Sporting events on Sunday damage the sanctity of the Sabbath

We wish to make it clear that we have no issue whatever with the race and are fully supportive of the staging of sporting events as these are a boost to the local economy. However, we are totally opposed to the holding of such events on the Lord’s Day, and, in light of Sunday’s event, we feel compelled to raise our voice on this issue once again.

Our opposition to this race is based on several factors. First and foremost, we believe in the sanctity of the Lord’s Day as a day set apart for the worship of God. Sunday should therefore not be a day for the staging of sporting, social or cultural events. Secondly, when such events are held on Sunday they cannot be inclusive as Christians who hold to a high view of the Lord’s Day are unable to participate.

Thirdly, the Gran Fondo event forced some churches along the cycle route to cancel or rearrange services of worship. The organisers of the event claim that they consulted with churches and expressed regret about any inconvenience caused, but it seems that consultation was limited and that the event would have proceeded no matter how churches felt. So much for equality and parity of esteem.

We were greatly saddened to note that a number of evangelicals took part in the race and that others posted supportive comments on social media. It is up to them to examine their conscience on this matter, but we wonder how they feel about supporting an event which caused such difficulties for churches.

In a day of increasing secularism, we urge all evangelical Protestants to put God and His day above all other considerations.

We need to return to the old paths in relation to Sunday observance.

Wallace Thompson, Secretary, Evangelical Protestant Society.