Seventh-day Adventist religious liberty proponents are monitoring a proposal from a European Parliament member who wants businesses in Europe to close their doors on Sundays.
Parliament member Martin Kastler of Germany is urging for the passage of continent-wide laws similar to those of his home country, which encourage employees to take a day off work to be with their families, the New York Times reported.
Though parliamentary rules bar most members, including Kastler, from introducing legislation, a recently enacted citizens petition function would require the 736-member body to draw up such legislation if supporters raise 1 million signatures from across member countries, the Times reported.
While many Adventists in Europe now live and worship in countries with similar laws, the church has traditionally opposed such laws, citing possible religious discrimination.
"We agree that people need a day of rest, but we want to be sure those who don't have Sunday as a designated religious day of rest will be respected and accommodated," said John Graz, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) director for the Adventist world church and secretary-general of the International Religious Liberty Association.
"We hope that those behind the proposal will understand the pluralistic dimensions of European society today and the importance of respecting different religious beliefs," he said.
Church officials in the denomination's Switzerland-based Euro-Africa Division said they are monitoring the situation. This autumn they plan to hold consultations with local leadership regarding a possible response to any progress on Kastler's initiative.
"If [it] was just this question of shops opening on Sunday, our members would not see it as a problem," said Karel Nowak, PARL director for the church in Euro-Africa. "This is [already] the current situation in many West- and Central-European countries."
Nowak's key concern is the possible arguments supporting the initiative. He said some people want to "strengthen 'traditional European values,' meaning 'traditional Christian' values and lifestyle."
"In my opinion this development is concerning and could lead to escalation of tension among different groups," Nowak said.
We're going home! :)
Anthony | July 28, 2010 9:58 AM | Reply
As Adventist we know that Sunday laws will be proclaimed in the last days to identify the genuine children of God, and this will be the major event that will take place before the second coming of Christ. But, I wonder why we (specially the official) trying to stop the initiative of Kastler? why we are afraid "possible religious discrimination"?
RUBEN A. LOPEZ | July 29, 2010 12:12 AM | Reply
Feel free and have a look at Martin Kastler's English web site: http://www.free-sunday.eu/en
Kastler has started the first European Citizens' Initiative
since the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.
His Initiative for a work-free Sunday in Europe is backed by the Roman Catholic Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) and many Evangelical churches.
Their common objectives are:
We need a work-free Sunday in all of Europe,
• because children need a family day, which is protected as a day off-work
• because this brings Europe forward on it's way to become the most child-friendly region in the world
• because according to EU legislation, Sunday is the weekly rest day for children and adolescents
• because schools and public institutions never used to work on Sundays and do not intend to do so in the future - despite of various religious, cultural and ethnical backgrounds
• because studies prove the positive health effects of the work-free free Sunday
• because every person needs spare time - to relax, to be active in civil society, for hobbies and for religion
• because the work-free Sunday is an essential pillar of the European Social Model and a part of the European cultural heritage.
chris schaeffler | July 29, 2010 3:34 AM | Reply
This is the signs of the times that shows Jesus is coming soon. So don't try to block the legislation. Be prayful and be ready, the end is near.
John | July 29, 2010 9:01 PM | Reply
To Anthony
We need to try to stop this innitiative turn into something which might lead to religoius discrimination because God wants us to be free and God wants us to fight for our freedom. When Judgement Day will come God will ask us: "What did you do with you religious freedom?"
You will answer that you waited for the persecutions to come?
Dr. James Standish told that we have to fight for our religious freedom till the very end because this is our fundamental right from God. Why did God allow democracy and religious freedom to exist?
Emil | July 30, 2010 11:16 AM | Reply
Anthony, I humbly submit that we have a duty to use our voice and votes to keep personal liberties. As a Seventh-day Adventist I do not believe our duty is to blindly sit by, hoping that we can legislate Jesus' coming. This will happen, as predicted in the Great Controversy, but we need to be fighting for freedom as long as we can. Time is short, and we need to pray and expect the latter rain.
Michael | July 30, 2010 5:50 PM | Reply
Ruben, I humbly submit that we have a duty to use our voice and votes to keep personal liberties. As a Seventh-day Adventist I do not believe our duty is to blindly sit by, hoping that we can legislate Jesus' coming. This will happen, as predicted in the Great Controversy, but we need to be fighting for freedom as long as we can. Time is short, and we need to pray and expect the latter rain.
Michael | July 30, 2010 6:04 PM | Reply
These events will neither hasten nor delay His coming. They are way-marks of what is about to happen. By opposing such events, however, our ability to follow the mandate of MT 28:18-20 will be increased.
wgradke | July 30, 2010 9:29 PM | Reply
Congratulations! This is a so good job that you need to keep doing. May God give you more wisdom to spread more accurate religious news about the end of time in order to prepare a people to meet Jesus face to face.
Elios Pierre | July 31, 2010 3:49 PM | Reply
Now is time to see that our names are written in the book of life, and make sure they remain there by the help of the holy spirit. I'm requesting to be recieving the weekly ANN. My email adress is bwnile@ovi.com.
Belvin Nalubamba | August 1, 2010 8:21 AM | Reply
We're waiting this event,with enormous emotions,if we arrive to this point the time,this is more interesting,
the Jesús arrive is behind of this wall.
José Angel Rosas | August 1, 2010 9:52 AM | Reply
Not only did God use Ellen G. white to forewarn us, but He has also used Pastor David Gates to tell us about the coming crisis and the sunday law enforcement, inwhich SDA officials discredited him. Check out youtube and type in pastor David Gates.
Denise | August 2, 2010 6:40 AM | Reply
Belvin, I just subscribed you. Please check that email address for a confirmation message.
Nobody should oppose what is happening. It is a sign of teh end of tme rather let us be more prayerful. Friends Jesus will soon come to take us home.
ORIAKU CHIGOZIE | August 6, 2010 12:11 PM | Reply
I know this would appear as a change of subject, but I think it is directly related.
There is currently a battle brewing here in the United States regarding the legalization of gay marriage. Inasmuch as we as a church stand firmly in proclaiming that we oppose homosexuality (and we should, as this lifestyle is in direct conflict with the will of God, as clearly stated in the Bible) we cannot stand silently as state governments try to use law to enforce moral/religious views in order to deny a civil right to law-abiding citizens.
As this news story reminds us, we as a church have a history of proclaiming that there should be a separation between church and state. If we stand together with proponents of Prop 8 here in California and other similar laws throughout the states, we are saying that it is OK for the government to legislate in matters that are personal if it goes against the religious views of the majority. My brothers and sisters, this is a ploy from Satan to trap us. Today the issue is gay marriage; tomorrow it will be the Sabbath.
Preaching against sin is the responsibility of the church; the government should be limitted to enforcing the secular law of the land.
I hope I din't offend anyone.
Kathy Lee | August 7, 2010 1:28 PM | Reply
please don't oppose the proposal, we know where we are and how near home is. This is a sign of the end. Our duty is just to proclaim the third Angel's message. Let them fulfil the prophecy we are tired of this world. I long for for the Coming of Jesus.
Arnold Muleya | August 9, 2010 4:32 AM | Reply
don't stop anything!just leave it....pray jesus coming...obey the god's law amen
Rubachandran | August 10, 2010 8:24 AM | Reply
It's true, we have not to stop this from happening, but we as christians should take a role model of Prophet Elijah vis a vis the false prophets and Jezebel/Ahab of correcting and rebuking. Keeping silent on this means creating a pit for those who don't know the truth or who are not mature enough to know all about the end time events and how to stand in such situations.
Stay watchful and prayerful, for our salvation is now nearer than we started believing.
Keep updating me on this at every moment you happen to get any news. my e-mail: mudavy@yahoo.com
Mutsinzi David | August 11, 2010 12:51 AM | Reply
I do not agree with you at all. If no one opposes where is the democracy, where are the different views and opinions?
If there is only one opinion, only one party, only one religion, this is not democracy, this is dictatorship, and it is not normal!
How can the others find out about the true Sabbath and how can the others respect the true Sabbath if we do not fight for it?
Sabbath keepers must have religious freedom just like Sunday keepers in order for people to know us and know the Truth. How can someone convert if he finds out that he will be persecuted because of this?
Let us make sure that the ones who died for their religion during history (and there are a lot of Adventists) did not die for nothing.
We must keep fighting for our rights, because God is LOVE, and LOVE means also tolerance and respect. LOVE does not mean hatred, persecutions or death. LOVE is LIFE.
Emil | August 11, 2010 1:51 AM | Reply
Have you ever thought that there might be people who do not agree with such proposals? If you want to live in fear and persecution this does not mean that other people want the same thing.
If you think that dictatorship is better than democracy (which means religious freedom) please go to Somalia, Iran, China or Saudi Arabia and do not try to transform a democracy into a dictatorship.
I strongly support the approach of the Adventist Church towards full religious freedom for everyone.
And if you think that God who is love wants you to be persecuted, to live in fear, to lose everything because you keep the Sabbath you are wrong. The one who wants this is the biggest enemy of God and of the Sabbath and this is Satan.
Do not play his game!
Emil | August 11, 2010 2:00 AM | Reply
We MUST oppose the advances of the enemy if we truly love our fellow humans as Christ wants us to. Brother/Sister Norwak, this is not about creating tension, it is about following God and his words.
daniel | August 12, 2010 4:32 AM | Reply
In his pastoral letter 'Dies Domini' Pope John Paul II advanced similar arguments. Anyway, Adventists need not shed crocodile tears as they already observe 'Sunday holiday' policy in their institutions all over the world.
Sherman de Silva | August 12, 2010 8:09 PM | Reply
Hi there,
I think we need to remember the famous National Reform Movement that brought in a sunday law in the 1880s in California, till it was repealed in . A.T Jones went to congress to fight it, and succeeded with only a narrow margin. Ellen write writes what we should do in this circumstance, and the answer is NOT to sit idle and wait for it to happen, but to act. see: http://www.libertymagazine.org/index.php?id=1568
We as a people have not accomplished the work which God has committed to us. We are not ready for the issue to which the enforcement of the Sunday law will bring us. It is our duty, as we see the signs of approaching peril, to arouse to action. Let none sit in calm expectation of the evil, comforting themselves with the belief that this work must go on because prophecy has foretold it, and that the Lord will shelter his people. We are not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of conscience. Fervent, effectual prayer should be ascending to heaven that this calamity may be deferred until we can accomplish the work which has so long been neglected. Let there be more earnest prayer; and then let us work in harmony with our prayers.--Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 713, 714. {ChS 162.1}
It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger. We should endeavor to disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a proper light before the people. We should bring before them the real question at issue, thus interposing the most effectual protest against measures to restrict liberty of conscience.--Testimonies, vol. 5 p. 452. {ChS 162.2}
Stephen de Bruyn | August 13, 2010 10:58 AM | Reply
If in defending our religious freedom our burden is to finish the work of spreading the message of salvation to this dying world so we can all go home, it is worthy. If in doing so we just want more time to celebrate the Laodicean
lukewarmness, let us wake up to the truth that the end is here. Let us begin a primitive revival and be sanctified.
Ely Marcelo | August 14, 2010 3:56 PM | Reply
Hi everyone,
We are missing the point of religious freedom.... We should fight for freedom "YES" as long as possible.. not for our comfort in this world or to linger the time of trouble,.. BUT because we have to SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH LOST SOULS....
Jesus could have returned already but he has delayed because we are not being the PERFECT EXAMPLES we were called to be.
It's amazing to see "one" people have so many views......
Maranatha Brothers and Sisters
candy | August 15, 2010 5:24 PM | Reply
I am truly shocked beyond words to read what some of our brothers and sisters are implying by not fighting to try and delay this law. To me they are displaying such ignorance that one wonders if by doing as they do ie doing nothing, will they be ready for Jesus to come.
Reading such emails as these makes one wonder where the church is actually heading - heavenward or what? Brother Stephen de Bruyn seem to be the only one reading what the spirit of prophecy says regarding such issues. Amen brother ! Preach the word!
Yes let us do all we can to fight for religious freedom. By fighting we are not stopping anything cause what will be will be as the word of God says. The Lord expects us to pray, wait on Him and go fight in faith.
Let us arm ourselves with the word of God and His inspired writings cause it's only those who read will be able to stand during the tough times ahead of us.
God bless you all.
Abby for the UK.
Abby | August 19, 2010 10:00 AM | Reply
Praise God....the prophecy is fulfilling. Hi! I'm a filipino a follower of Jesus and a Seventh-day Adventist. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we should still pray that God still holds the wind of strife because there are still many people out there who loves to hear the truth. one thing more we should prepare not only ourselves but our families as well. Constant bible readings and talk to Jesus while you are sitting, walking, playing and working. God loves His children to talk to Him. You cannot weary Him, you cannot burden Him. Although we all knew that Sunday Law is really coming vey very soon. Check in the Whitehorsemedia.com the Dream of Elder Darnall back in the 1980's and the global financial crisis all over the world . Let us prepare to meet our God!!! God bless us all.
eric | August 19, 2010 8:01 PM | Reply
I think we should fight for to stop this law. We know that it will happen at the end but we need to show the world and others why its not right and be examples to others whom we may change by standing up. It will help us be strong in our beliefs instead of sitting and waiting for the law to take place. We need to be christians in action.
God bless you all and I am very excited that there are others on the same boat as me
tamalii | August 30, 2010 4:42 AM | Reply
Congratulations my brothers, the Great Controversy continue. It is our time now to stand up and show the world who is the true King and who is the true Savior of this Universe and this Planet. It is our time to proclaim to the world what is the true Day of Rest for all nations and for every man. It is our time to raise Emmanuel’s flag of Love and Victory above confused and blinded by false day of rest people and show them the true Way and the Holly Sabbath as a day of rest. It is our time to shine in the darkness of the night to protect nations from the catastrophic distraction. We still have little time to do it and our Lord is asking us to do our job. It is my time today to proof to my God and my Commander that I am His soldier and I will do my duty as He did His on the Calvary. Thank Lord for this opportunity and please make us strong and faithful to proclaim Your Salvation today.
Igor | September 4, 2010 5:16 PM | Reply