Intellectual Defenestration

Christians on Sunday

From the Wall Street Journal:

[T]he nation's largest Christian bookstore chain, Family Christian Stores, has thrown open its doors for business on Sunday afternoons. "What we're commanded to do in Matthew 28:19 doesn't say, 'Monday to Saturday, 9 to 5'--it's a 24-7 Great Commission," says David Browne, president of the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based chain, which has 325 stores in 39 states. In the passage, Jesus commands his followers to "go and make disciples of all nations." Says Mr. Browne: "Churches have their doors open on Sunday; why shouldn't we?"

There are so many directions one could go from here: the continued drift of American Christianity from any sort of concrete biblical and theological mooring, the sad state of Christian bookstores anyway, the possible connection between this and Christ cleansing the temple (the moneychangers were providing a "service" to the worshippers, but still missed the point of worship), and so on.

But the most amusing part of it all is a comment Mr. Browne made defending Family Christian Stores' decision. Arguing why it's OK for FCS to stay open when other Christian businesses, such as Chik-Fil-A, stay closed, Mr. Browne stated that "No one is going to hell if they don't eat a chicken sandwich on a Sunday." Touchy, touchy, touchy. It must be noted, though, that most likely (and this is just a guess) no one will go to hell if they don't buy a "WARNING: This car will be vacant in case of rapture" bumper sticker, either.