might consider their argument. Otherwise, they're just a bunch of hypocritical whiners who want to control everyone under the guise of religion.
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Rev. BH
Religious imposition (or not), it was nice to have a day when the big stores and little shops couldn't demand your working hours 8/24, and for one day you could relax with family or friends. Sunday dinner was once a regular, pleasant time to get together. No more.
Years back when I worked at a big box store, the hours were Monday - Sunday, 9am - 10pm. (Still are.) Argue about your schedule and you'd probably be fired. So I quit.
Jewish Saturday, Christian Sunday - gimme both off.
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Rev. Mike Eggleston
I'll have Thor's Day off please. How about a rule allowing employees to have at least one day off per week, not necessarily Sunday?
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Blanca Elizabeth Menjivar Thompson
It will be nice if the rest of the family has the same day off (including school children) so, as a family we can all enjoy the day off, then that will really make a difference and cultivating good family habits that will last for a good life; especially knowing where your children are, instead off wondering -what are they doing, while you are at work?-
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Reverend Andrew
well seeing as the football stadium is also in Bergen County, New Jersey. Does that mean they can not sell tickets on sundays and another kind of merchandise other than food? Also if I remember correctly the blue law also states no alcohol sales .So going by that than all ticket sales must be made before midnight Saturday no merchandise can be sold no alcohol sales Just over priced food! And on another note what about the other religions that the sabbath starts at sundown fridays and ends at sundown on saturday would the blue las not also apply to that ?
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Pastor George Day
Reverend Andrew,
Sunday remains part of the Sabbath as it includes Havdalah.
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Rev. Mike Eggleston
That's only relevant to Christians, it doesn't apply to the rest of us.
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Blanca Elizabeth Menjivar Thompson
My question is What kind of Reverent are you? Why do you call yourself Reverent if you don't read or do not understand the Bible? and more important do not follow the 10 Commandments as they are.
I always wonder why someone with another agenda will want to do business or live in a community that is already established and follows the law of the community? If you like the place is for a reason don't go there and change it to your ways because at the end your ways will change the structure of the place and make it something else and then you are not going to like. Even with no religion to have a free day to enjoy with your family is a blessing.
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Pastor George Day
Rev. Mike Eggleston
Havdalah is a Jewish tradition highlighting your level of preparation.
Shabbat can be extended until Tuesday, depending on when Havdalah is observed.
Conduct a thorough research, I might advise.
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Wesley Richard Hunt
HUH?
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Amber Fry
For those who honestly follow that religious construct, sure. But that should not be demanded of those who do not. Keep your church specific activities in church and at home. let the rest of society live their own lives and religious convictions, or not, as they see fit. It shouldn't be part of societal law.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Sooo, someone decides that I can’t go shopping because their religion says not to, and I have to go along with that? I’d move before before I went along with THAT garbage!
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Alexander Clarke
If you want to experience Blue Laws visit the rural south.
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William Robert Wall
Where on Sundays, you buy your beer behind the convenience store.
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Rev. BH
Paula, I'm usually in agreement with your commentary, but " I can’t go shopping" strikes me as a big OMG!
What'll you ever do !?
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Ari Joseph Bertine
If she works the rest of the week, then not having the time to go buy food and toilet paper is indeed a big OMG. Wtf, dude. How hard is it to remember that not everyone lives the same life?
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Rev. BH
A J B, ignoring your Wtf, I stand corrected. My apologies to Paula. Wasn't thinking about time to procure life's necessities (though these days much of it can be delivered with 1/2 hour on the computer). My time in retirement is wide open and I saw your concerns through my personal blinders. As for toilet paper, my girlfriend signed up to have it delivered by Amazon. Now she has trouble stopping boxes full from arriving far too frequently. Anybody need any?
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Pastor George Day
Reverend Paula Copp
The Sabbath is a time for rest and renewal, fostering a deeper connection with God and creation. Would it be possible to postpone your shopping to Monday?
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Rev. Mike Eggleston
If you don't want to go shopping on Sunday, simply don't go. Some of us have to work on Monday so don't deny us the opportunity to go shopping on Sunday.
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Pastor George Day
Rev. Mike Eggleston
It is unlikely that you work around the clock, is it not? Surely, you could allocate some time on Monday.
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Lenny L Kouma
Surely you could not dictate your preferences on the rest of the world. Personal choice.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Not if she works on Monday. Seriously, people all have different schedules and no law about sales will change that, it'll just make it harder for the people who have to work on the days things are open. People need more awareness.
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Pastor George Day
Ari
It is unlikely that she works around the clock, is it not? Surely, she could allocate some time on Monday.
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Joni Sue Hoffer
Food for thought: If one’s “connection” is truly connected why would there be a need for rest or renewal. Wouldn’t one’s connection be infinite with no need for rest or renewal because it never waivers … If one “walks” with one’s connection being the leading step then wouldn’t each step perpetually energize and awaken one’s connection. Therefore there would be no demand for rest or renewal because neither would lessen.
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Pastor George Day
Joni Sue Hoffer
This reflects the essence of Hellenistic Gnosticism, where the truth is unveiled through the sacred texts.
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David Hinckley
Please don't tell me when i can go get my groceries and clothing. SOME of us have real jobs and work on Mondays. Actually, if your job is a minister and you preach a sermon on Sundays, aren't you working on the Sabbath?
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Najah P Tamargo
Najah Tamargo-USA
These are BUSINESSES, not places of worship. It is not for ANY local, state, or Federal office's to dictate when the can operate. Good grief!!! Why are we even having this conversation?
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David Hinckley
What millennium are we living in again?
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Marylyn (Pepper) Montague
Any religion that tries to get the whole world to live by their god’s rules, has a very weak god who can’t do it for HIMself… because he is not real. Love is all power in everything everywhere all of the time… God is Love, not a man with a tick sheet up in the sky somewhere.
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Brother Paul
OK. HI how is everyone doing? my thought is if you need to rest on the 7th day wouldn't that be on Saturday? I'm from SR and the county that i live it had a blue law about 45 years ago. And now pretty much all business are open.
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I believe that it's important to seek a close relationship with God in every moment of my life—whether I'm working or resting. I've always felt that God isn’t offended by my daily activities, as long as I make a conscious effort to include Him in everything I do. This perspective encourages me to integrate my faith into all aspects of my life, fostering a deeper connection with the divine.