HOW CAN I SAY THANKS?
By Richard Burkard
Halloween is a day of the devil, so it's wrong. That's what Church of God groups have taught for decades, and they all seem to agree on that today. They also oppose Christmas, because it's a holiday based on pagan traditions and Biblical inaccuracy.
But what about the U.S. holiday which comes between Halloween and Christmas? Thanksgiving Day occurs in late November (or in Canada on the second Monday of October) -- and from time to time over the years, it's apparently been controversial with some worshipers.
I was surprised as a COG newcomer in the 1980s to hear a sermonette explaining why Thanksgiving Day is acceptable to keep. The speaker correctly noted there's no such "holy day" mentioned in the Bible. But he said giving thanks to God is something every believer should do.
Yet years later as a church meeting hall was arranged for a Thanksgiving dinner on a Saturday afternoon, I thought deeply about the displays I saw. Turkeys dominated table centerpieces and napkins. If someone from another culture or country walked into the building and was told this was how the church marked Thanksgiving, he might be led to conclude the congregation worshiped farm birds instead of God.
Some critics of COG's have picked up on this in recent years - posting articles which actually claim Thanksgiving Day is not godly at all, but heathen. They argue it's based on an ancient festival which is different from the holy days of Scripture, so it must be avoided based on Deuteronomy 12:29-32 - a passage often used to oppose Halloween and Christmas.
So what's a believer to do? Especially one who considers himself blessed by God, and wants to thank the Lord for it? I decided to go to the Bible, and let it be my instruction book. Stripping away all national traditions and arguments of various groups, what does God's Word say about giving thanks? Does it specify days which are good or bad? Does it give instructions about the right ways, and warn against wrong ones?
The First Thanksgiving
The King James Version would lead you to believe no one thanked God in the first two books of the Bible. The first reference to "thanks" is in Leviticus 7:12, where a "sacrifice of thanksgiving" is discussed. We'll examine that later.
But a closer look shows the Hebrew word most often translated "thanks" first appears in Genesis 29:35. When Leah gave birth to Judah, she declared, "This time I will praise the Lord." That word is yadah in Hebrew - pronounced "yah-DAH'" (as opposed to "yada-yada-yada" from the TV series Seinfeld).
Where do we find thanks specifically mentioned in the context of God's Holy Days? Somewhat surprisingly, it's missing in the Old Testament -- except where it's hidden in the rituals of the Day of Atonement.
"He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites -- all their sins - and place them on the goat's head" (Leviticus 16:21). The word "confess" is that same Hebrew word yadah. Sins are confessed over the "azazel" goat sent into the wilderness - and we can be thankful our sins are removed from the sight of God.
Only later were words of thanks added into the Passover. Jesus offered thanks in prayer for the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:17, 19). There's no record of such a prayer occurring as Jesus washed the disciples' feet - so if you've wondered why there's no "opening prayer" at most COG Passover services or a prayer before the foot-washing, this could be the reason.
Some might be quick to conclude the Feast of Tabernacles is God's version of a Thanksgiving banquet -- only lasting for seven or eight days. But just as some have been tempted to make that Feast a substitute for Christmas, there's stunningly NO mention of thanks in Scripture related to the fall festival.
The first time the word "thanks" occurs in the King James Bible is in Leviticus 7. A "thanksgiving peace offering" is mentioned, beginning in verse 11. The menu does NOT specifically include turkey or ham -- and recalling my late father's preferences, not even a pot roast.
The emphasis instead is on unleavened cakes and wafers, along with leavened bread (verses 12-13). How interesting that this last detail would rule out thanksgiving offerings during the Spring festival season!
"Flesh" is mentioned almost in passing, in verse 15 - and God advises it "shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning." In other words, four days of leftover turkey sandwiches were not allowed! (But of course, some might contend the Israelites had no way to refrigerate meat while wandering in the wilderness.)
Good Timing? Bad Timing?
A "sacrifice of thanksgiving" also is mentioned in Leviticus 22:29, with this advice: "offer it at your own will" (KJV). While most other translations put this verse in a way which emphasizes a proper personal attitude, the KJV seems to emphasize the when of the giving -- and that's the main issue for online critics of COG's.
In fact, this study was inspired by a lengthy criticism by hardline Canadian blogger James Malm. In November 2012 he declared annual "Thanksgiving Day" celebrations pagan and wrong. He noted, as I had, the symbolism commonly associated with the day -- although he didn't connect it with Israel's "golden calf" of Exodus 32, which might be easy to do.
Malm went farther, by citing historical evidence of such events occurring as "harvest festivals" across a wide range of cultures -- such as a "Harvest Home" event in England. After reading his post, I suddenly realized why the United Church of God had published a 2010 Good News article defending Thanksgiving Day. Author Mario Sieglie suggested the U.S. celebration established in colonial New England was rooted in the Feast of Tabernacles. And in fact, Malm's point was that Christians should keep the Biblical feast days instead of a human-set Thanksgiving -- whether it's during autumn, or even perhaps late April.
But in ancient Israel, people apparently didn't have to check the day of their thanksgiving offering against what surrounding cultures were doing. "For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from 20 years old and above, because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord.... and to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even...." (I Chronicles 23:27-30)
In other words, thanksgiving was a daily affair! And so it should be with us -- although individuals could offer special "thank offerings" as well. Leviticus doesn't show any restriction based on season or date, except for the "Days of Unleavened Bread" intervention. The only problem seemed to come if Israelites too closely followed pagan worship actions (Deuteronomy 12:29-31).
A Hanukkah Connection?
Godly writings suggest only one specific time of year for thanksgiving -- but that time is a bit complicated.
Songs of thanksgiving were offered "at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem," according to Nehemiah 12:27. One Bible commentary notes some scholars connect that event with the apocryphal book of II Maccabees, which says the "purification of the temple" occurred on the 25th day of the ninth month (1:18) -- which is the start of the Jewish Hanukkah festival, in late November of December. In fact, the Hebrew word for "dedication" in Nehemiah 12 is chanukkah.
But there are problems with this reasoning. Chanukkah also appears in Daniel 3:2-3, at the dedication of a giant idol by King Nebuchadnezzar. This shows not every chanukkah is godly. And II Maccabees also mentions "Jewish brethren" keeping "the feast of booths in the month Chislev" (1:1, 9, RSV) -- which means they marked Tabernacles two months later than the Biblical calendar indicates!
We found one article written by a rabbi suggesting Hanukkah is a "second chance" at Tabernacles, much like the "second Passover" and days of Unleavened Bread mentioned in II Chronicles 30. The article goes on to imply Hanukkah was ordained by God from creation, which seems like a stretch to me. But could all this help explain why the books of the Maccabees have been rejected from modern-day Protestant Bibles?
(In 2013, the first day of Hanukkah fell on U.S. Thanksgiving Day. But this is a rare occurrence; the last time it fell on the fourth Thursday of November was 1861 -- when the U.S. had no officially designated Thanksgiving Day at all.)
A missing ingredient
As the two sides go back and forth on Thanksgiving Day, it seems to me one section of the Bible is left out - one which can provide a balanced New Testament perspective.
It begins with I Corinthians 10:27. "If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake." The words "to a feast" are italicized in KJV, which means they were added to the original Greek; NIV has "to a meal."
Continuing in NIV: "But if anyone says to you, 'This has been offered in sacrifice,' then do not eat it, both for the sake of man who told you and for conscience' sake - the other man's conscience, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another man's conscience?" (verses 28-29)
Paul establishes a guideline which reminds me of the old U.S. military guidance on homosexuality: "don't ask, don't tell." You're free to eat anything offered at a banquet - until the host brings up something which raises a red flag under your personal rules. It could be an "unclean meat" as defined in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Or it could be food offered "to idols," as KJV puts it. Then it's the time to mention your objection.
I learned long ago the four best days every year to buy chocolate - the days after Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine's Day. Many stores mark down "holiday" candy 50 percent that day, to clear the shelves for the next event. I buy the discount chocolate to enjoy at home, but avoid taking it to a church snack table immediately afterward - out of concern the sight might make some members uncomfortable, or cause a misunderstanding.
Can you eat a "Thanksgiving dinner" as long as no one mentions it's Thanksgiving? While that may sound absurd, Paul leaves that door open for believers. It's part of the elements of grace provided by God -- a grace concept I fear many people in Church of God groups don't fully grasp.
Paul continues in verses 31-33: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." BUT.... "Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God - even as I try to please everybody in every way."
Not How, But Why
Perhaps you've stumbled upon this article because you're skeptical of any kind of thanksgiving. Your life is in such disarray or distress that you see no reason to give thanks to God at all.
My search for "how" answers in the Bible regarding thanksgiving led me to a long list of "why" answers - reasons to be thankful toward God:
* For God's reigning power (Revelation 11:17).
* For God's goodness and merciful love (I Chronicles 16:34, 41; Psalm 136:1-3)
* For God's holiness (Psalm 30:4, 97:12)
* For God's righteous laws and judgments (Psalm 119:62)
* For Jesus the Son of God (Luke 2:38)
* For God's grace reaching more and more people (II Corinthians 4:15, 1:4)
* For healing (Luke 17:16).
* For deliverance from your enemies, or "the violent man" (II Samuel 22:49-50; Psalm 18:48-49)
* For spiritual deliverance - from sin to righteousness (Romans 6:17-18), and eventually over death to receive eternal life (7:24-25; I Corinthians 15:56-57).
* For "His unspeakable gift" (II Corinthians 9:15) - which I take to mean eternal life (Romans 6:23).
* For God's Word being received as exactly that (I Thessalonians 2:13).
* For the knowledge of God (Romans 1:21).
* For a mind which can remember other brethren in prayer (II Timothy 1:3).
* For God hearing our prayers (John 11:41).
* That we can be a "sweet savor" of Christ (II Corinthians 2:14-15), as we share the Lord with other people.
* For God choosing people and calling them to salvation (II Thessalonians 2:13).
* For helpers in Christ (Romans 16:3-4) - His "saints" in His church (Ephesians 1:15-16; I Thessalonians 1:2-3).
* For the joy that other people bring (I Thessalonians 3:9)
* For the faith and love of fellow believers (Romans 1:8; Philemon 4-5)
* For the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, should you have it (I Corinthians 14:18).
* For God placing you in His ministry, if He has done so (I Timothy 1:12).
* For all people in authority, such as kings (I Timothy 2:1-2).
* For generosity, or "bountifulness" in KJV (II Corinthians 9:11-12)
* For "meats" and foods created by God (I Timothy 4:3-4)
* For food (Matthew 15:36, Acts 27:35) - or even if you choose not to eat food on a certain day (Romans 14:6).
* To sum it up - be thankful "for all things" (Ephesians 5:20) and all your actions (Colossians 3:17) at all times (I Thessalonians 5:18).
Did I leave anything out? If so, please let me know.
(Keep in mind the word "praise" may appear instead of "thanks" in some of these verses; we noted above the words can be interchanged - although sometimes they're separated within the same verse, such as in Psalm 35:18 and Daniel 2:23.)
Conclusions
The angels around God's throne don't seem to give this topic a second thought. Revelation 7:11-12 indicates they fall in worship and say: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"
So thanksgiving should be part of our worship of God -- and in fact, Paul adds it should be part of our daily Christian walk. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him.... overflowing with thankfulness" (Colossians 2:6-7). That can happen daily - and on special days we set aside, as long as we recall God's instructions and avoid taking a pagan approach.
We can offer thanks in our prayers, as Colossians 4:2 and other verses recommend. We can do it through music, as Psalm 147:7 and other verses direct. Other people can lead in thanks, on behalf of a congregation; this was the approach in Nehemiah 11:17 and 12:8.
But is your special day of thanks kept God's way, without actions and things which might be misunderstood? If it is, feel free to follow Paul's direction in Colossians 3:15 - and "be thankful."
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