Thanksgiving and Christianity

By: Roland Contreras

Thanksgiving is a long holiday tradition whereby we take time to focus on all the blessings that the Creator of the universe has so graciously bestowed upon us.  For some Thanksgiving comes once a year and is filled with plentiful delights that are not only pleasing to the eye but to the appetite as well.  For some it is filled with football on the big-screen while family and friends gather around in a sort of campfire routine.  For others it simply falls short of its intention. 

But for the Christian, Thanksgiving is not something that is just celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. For the Christian, Thanksgiving is not something that is done only at the dinner table.  For the Christian, Thanksgiving is a perpetual holiday whereby the Christian praises and worships Christ.  It is not predicated on blessing or suffering but is done simply because of who Christ is.  Truth be said, thanksgiving is a good thing ... ... no, thanksgiving is a great and awesome thing. 

It is a great thing because it allows the opportunity to revel in the grace of God ... ... his common grace to be more specific.  That is, his grace and mercy that simply allows us the opportunity to wake up every morning and be presented with the freedom to praise him in all we do a la 1Corinthians 10:31 or to respond to his call to salvation a la Romans 8:30.  Plus, despite the fact that many may be traversing through a forest of suffering and pain, the common grace of God allows you to breathe air and experience the blessing of being alive. 

It is awesome because, like everything, our gratitude focuses on Christ.  He is the epicenter of our joy ... ... our greatest joy.  This is where thanksgiving should center.  It should center on the truth of Christ and his free gift of grace.  It should center on the fact that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!" (Romans 5:8-9).  This is the core of Thanksgiving and Christianity.