Shorter Catechism Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words or works, about our worldly employments or recreations.
Commentary: Sunday is sometimes perceived as a do-nothing day, but it shouldn’t be because the fourth commandment forbids “the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness.” Instead of wasting the day away through idleness, we should use the day to worship God and to engage in various works of necessity and mercy (WSC 60).
Sunday is also sometimes perceived as a day of endless acts of worship and/or study of God’s word. The day becomes like a long, exhausting school day. This shouldn’t be the case because the fourth commandment forbids omitting the duties required, which include rest (physical and mental) and works of necessity and mercy. What constitutes a work of “necessity,” or “mercy,” may vary depending upon the person and situation, but it will be informed by the principle that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).” The Sabbath is a “holiday” that God gave for our good and well-being. It is not meant to be a day of drudgery or hardship.
This means that it may be appropriate to engage in physical activity on Sunday, something Eric Liddell learned in a prison camp in China. His biographer wrote: “Liddell always locked away the sports equipment in a hut on Saturday night and then unlocked it again on Monday morning. The camp’s elders accepted his stance, never disputing it until one summer Sunday morning when Liddell discovered the door had been split, the lock hanging off. A handful of older boys, weary of the humdrum rhythm of that listless day, had broken in, taken the hockey sticks, and begun a game to occupy themselves. Without a referee, the contest had disintegrated into quarreling, rancor, and brawling. The precious sticks were used as weapons. Fisticuffs and the odd bruise and black eye were hardly the harbinger of feral anarchy to come. Weihsien’s disciplinary committee was nonetheless spooked enough to ask Liddell to reconsider his position on strict Sunday observance. He didn’t want to appear dogmatic; certainly not when conditions were so trying in camp. After forty-eight hours, during which he contemplated the dilemma, Liddell adopted the middle way. He agreed to arrange Sabbath sports—but only after the midday meal… He even refereed the next hockey match, which passed with barely a cross word between teams amazed to see him there. No one had thought Liddell would contribute to the game, believing instead he’d only open up the equipment store and then either return to the church or conduct Sunday school. ‘Everything he did was for the greater good, including that,’ explained Metcalf.”