SABBATH OBSERVANCE NOT ENJOINED ON CHRISTIANS.
"Therefore let no man judge you in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath". (Col 2:16 NWT).

Jesus being a Jew under the Mosaic Law observed the sabbath as God's Word directed (not the Pharisees' word). He knew it was lawful to do fine things on the sabbath. (Matt 12:12). However, the inspired christian writings state that "Christ is the end of the Law" (Rom 10:4), which results in Christians being "discharged from the Law." (Rom 7:6). Neither Jesus nor his disciples made any distinction between so-called 'moral' and 'ceremonial' laws. They quoted from and considered the other parts of the Law as well as the Ten Commandments as equally binding on those under the Law. (Matt 5:21-48. 22:37-40. Rom 13:8-10. James 2:10,11). The Scriptures plainly state that Christ's sacrifice "abolished...the Law of commandments consisting in decrees," and that God "blotted out the handwritten document against us, which consisted of decrees...and He has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the torture stake." It was the complete Mosaic Law that was "abolished," "blotted out," and taken "out of the way." (Eph 2:13-15. Col 2:13,14). Consequently, the whole system of sabbaths, be they days or years, was brought to its end with the rest of the Law by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. This explains why Christians can esteem "one day as all others," whether it be a sabbath or any other day, with no fear of judgement by another. (Rom 14:4-6. Col 2:16). Concerning those scrupulously observing "days and months and seasons and years", Paul said: "I fear for you, that somehow I have toiled to no purpose respecting you." (Gal 4:10,11). (See 'Aid to Bible Understanding'. Pg.1426. Scrupulously observing such things is what JWs do).

What people of God should be annually observing is The Lord's evening meal, and other teachings of spiritual life, particularly at festivals of booths from God implemented for this, observed from year to year, and referred to in Zechariah 14:16-21. The Law was a tutor leading to The Christ and his laws of the spirit. (Gal 3:24,25).

SUNDAY WORKING.
Therefore, as the above scriptures prove, those people today making a public outcry against shops and other businesses trading on a Sunday because it is the sabbath, do so for different reasons than for their so-called christian faith. In most cases, the real reason for their outcry --although they use God's word falsely to promote their claims-- is primarily to save losing their own employment for refusing to work on Sundays. However, I believe at least one complete day of rest in every seven, whichever day, is good for one's body and mind, and is very necessary.

The financial gain for employers who force their employees to work seven days a week is lost when every other employer in competition with them does the same. Making their staff overly tired reduces the advantage still further. If it is expedient to have stores open in each district on a Sunday, because people are more able to do their shopping while not at their place of work on that particular day, then wisely these establishments should have a day of rest on another less busy day for their employees.

23/10/91.