Thanksgiving

As we celebrate with our various Thanksgiving traditions, we pause to give thanks to God, our Father for His many blessings. At the Center our focus on Thanksgiving is a celebration of the historical focus of our Country of thanking God for the blessings He has given us as a nation. Never thought of it that way, or thinking there were no Christian background and integration in the early history of our country? Check out the following historical and documented instances of our government acknowledging of the provision of God in the page and links below.

What really happened at Plymouth? Read this quick article by Tim Wildman, President of AFA:

I am thankful for your support of AFA and hope you and your family have a meaningful celebration of Thanksgiving. Sadly, it is all too obvious that the real story of Thanksgiving has been lost in our nation.

For a reminder of the history and significance of Thanksgiving, I hope you will read this The Stand interview with my friend Dr. Stephen McDowell, president of Providence Foundation and prolific author, who reminds us of the true story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving.
By the way, you can get timely and free blogs from The Stand delivered in your email box each weekday from writers you can trust addressing culture, promoting faith, and defending the family by clicking here.

The Stand: What is the greatest threat today to the truth about the Pilgrims and their history?
McDowell: While some books and educators directly lie about the Pilgrims and their primary Christian motive for starting a new colony in America, the greatest threat to the truth about their story is what is left out when their story is told.

Revisionist history gives a false picture of these devoted Christians. For example, one elementary public school textbook gives 30 pages to present the story of the Pilgrims without once [making] any reference to religion; thus at the end of [the Pilgrims’] first year, they “wanted to give thanks for all they had.” But there is no mention it was God they were thanking.

Teaching about the Pilgrims without referencing God causes people to think that Christianity was not important to them. Revisionist history is a primary reason for the secularization of America. People are taught our history without mentioning Christianity, or if it is cited, it is often presented in a negative light, when in reality it is the most important influence in the birth, growth, and development of the nation.

The Stand: Why do some contemporary educators revise U.S. history, particularly the story of Thanksgiving?
McDowell: Most teachers in our schools today are ignorant of the true story of Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims. They never learned it in school and few search out primary source documents so as to get to know the Pilgrims via their own writings.

William Bradford, governor of the Pilgrims for 33 years, wrote their history – Of Plimoth Plantation – which is one of the great historical and literary works of all American history, but few teachers have even heard of it, much less read it. You only need to read a few pages to see the sincere and deep faith of these men and women who served as “stepping stones” for those who would follow.

Some educators who know the history yet ignore it, evaluate the Pilgrims through their own secular bias – that is, the Pilgrims may have had a deep faith, but God is a construction of the human mind and consequently is not relevant, so they do not need to mention God when recounting their story. Or they have such a dislike for God that they do not want to give Him any place in history.

The Stand: Why is it important that we remember and pass on the truth about the Pilgrims?
McDowell: The Pilgrims’ story teaches us many lessons. We learn of the great sacrifice they paid to exercise their freedom of religion and to plant the early seeds of our nation. Half of them died the first winter after arriving at Plymouth, and most of the others suffered from sickness and hunger. At one time, only six or seven could get out of bed, but they toiled night and day to assist their brethren.

In the words of Bradford they “fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed their meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them. In a word, they did all the homely and necessary offices for them which queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named – and this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least.” Their care for one another reveals their Christian character and practical love, “a rare example and worthy to be remembered.”

Their motive to spread the gospel is evident from Bradford’s words (which are inscribed on his monument in Plymouth): “A great hope and inward zeal they had of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world.”

The Mayflower Compact, a document the Pilgrims drafted and signed before going ashore, shows their ability to reason biblically regarding civil affairs: “Having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith … [we] do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic.”

Learning the unique covenant nature of our founding political documents is an important lesson in understanding why America was founded as the freest nation in history.

The Stand: What is the most important aspect of the Thanksgiving story that parents can teach their children?
McDowell: The most important thing parents can teach their children about the Thanksgiving story is the most obvious: We call it Thanksgiving for a reason. Our Pilgrim forefathers, who are reflective of most of the founders of America, were firmly devoted to Almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ. In recognition of His gracious hand upon them, they set aside regular public days to give thanks and glorify Him.

This was not done merely once or twice but regularly throughout their entire lifetime. They set an example that was followed by those who came after them, even up until today. Throughout most of our history, Americans understood thanksgiving days were to thank God. The Pilgrims’ love and devotion to God, and their reliance upon Him in abundance and lack, are evidenced not only by their private lives but also by their public days of thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving, I hope you will keep the real Thanksgiving story alive in your children and grandchildren. I also hope that you will join me and my family as we follow the example of our Pilgrim forefathers in making it a special day of praise to God.

The Little known miracle that saved the Pilgrims: https://www2.cbn.com/news/us/little-known-miracle-saved-pilgrims

How do we keep a Christian focus on Thanksgiving? https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/7-ways-to-uncover-a-christian-meaning-in-thanksgiving.html

30 Thanksgiving Bible Verses and Scriptures for Expressing Gratitude

What about the "NEW" revisionist history being explored in our culture that makes early pilgrims out to being horrible to the Native Americans. See this commentary on what really happened at Plymouth for a Christian take on this revisionist history that is in reality viewing history from a secularist world view: What Really Happened at Plymouth?

While thankfulness is certainly the message of the day, Thanksgiving is a significant place marker in our nation’s history. Besides the big flat-topped hats (called capotains) worn in the Plymouth Colony, what all do you know about Thanksgiving? 10 Interesting Thanksgiving Facts to Share Around Your Dining Room Table

DO YOU KNOW THE Non Revisionist Historical Reason the Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving?

Many Americans will gather with family and friends around a dinner table that will contain a feast that would have been the envy of many kings and princes in ages past. Despite the political, economic, and cultural challenges we face, we are still blessed to live in the United States of America.

The Apostle Paul reminded the Thessalonians of the need to not only rejoice in the midst of challenges, but to be thankful. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). When I read this passage, I can't help but think of the Pilgrims. In October of 1621, William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth, declared the first official day of Thanksgiving. The public proclamation on behalf of the Pilgrims came as a result of their first bountiful harvest. The Pilgrims were overflowing with gratitude to God because the harvest of 1621 provided more than enough corn to see them through their second winter.

History records that Indian chief Massasoit arrived unexpectedly a day early for the celebration. The Chief brought 90 Indians with him -- causing the Pilgrims to nearly despair, questioning whether or not they could feed that many without dangerously diminishing their winter supply of food. As it turned out, the Indians had arrived early so they could hunt and contribute to the feast. The Indians provided five dressed deer and more than a dozen fat wild turkeys. There was plenty of food which was even more of a reason to give thanks. In fact, that's what they did; they extended the Thanksgiving celebration to three days.

But what were they giving thanks for? Recently I saw where a public school text book told children the Pilgrims were giving thanks to the Indians (not at all surprising in this day and age of revised history). The Pilgrims' journey began in Holland -- not for religious freedom, as is often cited, but for the freedom to build a community on biblical principles for their children. They had left England, where they did not have religious freedom and moved to Holland where they were free to worship as they pleased. But the culture was so corrupt, they made plans to go to the New World.

What was that journey like? One hundred two Pilgrims had been crammed into a space on the Mayflower that was about the size of a volleyball court. Compound that misery with the lack of light and fresh air (all the hatches had to be battened down because of stormy weather) and a limited diet of dried pork, dried peas, and dried fish, and the stench of an "ever fouler bilge" which lasted for 66 days at sea.

They arrived in the fall of 1620 just in time to prepare for winter. During that first winter, nearly half of the 102 pilgrims died -- 47 in all. In February, at the height of winter, they were dying at a rate of two per day. Thirteen out of 18 of the wives died, with only three families remaining unbroken by death that first winter. Yet even still, they were thankful. And they remained thankful even though at times their daily rations consisted of one kernel of corn.

The experiences of the Pilgrims were recorded in the historical work Of Plymouth Plantation, penned by their leader, Governor William Bradford, who said of the Pilgrims, "Last and not least, they cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least making some ways toward it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work."

The Pilgrims had the ability to rejoice and hope even in the midst of death and privation because they knew their lives served a greater, eternal purpose. When we know and follow Jesus Christ, our lives have that same eternal purpose and that alone gives us a reason to rejoice and be thankful.

Tony Perkins' Washington Update is written with the aid of FRC senior writers.

* View some Thanksgiving articles from the American Pastors Network

* What the Pilgrims thought about the role of Christianity in Government and life (from Answers in Genesis)

* Wallbuilders has organized a Thanksgiving resource page for Thanksgiving Sermons

* Thanksgiving Proclamations by Presidents: George Washington Abraham Lincoln Grover Cleveland George W. Bush

* The Mayflower Mystique: Remembering the Pilgrims by Dr. Gary Scott Smith

* A Week of Thanksgiving (taken from Bible study tools at Cross Walk) by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

* Focus on the Family: George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation by Bruce Hausknecht, Esq.

* Thanksgiving Proclamation by Congress

* How Will You Mark Thanksgiving? by Dr. L. John Van Til

* Celebrating Thanksgiving in America by David Barton

* Thanksgiving Thoughts from the Family Resource Council