The Meaning of Thanksgiving Day - Pt. 1

 

Now the Spirit expressly says that yin later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV).

 

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love family and friends coming together and sharing a big meal. I have had the opportunity to spend time cooking the turkey in many ways. I’ve roasted it, smoked it, deep fried it, and always enjoyed the result. Cooking brings me joy, however, the greatest of joys is sitting around the table with family and eating as we talk about our experiences the previous year.

 

I have so much to be thankful for. I have a happy and healthy family, a humble home, a wonderful church, lots of friends, and all our needs being met. But after the hustle and bustle of reaching this moment, it’s time to thank God for his provision and blessings. I must take a deep breath before offering to pray. All the preparation and activity can distract me from the main point. Thanksgiving Day gives us the opportunity to do that. We’ve taken this day as a nation to focus on thankfulness and gratitude and, as Christians, specifically, our thanksgiving to God.

 

Since 1863, Thanksgiving Day has been a national holiday in the United States. God calls his people to live thankful lives all the time, but our forebears decided to establish one day each year to emphasize giving thanks as a nation. Since it’s a federal holiday, some might ask, “Is Thanksgiving a Christian holiday?” The answer to that question is a definite “yes and no.” Yes, on the one hand, because giving thanks to God for his blessings and provision was the stated purpose of the holiday declared in 1863. But, on the other hand, no, because Thanksgiving Day is not part of the traditional liturgical calendar like Christmas and Easter. From that perspective, it is a secular holiday despite its remaining Christian overtones, and perhaps a majority of families in the U.S., whatever their relationship with God, still “say grace” before the Thanksgiving meal.

 

In any case, Thanksgiving does have deep roots in Christianity. And at the end of the day, as we slip into our food comas, we’re free to make our Thanksgiving Day celebrations as Christian as we like. In the next few days we’ll take a quick look at the history of Thanksgiving in the United States to enhance our gratitude on this wonderful day.