Thanksgiving: Thanks Be To Whom?!?
While browsing Google Blog Search this morning for the term “Thanksgiving,” I stumbled across an incredible example of our secular culture’s mere tolerance of what it sees as an unnecessarily “religious” holiday. The following entry was found on the blog, “Rossputin.com: Rational Thinking About Our World.” I cannot recommend this blog, but I do wish to give proper credit for the material.
“I don’t want to sound like the Thanksgiving equivalent of the Grinch, but I’ve always had a hard time getting into this particular holiday.
I suppose the feeling is made even stronger by the tendency of a fair number of Christians to go to church on Thanksgiving, giving it an even more religious overtone. (Maybe it is just a convenient time to go to church in an otherwise busy schedule.)
There’s some interesting info at Wikipedia about Thanksgiving, [most] typical is this quote of Sarah Josepha Hale, 1863:
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
Now, not all of her quote is as religious as that sentence, but still religion permeates the modern discussion of a holiday which I would prefer to be more American and less sectarian.
I appreciate the day off, and of course I always like opportunities for the family and friends to get together. Yet somehow Thanksgiving continues to feel strangely foreign to this American.
Whatever the holiday means to you, I wish you and yours a great Thanksgiving.
Questions that immediately arise in my mind are:
- What does the author mean, “I would prefer [Thanksgiving] to be more American?” It seems that the author equates the term “American” with secularism and tolerance (i.e. “less sectarian”), an unfortunate glimpse into the mindset of our nation.
- How widespread are these views? The author states, “somehow Thanksgiving continues to feel strangely foreign to this American.” But how many “Americans” feel the same way?
- How much longer can we expect an increasingly secular society to continue to celebrate an intrinsically Christian holiday?
Please take the time to at least think about these questions, if not share your thoughts in the comment section. With that, I leave you with the following thought:
Inherent in the idea of “thankfulness” or “gratitude” is a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.In Psalm 116:12-13 the author asks, “What can I give back to God for all the blessings He’s poured out on me? I will lift high the cup of salvation — a toast to God! I will pray in the name of God.”
And that’s what Thanksgiving is all about. It is “a toast to God” to thank Him for life and breath, for family and friends, for growth and prosperity, for His faithfulness and mercy, for the Cross and our Salvation, and for His promise never to leave us or forsake us.
Notice that in all of these things we are unable to repay Him. That’s why the Psalmist cries, “What can I give back to God for all the blessings He’s poured out on me?” Praise is the only thing we can offer back to God for His blessings.
I understand why non-Christians feel uncomfortable celebrating this Christian holiday. They might “feel” thankful, but thanks be to whom?!?
If thankfulness includes a readiness to somehow repay kindness or blessing, the very real questions become, “To whom are they repaying?” and “Isn’t it inconsistent to feel thankful on Thanksgiving when you have rejected the existence of the very person who’s blessed you?”
November 24th, 2005 at 3:50 pm
What gets me is the ridiculous notion spawned in the last few decades that the majority must deign to the wishes of any individual about whatever they decide to feel oppressed about.
This country was a republic, not a democracy. That notion seems to have been buried in the last few years. A true liberal democracy, as this country is becoming, allows the minority to trample over the majority, and leads to secularity and diversity, not morality and unification.
To take a look at the big picture:
Welcome to the new Sodom and Gomorrah, where everything is acceptable except absolutes, and no one is allowed to criticize or offer a moral observation to another. Already we have people legislating tolerance for things God says he despises. How long until we see his wrath for disrespecting Him as a nation with such actions and for participating in selling out Israel with that “road map to peace” nonsense?
November 24th, 2005 at 4:48 pm
Hey Brett,
Thanks for that post. I just finished writing a post on Thanksgiving on my blog and then went over to your blog and sure enough you had done a post on Thanksgiving. I agree fully with what you said on giving the “toast” to God. I have some questions though. Have you ever felt like you know you should be greatful for all the blessings and such God has blessed you with…and you thank God for that in your prayers…but while you are praying that your not sure how you REALLY feel a sense of gratitude? Sorry if that is a confusing question. I mean I have prayed to God and thanked Him for the precious gift of life He gave me through His son and I have thanked Him for all the blessings he has given me…but for some reason I feel like I need to do something more to show that or feel that gratitude. Does that make any sense? I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!
God bless!
Lauren
November 24th, 2005 at 7:36 pm
Hey Lauren! We’ve missed your comments lately. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I understand just what you mean. I too often feel like I’m just “going through the motions” of thanking God, without really feeling as grateful as I should.
As I thought about your question, I realized that I could write an entire treatise on this topic. But due to time constraints, here’s the nuts and bolts presentation:
I’m reminded of something my father told me when I was much younger: Habit makes character.
One particular example stands out: As a child, full of sin like the rest of mankind, I wasn’t always thrilled about helping my mother around the house. She would ask me to do a job or chore, and my facial expressions, body language, and grumbling would reveal my great displeasure. After this continued for a time, my father took me aside and provided me with some excellent fatherly instruction: Regardless of the attitude of my heart, every time my mother asked me to do something, I was to instantly respond — with a big, cheerful smile — “Yes, Mommy!”
Believe it or not, that fixed the problem. The longer I continued to respond with an “instant smile” and a “happy voice,” the more it translated into truly cheerful obedience to my mother’s requests. Even though I didn’t have the correct “feelings” at first, as I persevered in what I knew was right, God changed my heart.
I think the same is true with the question of our lack of gratitude toward God. The first solution is to pray for a grateful hearts, but the next step is to persevere in obedience by continually — not just one day a year — giving thanks! As we continue to prioritize and emphasize thanksgiving — the act, not the day — in all things, and in all circumstances, the proper feelings will eventually follow.
Only God can change our hearts. Our responsibility is to obey His commandments.
November 24th, 2005 at 9:04 pm
Hey guys, great post! Great comments on Lauren’s post, too, Alex. Great stuff here.
I just posted a short thanksgiving article on my blog as well, and I quoted your article here.
Great writing, good points!
God Bless!
In Christ, John.
November 24th, 2005 at 9:32 pm
Hey guys, thanks for the really insightful post!
Being from South Africa, we don’t have the tradition of Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, I greatly appreciate the principle that you lay down. In Tozer’s book “The Knowledge of the Holy”, in the chapter of the all-sufficiency of God, he graphically depicts our COMPLETE dependance on Him. Thus, acquaintance with the Holy is they key here, it seems!
Alex and Brett, thanks again for the thought, effort, exhortation and insight that you bring to us. I (and I know all the others) greatly appreciate what you have to say and eagerly await your next post(s)!
In Him,
Dave
PS - Robert, the link to your site is broken. It comes up as http://http//www.heumoore.com and then for some strange reason redirects to microsoft.com! Don’t worry, I still found my way there! Haha! just thought I should let you know so that you can correct that.
November 24th, 2005 at 9:48 pm
Oh, sorry. It’s corrected now, and should point directly to the blog.
Thanks David!
November 24th, 2005 at 10:16 pm
Not being American I do not celebrate Thanksgiving. Therefore for me it has no spiritual or cultural significance.
I accept the fact that Thanksgiving, like Christmas, is a religious holiday. I also accept that Thanksgiving, like Christmas, is not mandated in the Bible, and should not be one of those battles Christians should fight with the world over.
Most Americans are unbelievers - therefore they interpret and celebrate Thanksgiving in their own non-Christian way. They’re only doing what comes to them naturally.
If we want them to celebrate this non-binding religious holiday properly, then we should really spend more time speaking to them about the Gospel.
November 24th, 2005 at 10:32 pm
Thanksgiving is not merely a ‘religious holiday’, however. It is a Christian Holy day. While it is not mandated in the bible, the bible clearly states that we are to praise God on several levels.
As ourselves, we should praise God.
As families we should praise God.
And as nations, we should praise God.
Most Americans are unbelievers, true, but letting them run the country means disaster. Recognizing Christmas, Resurrection day, and Thanksgiving, means corperate understanding that the Lord is indeed the founder of this country, and rules it.
To take these away is to nationally say that God does not exist and does not deserve honor.
The Jewish timescale was packed with Holy days to worship God, and to celebrate all his many bountiful blessings on the land, not only privately, but nationally.
Israel was completely God centered in its days of celebration, and we as Christians, being born into family of God (we are now Jews) should do the same.
The United States of America is a Christian nation, but the secularists are trying to erase the past.
When the Nation looks at things with a secular point of view, our actions change.
November 25th, 2005 at 12:28 am
[Editor's Note: This comment has been removed at the request of the commenter.]
November 25th, 2005 at 1:08 am
Guys,
Thanks so much for this post! Very observant and insightful. I read it to my parents this morning while cooking for this evening’s feast. They really enjoyed it, and noted that thankfulness is an art dominated by Christians (for good reasons).
After dinner, as a family (with some unbelieving family members), we went around the circle of people telling what we were thankful for. The Christian family members had many, many things and could have gone on for quite a while with the list. But, the non-Christians said two or three things each, and then fell quiet, passing their turns repeatedly.
Profound, isn’t it? They who know not that they need to be saved have no need to thank anyone for anything. They aren’t made by grace, but made by themselves. (BTW–we have witnessed to them, and continue to pray for their salvation.)
Thanks for the refresher! I forget far too easily…
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Rossputin,
It’s not my job to respond to you in reference to the post, but you should know that the reference in John Moore’s comment is to many verses in Romans and Galatians regarding the promise of adoption into the “chosen race” (the Jews) by Christ’s saving work on the cross. As the Jews were the people of God, when we are saved, we are adopted into that family–thus his reference.
November 25th, 2005 at 7:31 am
“How much longer can we expect an increasingly secular society to continue to celebrate an intrinsically Christian holiday?”
Quite possibly quite a while–just look at Christmas. However, as with Christmas non-Christian society will unforunately increasingly secularize “turkey day”.
November 26th, 2005 at 6:54 am
Hey, great post. It’s amazing to me how so many people want us to change our holidays to fit their comfort zone, yet they don’t care when they change things that go outside of our comfort zone.
November 26th, 2005 at 3:22 pm
[Editor's Note: This comment has been removed at the request of the commenter.]
November 26th, 2005 at 4:46 pm
In answer to Jay’s post, please read one of my other Blogs.
http://www.ephraimandmanasseh.blogspot.com/
The writing is truly on the wall for England/Britain and America.
Y2T
November 26th, 2005 at 5:39 pm
Rossputin: I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post. However, I feel your responses are unnecessarily ad hominem. In my post I said your views were “unfortunate,” and I said I couldn’t recommend your blog to my readers (as I can assume you won’t be recommending our blog to your readers).
You on the other hand have disparage the Bible (imagine the response if we insulted the Koran), labeled us “zealots,” told one of our readers that their fears were “idiotic,” and said their comments “represent the height of ignorance.”
Now, I understand that we disagree. But please limit your use of disparaging comments or we will have to request you stop commenting. As it is, we have already allowed your comments to remain, even though they are in violation of our commenting guidelines.
That aside, I recognize that we have very little common ground. Therefore, I will not be responding to your allegations regarding the Bible, the history of Thanksgiving, or Judaism.
However, I would like to respond, briefly, to the following statement you made:
As far as “thanks be to whom?!?”, why does there have to be a “whom”? I can give thanks for the good things in my live without believing there is an active conscious higher being responsible for such things.
I’d like to look at a few definitions. You say you can still give “thanks” without believing there is a higher being responsible. However, as I argued before, giving thanks requires the existence of another person, being, or power who has somehow blessed or helped you.
thanks: “an expression of gratitude”
gratitude: “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”
gratitude (synonyms): “gratefulness, thankfulness, appreciation, indebtedness; recognition, acknowledgment, credit.”
From these definitions, and especially from the synonyms, it seems clear that is impossible for a person to be thankful without another person, being, or power.
Now, perhaps you believe that your thankfulness and gratitude is only towards other people. But I would challenge you to look deeper. How many things can you reasonably attribute to people? And even if you can reasonably attribute all your blessings to other people, where did those relationships come from? To whom can you attribute them? Who is responsible for the country you were born in? Who is responsible for that incredible friendships you have formed as if “by chance?”