The History of Thanksgiving & God’s Will

The True Meaning of Thanksgiving

This teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, delivered by Matthew Vander Els, explores the deeper meaning of Thanksgiving beyond the traditional narratives. It encourages believers to focus on present blessings and future hopes, carrying the spirit of gratitude beyond the federal holiday. The message reviews the history of Thanksgiving, clarifies what it is and what it is not, and guides believers on how to respond to this day based on its historical context. The primary resource for this message is “America’s Favorite Holidays” by Dr. Bruce Forbes.

Challenging the Traditional Thanksgiving Narrative

While many know the story of the Pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621, expressing gratitude for a successful harvest, the historical reality is more complex. This popular understanding, with images of a grand feast and expressions of thanks, is not entirely accurate and doesn’t fully explain the origins of the national holiday. History is not static; it evolves, and people sometimes inject their own desired narratives into the past. For instance, the idea of Pilgrims celebrating Sukkot with Native Americans lacks historical evidence.

It’s important to recognize that cultures worldwide have celebrated fall harvest festivals. Americans also participate in these traditions, enjoying fall festivals and creating memories. The roots of American Thanksgiving as a specific observance can be traced back to the Puritans.

The Puritan Influence on Thanksgiving

Interestingly, the Puritans, who were critical of static annual celebrations like Christmas and Easter due to their Catholic origins, laid the groundwork for Thanksgiving as a recurring observance. In 16th-century England, King Henry VIII’s desire to annul his marriage led to the English Reformation and the formation of the Church of England. However, some dissenters, the Puritans, influenced by John Calvin, believed the Church of England hadn’t sufficiently separated from Catholic traditions, particularly its ritual calendar.

Therefore, the Puritans opposed fixed holiday dates but did practice responsive days of fasting and thanksgiving, often tied to specific events like military victories or surviving difficult times. These were not static calendar dates but dynamic responses to God’s providence, involving special church services followed by family meals. The first recorded instance of such a responsive Thanksgiving in America was in 1623, following the end of a drought.

Despite their initial opposition to annual holidays, a human desire for structure and routine led to a gradual shift. By the 1640s, about twenty years after their arrival, communities in Connecticut began to declare annual fall days of Thanksgiving, observed on the same day each year. This practice spread throughout the New England colonies, even though some ministers opposed it as a man-made tradition. These fall celebrations became anticipated events, a finish line at the end of the agricultural year. By the 1700s, governors in several New England states were declaring annual official days of Thanksgiving, usually in late November or early December, often on Thursdays to avoid disrupting preparations for Sunday services. These days involved worship and family dinners, eventually becoming assumed as long-standing traditions.

The Evolution Towards a National Holiday

It’s ironic that the Puritans, who rejected Christmas, inadvertently paved the way for another major winter holiday: Thanksgiving. Historian James Baker notes that Thanksgiving essentially took Christmas’s place in early New England as a significant seasonal break before winter. The concept of national days of Thanksgiving emerged during the American Revolution. The Continental Congress first enacted national days of Thanksgiving on December 18, 1777, to celebrate American victories. Samuel Adams noted that this resembled New England’s existing annual Thanksgiving holiday. Subsequent years saw Congress declaring Thanksgiving on different dates to commemorate significant events like the treaty alliance with France and, after the war, the peace itself.

The Formalization of Thanksgiving

Sarah Hale’s ultimate goal was to see Thanksgiving become a federally backed national holiday. This was realized in 1941 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The date had become a point of contention in 1939 when November had five Thursdays. Retailers, wanting to extend the Christmas shopping season that traditionally began the day after Thanksgiving, appealed to Roosevelt to move the holiday a week earlier. This decision caused significant controversy, with the nation divided on which Thursday to celebrate, leading to the coining of “Franksgiving.” To resolve this confusion, in 1941, Congress passed and Roosevelt signed a law declaring the fourth Thursday of November as the official Thanksgiving Day. Thus, the date was legally clarified primarily for economic reasons related to the Christmas shopping season.

The Myth of the First Thanksgiving

Interestingly, throughout the historical development of Thanksgiving as a tradition and a national holiday, from the early New Englanders to Sarah Hale and subsequent proclamations, there was almost no mention of the 1621 gathering of Pilgrims and Native Americans in Plymouth. This story, now central to the American understanding of Thanksgiving, was not the original motivation for establishing the holiday. Sarah Hale, who is largely credited with the push for a national Thanksgiving, made virtually no historical references to this event in her writings. She and other proponents focused on gratitude for present blessings, particularly national reunification before, during, and after the Civil War, envisioning Thanksgiving as a day to foster love of home and country, thankfulness to God, and peace among Americans.

The Believer’s Response: Gratitude in the Present

The speaker emphasizes that the true reason for celebrating Thanksgiving today is to remember and be grateful for God’s goodness and blessings in the present, rather than merely rehearsing a distant historical event. Just as the Puritans held their responsive days of Thanksgiving for events in their time, and the colonies and presidents called for thankfulness for contemporary blessings, believers should focus on the reality of God’s goodness now. Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate family, community, and all the blessings received.

Drawing from the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19, where only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus for healing them, the message encourages believers to be like the one who showed gratitude. Jesus was surprised that only one returned, highlighting the importance of expressing thankfulness for God’s gifts.

The teaching concludes by emphasizing Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Living out gratitude in every situation is presented as God’s will for believers, leading to joy. Just as the Thanksgiving season prompts celebration and acceptance of God’s present and future gifts, embracing gratitude daily in all circumstances is the message.

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Application for Everyday Life:

• Practice Daily Gratitude: Consciously acknowledge and appreciate God’s blessings, both big and small, every day.
• Express Thankfulness to God: Verbally thank God for His goodness, mirroring the one leper who returned to express his gratitude.
• Embrace Present Blessings: Recognize and value the gifts God has given you in your current life, such as family, community, and everyday moments.
• Cultivate a Lifestyle of Gratitude: Make gratitude a consistent attitude and practice in all circumstances, as encouraged in 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
• Avoid Taking Blessings for Granted: Be mindful and appreciative of the gifts of God, recognizing that they are not common occurrences.
• Show Gratitude to Others: Acknowledge and appreciate those who work diligently and provide instruction in the Lord.
• Find Reasons for Thankfulness in All Situations: Even in challenges, strive to find aspects for which to be thankful, trusting in God’s will.

References:

Bible Verses:

• Luke 17:11
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Books and Resources:

• America’s Favorite Holidays by Dr. Bruce Forbes