Is it a sin to practice on Sundays?

[seeker_of_God]

I’m a music major, and I have to practice the piano a lot, three hours a day minimum.

Is it OK if I practice on Sundays, when we are supposed to keep that day holy? I enjoy practicing, but it is definitely hard work.

 

[LilyM]

I’m a music major, and I have to practice the piano a lot, three hours a day minimum.

Is it OK if I practice on Sundays, when we are supposed to keep that day holy? I enjoy practicing, but it is definitely hard work.

It’s not ALL work that is prohibited - just servile work (physical labour like gardening or housework) or paid work - and even they can be done if necessary. Sometimes people just have to work Sundays to put food on the table or wash those dirty diapers or what have you.

Piano practice doesn’t fit anywhere near either of those categories, so practice in good health. If you offer it, along with everything else you do every day, to God (by making a morning offering first thing when you wake up) then it all BECOMES holy

 

[seeker_of_God]

It’s not ALL work that is prohibited - just servile work (physical labour like gardening or housework) or paid work - and even they can be done if necessary. Sometimes people just have to work Sundays to put food on the table or wash those dirty diapers or what have you.

Piano practice doesn’t fit anywhere near either of those categories, so practice in good health. If you offer it, along with everything else you do every day, to God (by making a morning offering first thing when you wake up) then it all BECOMES holy

Great, thanks for the answer.

I will definitely keep that in mind. I’m trying to start even my practice with a prayer, offering it to God, trying to glorify God through it, and keeping in mind the source of my gift. I do that so as to try not to have pride over it, which is often difficult.

 

[Mike_Dye]

I would give anything to be able to stand before my Creator on judgment day and say my worst sin was playing the piano on Sunday.

 

[NTOT]

I’m a music major, and I have to practice the piano a lot, three hours a day minimum.

Is it OK if I practice on Sundays, when we are supposed to keep that day holy? I enjoy practicing, but it is definitely hard work.

Piano used to be hard work for me until I decided to go exclusively Chopin/Liszt for a while. After mastering the Chopin’s Etudes, Polonaises, and four Scherzos, and Liszt’s LaCampnella and Faux Fillets, everything else seemed like fun rather than work. Now I can play piano on Sunday out of enjoyment rather than drudgery. I wouldn’t consider practicing an instrument to be servile work though.

 

[seeker_of_God]

Piano used to be hard work for me until I decided to go exclusively Chopin/Liszt for a while. After mastering the Chopin’s Etudes, Polonaises, and four Scherzos, and Liszt’s LaCampnella and Faux Fillets, everything else seemed like fun rather than work. Now I can play piano on Sunday out of enjoyment rather than drudgery. I wouldn’t consider practicing an instrument to be servile work though.

That’s cool. I’m not saying hard work as in drudgery, just that it is difficult, going through really hard passages and such, but still definitely enjoyable. It’d be boring if there were no challenge in it. I’m learning Piano Concerto no. 2 by Saint-Saëns, which is definitely a challenging, yet beautiful piece.

 

[Seatuck]

As long as practicing the piano on Sunday doesn’t inhibit yourself or anyone else from fulfilling their obligations for worship and honoring God on his Holy Day then it shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[Christy_Beth]

If it takes you three hours to practice, I admire you. Years ago I played the violin, and the longest I ever had to practice was about an hour. And, no, I didn’t consider it as “work.” So be comfortable practicing your God given talent.