Bible Question:

Is it wrong in the eyes of God for a Christian to go out to eat lunch after going to church? Is it wrong or is it a sin to take your family on a boat ride in the river or go fishing for example on Sunday after attending church?

Bible Answer:

No, it is not wrong to eat lunch at home or at a restaurant after church. It is also not wrong to take a boat ride, fish, walk, ride in your car, ride a bike, ski, ride a horse, or go swimming, for example, after church on Sunday. The Bible did not forbid these things. However, there are some who believe that Sunday is a day of rest, but that principle cannot be found in the New Testament because it is not taught in the New Testament. The concept of resting only applies to the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8-11). That command is never repeated in the New Testament.

In fact, Jesus taught, healed, and “ate food” on the Sabbath when He was here on earth.

On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered . . . and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward. And Jesus said to [the Pharisees], “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?” . . . But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus. (NASB) Luke 6:6-9, 11

Now it happened that He was passing through some grainfields on a Sabbath; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” (NASB) Luke 6:1-2

The last passage shows that even our Lord “ate out” on the Sabbath, since He did not eat at home.

Conclusion:

The Pharisees imposed religious laws upon the Jewish people. It appears that their initial intentions were good. It appears that they wanted to protect everyone from violating God’s laws. So they added extra rules – unbiblical laws – so that everyone would not violate God’s laws. These additional laws were a “hedge or protection about the laws of God.” But they ended up violating God’s law by imposing laws or rules that God had not approved. They also violated the law of love by burdening people with laws that God had not imposed. On one occasion Jesus challenged the Pharisees with these words,

But go and learn what this means: “I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,” for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. (NASB) Matt. 9:13

The non-biblical laws had become more important to the Pharisees than the people. No, it is not wrong to eat lunch at home or at a restaurant after church. It is also not wrong to take a boat ride, fish, walk, ride in your car, ride a bike, ski, ride a horse, or go swimming, for example, after church on Sunday. These are forms of rest. But we must be careful that these do not replace our times of worship. May God bless you.