The Labor Day-Christianity Connection
(Posted August 29, 2024)
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” – Mark 1:35
It’s Labor Day. Now, perhaps you might be wondering what connection there could be between a federal holiday, and being a Christian. However, the concept of rest from work was very much a part of Jesus’ message to us. Rest means taking a break from work. Of course, his work was, to put it mildly, people. Since Jesus was one of us – someone with a mind and body that would fatigue if they were not treated with respect -- he took a break whenever he could.
We have a clue by reading Mark 5:30 – the story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed -- that all those healings he performed tapped into his energy:
“At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
Rest From Our Labor
Our own work, no matter how fulfilling or important, still does the same thing, and even more so, to those of us who are by nature introverts. For all of us, however, rest and separation from work is essential to our mental health and stamina.
Jesus took those moments of rest when he could find them:
- Stealing away by himself before dawn, walking alone beside the Sea of Galilee.
- After feeding the 4,000 (Matthew 15:29)
- Taking his disciples and himself to a deserted place to rest (Mark 6:31-2).
- Even taking a catnap on a pillow in the back of the disciples’ boat during a raging storm (Mark 4:38), much to the terror of his men.
It was essential to his ministry to make the space between work and rest.
The Labor Day-Christianity Connection
And that’s where the connection exists between Christianity and Labor Day.
It was in the depth of the 19th century Industrial Revolution that it became apparent that workers needed protection and rights, which gave birth to the movement for unions and worker protection. As it was stated at the time in 1882: At a time that the Social Gospel Movement came into existence, so did the Christian connection: “It should be obvious to the Christian that this [Labor] movement was biblically
appropriate, considering the Lord’s concern for the least, the lost, and the last.” Out of this recognition was born several vital concepts: the establishment of child labor laws, a guarantee of more livable wages, and safer working conditions for all.
Labor Day
A day separated from work, when one could rest, when one could feel proud of the way that the men and women of the labor force help to shape the best part of America. A day to celebrate the 168.43 million people in the civilian workforce, to pray for them and help them recharge.
Come join with us this Sunday as we celebrate and rest, together.