| The CROWN of CHRIST - Understanding the Times in the Light of Scripture |
| The CROWN of CHRIST - Understanding the Times in the Light of Scripture |
ARCHIVE - October 20, 2008
"Thanksgiving" -
America vs. the Bible
"Thanksgiving" -
America vs. the Bible
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Every November, Americans celebrate an annual civil holy-day
misnamed "Thanksgiving". They will eat turkey, watch football and
say that this is being done to "give thanks" to "God", the way "our
Pilgrim fathers" and their native friends did at "the First
Thanksgiving". But every element of the event just described will be
based on misunderstandings and falsehoods.
To begin with the trivial, history stripped of Yankee mythology tells
us that they ate as much venison as turkey. But no venison
industry has lobbyists in contemporary Washington D.C. Also, the
"first" Thanksgiving was a day spent in public worship, not to be
confused with the feast held after to which Indians were invited.
But to be dead serious, the occasion will perpetuate the central
heresy of America - that we are a godly nation founded by godly
Puritans; and that our godliness chiefly consists in the freedom from
the "intolerant" Puritan principle of Christian civil government. For
the Scrooby Separatists - the Bible-believing Congregationalists who
landed at Plymouth Rock - "thanksgiving" was a meaningful verb,
not a mindless noun. If they were here today, they would not be
amused by our godless Turkey Day.
For one thing, the Bible teaches that it is dangerous for us to
observe any "holy" day not authorized by God. (Galatians 4:8-11)
The citizens of Plymouth Plantation would never have called their
day of thanksgiving a "first". They were not inventing something for
later generations to mimic, but practicing an extraordinary occasion.
God had given them remarkable blessings which called for
remarkable worship and thanks-giving. Americans, sadly, treat
Turkey day as an annual tradition.
Biblical Christians believe in special days of solemn fasting as well
as thanksgiving. (Esther 4:16) But even in the worst of times - such
as immediately after the 9/11 attacks - our Presidents call for
"Thanksgiving", never for fasting, repentance and seeking God's
mercy!
More shocking to Americans, there would have actually been no
American Indians at the 1621 Thanksgiving. They would have been
welcome at the feasting and sporting - they played tug-of-war, for
example. However, a feast simply is not a public worship service.
The English Puritans and Separatists simply did not come here to
practice tolerant pluralism and inter-faith dialog with the natives.
They came to found a Christian Commonwealth. (Psalm 2)
So in a very real way the Pilgrims were not founders of the United
States. Our godless democrazy based on toleration of every heresy
and idolatry was an invention of our materialistic, humanistic
"founding fathers". Jefferson wrote famously that he didn't care
whether his neighbors worshipped many gods or none at all - for it
neither picked his pocket nor broke his leg. In sharp contrast, the
Pilgrims understood that sins against God are WORSE than sins
against other people. The strain of U.S. mythology that vilifies the
New England Commonwealth - the Crucible and the Scarlet Letter for
example - is at least honest. Modern Americans hate everything that
the Pilgrims and Puritans stood for.
We should inquire why a secular and pluralistic nation as ours
remains comfortable with a blatantly religious day like our annual
"Thanksgiving". Certainly, for many it has become mere Turkey Day.
Few ever notice that Christmas means Christ's mass. They will soon
be able to say "thanksgiving" without any thought of giving thanks.
But not yet. Most still pretend to be giving thanks, but to Whom?
When the Pilgrims used the word "God", they meant the Tri-une
Creator-Redeemer - the LORD of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Paul
who has spoken in the 66 books of the Scripture. Modern Americans
ignore, mock and reject this God. But they go on giving thanks to
the pluralistic "god" who blesses America no matter how she
behaves. The god of America is a political fiction; the God of the
Bible will be commanding the universe when the United States are
ancient history.
In the meanwhile, let's not confuse a tradition of eating turkey with
anything Biblical that honors the God of the Pilgrims. Jesus said,
"In vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men" (Mark 7:7) and "Full well ye reject the
commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."
(7:9)
Christians should, of course, follow the Apostle Paul's command: In
every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Our duty to give
God the credit for all our blessings can't be fulfilled by
superstitiously eating turkey once a year.
In any case, godless men have no authority to call or to keep
special days of worship.
misnamed "Thanksgiving". They will eat turkey, watch football and
say that this is being done to "give thanks" to "God", the way "our
Pilgrim fathers" and their native friends did at "the First
Thanksgiving". But every element of the event just described will be
based on misunderstandings and falsehoods.
To begin with the trivial, history stripped of Yankee mythology tells
us that they ate as much venison as turkey. But no venison
industry has lobbyists in contemporary Washington D.C. Also, the
"first" Thanksgiving was a day spent in public worship, not to be
confused with the feast held after to which Indians were invited.
But to be dead serious, the occasion will perpetuate the central
heresy of America - that we are a godly nation founded by godly
Puritans; and that our godliness chiefly consists in the freedom from
the "intolerant" Puritan principle of Christian civil government. For
the Scrooby Separatists - the Bible-believing Congregationalists who
landed at Plymouth Rock - "thanksgiving" was a meaningful verb,
not a mindless noun. If they were here today, they would not be
amused by our godless Turkey Day.
For one thing, the Bible teaches that it is dangerous for us to
observe any "holy" day not authorized by God. (Galatians 4:8-11)
The citizens of Plymouth Plantation would never have called their
day of thanksgiving a "first". They were not inventing something for
later generations to mimic, but practicing an extraordinary occasion.
God had given them remarkable blessings which called for
remarkable worship and thanks-giving. Americans, sadly, treat
Turkey day as an annual tradition.
Biblical Christians believe in special days of solemn fasting as well
as thanksgiving. (Esther 4:16) But even in the worst of times - such
as immediately after the 9/11 attacks - our Presidents call for
"Thanksgiving", never for fasting, repentance and seeking God's
mercy!
More shocking to Americans, there would have actually been no
American Indians at the 1621 Thanksgiving. They would have been
welcome at the feasting and sporting - they played tug-of-war, for
example. However, a feast simply is not a public worship service.
The English Puritans and Separatists simply did not come here to
practice tolerant pluralism and inter-faith dialog with the natives.
They came to found a Christian Commonwealth. (Psalm 2)
So in a very real way the Pilgrims were not founders of the United
States. Our godless democrazy based on toleration of every heresy
and idolatry was an invention of our materialistic, humanistic
"founding fathers". Jefferson wrote famously that he didn't care
whether his neighbors worshipped many gods or none at all - for it
neither picked his pocket nor broke his leg. In sharp contrast, the
Pilgrims understood that sins against God are WORSE than sins
against other people. The strain of U.S. mythology that vilifies the
New England Commonwealth - the Crucible and the Scarlet Letter for
example - is at least honest. Modern Americans hate everything that
the Pilgrims and Puritans stood for.
We should inquire why a secular and pluralistic nation as ours
remains comfortable with a blatantly religious day like our annual
"Thanksgiving". Certainly, for many it has become mere Turkey Day.
Few ever notice that Christmas means Christ's mass. They will soon
be able to say "thanksgiving" without any thought of giving thanks.
But not yet. Most still pretend to be giving thanks, but to Whom?
When the Pilgrims used the word "God", they meant the Tri-une
Creator-Redeemer - the LORD of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Paul
who has spoken in the 66 books of the Scripture. Modern Americans
ignore, mock and reject this God. But they go on giving thanks to
the pluralistic "god" who blesses America no matter how she
behaves. The god of America is a political fiction; the God of the
Bible will be commanding the universe when the United States are
ancient history.
In the meanwhile, let's not confuse a tradition of eating turkey with
anything Biblical that honors the God of the Pilgrims. Jesus said,
"In vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men" (Mark 7:7) and "Full well ye reject the
commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."
(7:9)
Christians should, of course, follow the Apostle Paul's command: In
every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Our duty to give
God the credit for all our blessings can't be fulfilled by
superstitiously eating turkey once a year.
In any case, godless men have no authority to call or to keep
special days of worship.