Who should be thankful?
Mr. Linzey,
I read your columns, and I can figure out what you think about Thanksgiving Day. But why does the celebration have to be Christian? Why can’t just anyone celebrate it? I wish to remain anonymous.
My friend, everyone can enjoy Thanksgiving Day festivities. However, two questions need to be addressed: What is the memorial, and what was involved in the celebration?
America’s Thanksgiving Day was a harvest festival based on giving thanks to God for His provision and protection. It was and is definitely religious in nature, and everyone can commemorate it. But to properly observe and celebrate Thanksgiving Day AS INTENDED requires a belief in the almighty, loving, justice-oriented, Judeo-Christian God. Otherwise the observance is relegated to a holiday which honors a different god. And that is primarily what America has turned it into.
Can I celebrate the Patriot’s Superbowl victory last February by conducting a fundraising campaign for the Falcons? No. Can I celebrate Pearl Harbor Day by lamenting the defeat of the Japanese Empire? No. Therefore, can we celebrate our American Thanksgiving Day, in context with its history and inherent meaning, by worshiping other gods and celebrating it differently than intended? No.
Having said that, any non-Christian — of whatever religion — can show gratitude and give thanks for blessings. The question is: To whom would he show gratitude and give thanks?
While a true Jew or Christian cannot worship Allah during the fast of Ramadan, adherents of other religions cannot meaningfully celebrate Thanksgiving Day as originated in America while employing a different religious world view.
While anyone can enjoy the day off and be thankful for blessings while drinking his beer, only those who worship and honor the Living God can truly celebrate Thanksgiving Day as intended. Am I being biased or prejudiced? Biased, yes. Prejudiced, no. I am merely being true to the concept.
The intent of our Thanksgiving Day celebration is to worship and honor our provider, our Father, God.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the history behind Thanksgiving Day.
For the 50 surviving Plymouth Pilgrims and their 90 Wampanoag neighbors celebrating between Sept. 21 and Nov. 11 in 1621, wild turkey was on the menu along with wheat, “Indian” corn, barley, peas, waterfowl, five deer, bass and cod. Actually, the Native Americans brought a lot of the food, including the five deer.
Since then, we’ve added items such as ham, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, popcorn, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. The Pilgrims probably made pumpkin pudding sweetened with honey, but they didn’t have sugar, crust or whipped topping… and No Pumpkin Pie!! Life was tough back then.
Because the turkey was fast and alert with sharp eyesight, Benjamin Franklin wanted to make it the United States national symbol. Also, the turkey reminded Franklin of God’s provision in our early colonial existence. (The turkey lost out to the Roman Emblem: the Eagle.)
For years, Thanksgiving was observed randomly, but the first Thanksgiving Proclamation was made on June 20, 1676. Thanksgiving proclamations were made annually by the U.S. Congress from 17771783 and celebrated in December. George Washington declared a national day of Thanksgiving in 1789 and 1795; John Adams in 1798 and 1799; and James Madison twice in 1815.
The next national Thanksgiving Day was declared during the American Civil War in April of 1862 by Abraham Lincoln. In 1863, he declared Thanksgiving for Aug. 6, and for the last Thursday in November. He declared a similar observance in 1864, establishing a precedent that has been followed by every president since then.
After a few deviations of time, the last Thursday in November was finally chosen as the day for our national day of prayer and thanksgiving, but remained a non-holiday tradition until President Franklin Roosevelt signed the bill on Nov. 26, 1941. It established the fourth Thursday in November (in perpetuity) as our national Thanksgiving public holiday. Eleven days later, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor!
Friends, we never know what lies in store for us from one day to the next. Life is so precious, yet circumstances so unpredictable. We humans tend to be self-centered, but our heavenly Father loves us so much, and is willing to help us in times of trouble. So let us humbly admit our need for God, and set time aside to honor Him; and with heart-felt gratitude, let’s thank Him for all that He has done for us and for our nation.
— Gene Linzey is a speaker, author, mentor and president of the Siloam Springs Writers Guild. Send comments and questions to masters.servant@cox.net. The opinions expressed are those of the author.