Written by Katie on November 16, 2017

To Give thanks or to not Give Thanks, that is the question.

It is that time of year again. When people start asking me lots of questions about my weird life. I totally get it to. I am a curious person and if I met me, I would have a million questions too.

I mean let’s get real. I have fifteen children. I have adopted and biological children. I have special needs children. I home church, and on Saturday instead of Sunday. I don’t celebrate Catholic holidays. I do celebrate Biblical holidays. I don’t eat bacon or lobster. I homeschool. I could go on and on. But those things right there make me seem a little strange.

So, yeah. I understand people’s curiosity.

This weeks question is about Thanksgiving.

Do I celebrate Thanksgiving Day?

The answer is yes.

Then the next question is why is it ok, but not Christmas?

That answer is a little longer, but here is my answer.

Thanksgiving is not a pagan rooted holiday, it is not a day in which the church has adopted other religious practices to celebrate YHVH God. The original American Thanksgiving celebration was a day that the early settlers set aside to thank God for providing for them and keeping them alive. It was a harvest celebration. It was celebrated with native Americans and new settlers. Many have tried to change this fact. But it is the truth. It was celebrated in October of 1621. Regardless of what settlers and natives did to each other over the following years, attacking and defending themselves and the land, does not change the fact that this first thanksgiving was celebrated in peace by both groups of people.

The Bible tells us to give thanks to YHVH God continuously for His goodness and provision. So a day set aside to celebrate YHVH God’s goodness and provision with others is a great thing. It is not a”Holy” day set apart by YHVH himself, like the Biblical feasts in Leviticus 23. But it is a day set aside by my government and there is nothing evil or pagan in it.

1) 1 Chronicles 16:34

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

2) Colossians 3:15-17

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

3) Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

4) Psalm 30:12

That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

5) Isaiah 12:4-5

And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.

6) Hebrews 12:28-29

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.

7) Jonah 2:9

But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay Salvation is from the Lord.”

8) 1 Timothy 4:4-5

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

9) Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.

10) Psalm 100:4

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name.

So, then the next question is, ok, so what is wrong with Christmas then? I will try and answer that in my next post. But for now. Have a blessed Thanksgiving day.

Shalom

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