Sunday, the day of rest: What exactly is "work"?
So, we all know the Bible says you're not allowed to work on Sunday, because it is the day of rest. And I'm sure we've all read what the punishment for breaking that rule is...obviously nobody takes it literally, but it's startling nonetheless.
So my question is this:
Is it still "work" if it's something you deeply enjoy? For example, imagine a craftsman who sells carved trinkets. He makes his living by selling these trinkets, but he also has a true passion for his work, and creating the trinkets does not feel like "work" to him. If he carves trinkets on Sunday, is he violating the word of the Bible?
Is "work" defined by how the activity makes you feel? (ex. whether it feels stressful and you hate it, or you enjoy it and gladly do it on the weekend). Is it defined by whether or not you make money? (ex. maybe the craftsman doesn't sell the trinkets he makes on Sundays).
I'm just looking for opinions.
I'll give you a half-assed answer based loosely on Judaism, partly on my beliefs, and representitive of no one but me.
The commandment is, first and foremost, a commandment to work. "Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work". Most Jews and Christians conveniently forget to do that---in the Torah it is understood.
Jews have built an elaborate set of rules around this. Actually, we call it "building a fence around the Torah". There are 33 activities prohibited on Sabbath. I will use one as an example... the famous injunction against "lighting a fire" on Sabbath, and many Orthodox Jews carry this to such activities as driving a car, turning on a light, or cooking food, all which, at some level, involve something resembling lighting a fire.
Way back in the day, lighting a fire was a rather difficult task. Nowadays it is not. So why make life more difficult by walking to a service as opposed to driving?
Because the Sabbath is supposed to be different, set apart, and these things keep us mindful of and obedient to God. Keeping the Sabbath means making that day different from any other.
Many Conservative and Reform Jews take a different approach, and that is closer to my belief and observence. this does not make me right or wrong or better or worse.
But...before a person gets all involved in what to do or not to do on Sabbath, it might behoove him/her to work on the other six days and get everything done, and then to be mindful, especially mindful, of God's blessings on that seventh day.
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