We Need A Real Thanksgiving

We need a real thanksgiving. Although there are many accounts of how the Pilgrims and the Native Americans came together in November 1621 the Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow wrote in his journal that after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit[1]. The chief accepted and the peoples came together for a three day feast. It would not be long however that the European settlers would not be very friendly toward the Natives as we all know. In 1863 heeding the request of prolific writer Sarah Josepha Hale—author, among countless other things, of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb”— President Abraham Lincoln at the height of the Civil War, in a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.” Thereby establishing a national day of thanksgiving scheduled for the final Thursday of November.

If there has ever been a time in history in which America needed to commend to His tender care all the lamentable civil strife so that the wounds of the nation may be healed; it is now. Today the holiday is celebrated primarily by individual families. There are thousands of broken families out here today so wouldn’t it be good if those families could come together and seek God for His tender care to heal the wounds. When Jesus said that we are to love our enemies I think He was referring to anyone, whether a friend or family member, that does not like us.[2] That being the case how would it be to call up that coworker or that brother-in-law that does not see eye to eye with us and invite them to a thanksgiving feast? What if the family of Michael Brown called up the family of Officer Darren Wilson and invited them to sit down to dinner for a time of forgiveness and a “healing of the wounds?” It would be a miracle; and that is what God can do, perform miracles. However we have been influenced to long as humans by the wiles of the devil. Ever since the Garden of Eden lines have been drawn between family members and nationalities and the devil started it all.  

But don’t get depressed! God also shows us the future. John the Revelator wrote, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.”[3] Mankind will never be able to bring peace upon the earth between families or peoples, but Jesus will. The Prince of Peace Himself will one day come and put an end to all this strife in society and the world! We do not have the natural ability within ourselves to love our enemies but if we will love Jesus then He will love them; through us. Then we will have a real thanksgiving.

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[1] History.com (History.com staff, 2009. History of Thanksgiving)

[2] Matthew 5:44

[3] Revelation 7:9

Yes, There Is A Holy Spirit

Over the centuries the work of the Holy Spirit has continued in the world. Although there are factions within Christianity that even deny the existence of the Holy Spirit, or attribute His work to some kind of “supernatural force.” People tend to not believe in things they cannot explain. Science does its best to answer the unanswerable questions that mankind deals with but falls short of logical explanation of everything. Religion is one of those areas in which science leaves it up to each individual as to what one believes because there are no foundational scientific principles that regulate that what one believes is real or not. It exists in the mind or life of the individual as far as science is concerned. The Holy Spirit of God exists and always has according to the Holy Scriptures. Whether one believes the Scriptures are the Word of God or not does not change the truth that God has revealed to mankind within them. The fact that God has inspired the Scriptures and has revealed to us the mystery of where we came from, what we are here for, and where we are going is the basis of the Christian belief or faith. Therefore believing the Scriptures we believe in the Holy Spirit. As a Divine Personality, not the third person of the Godhead, but rather a person of the Godhead, equal in power, authority, and existence, His function is the personal manifestation of the invisible God in the person of Jesus Christ and in the lives of each person that is willing to believe in Christ, submit their will to His will, and accept His offer of forgiveness of sin. [1]When one makes the decision to do that then the Holy Spirit will come into that persons heart (the inner man) and begin to reveal the will of God to the individual. [2]If you choose not to believe in the whole Jesus thing or the Bible, then you will never know the truth. 

The Holy Spirit is working in the world today within those who are willing to let Him work through them. [3]We know how evil the world can be today but if it were not for the Holy Spirit still in the world, you could not even imagine how bad it would be. The Holy Spirit is the inspiration for all that is good in the world. His influence upon humanity is God’s grace toward us. [4]All the good attributes that exist in people today first existed in God. Even those who reject or rebel against God and Jesus are still loved by them. They Holy Spirit is the Link that connects us to Jesus the Son who connects us to God the Father. [5]You may be like the people in Ephesus who had not even heard of the Holy Spirit until the Apostle Paul told them about Him. If you have ever given God or Jesus a single thought, you can thank the Holy Spirit for it. [6]Were it not for Him we would have never known about God or Christ.

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[1] Galatians 4:6

[2] 1 Corinthians 2:14

[3] 2 Thessalonians 2:7

[4] 1 John 4:8

[5] Acts 19:2

[6] Ephesians 3:4-6

Religion and Politics

Never discuss politics and religion I have heard. So have you. The reason of course is that more often than not expressing our views on both subjects usually arouses arguments; unless you are discussing both subjects with someone that agrees with your views on either of them. I appreciate the differences in people. In saying that I am not condoning the behaviors or opinions that people have or do that is in opposition to the Bible. Jesus told the Pharisees that if you only show kindness and love to those who love you, then you are no better than tax collectors. The tax collectors of course being the people that the Jews considered traders and hated them for helping the Roman government.

God created mankind with the ability to choose what we think. On the one hand it is a curse and yet on the other it is a blessing. Right thinking will lead to right behavior and wrong thinking usually leads to wrong behavior. If you think you can fly and jump off a cliff without a parachute you would realize you were wrong in your thinking. When I observe or hear how people think in regards to religion or politics I respect their God given ability to think as they do. I also have that same ability and think differently than they do sometimes. When they do not think the same way I do it is easy to view them as tax collectors.  Just as with the example of someone jumping off a cliff, their thinking may lead them into disaster unless they consider why someone else thinks you will need a parachute.

I am often asked if I am a Republican or a Democrat and I always answer that I am neither. The Bible teaches that, [1]“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Our political party system does not have a “holy nation party” so therefore I say that I am a Christian, one of His own special people. The Bible clearly teaches that Christians are to acknowledge politics and government. [2]“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” What does that mean? It means that those who are in office were allowed to be in office by God, even if they were elected. I may have not voted for the man or woman that was elected but it is my duty to pray for them; [3]“And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”

Did you catch that? “Patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” I am not afraid to discuss religion or politics with anyone. If it leads to a conflict of opinions then that is okay; the other person is loved as much by God as I am. They may be ready to jump off a cliff without a parachute so I have a duty to suggest they consider their actions, but I should not jump off the cliff too and argue with them on the way down.

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[1] 1 Peter 2:9

[2] Romans 13:1

[3] 2 Timothy 2: 24,25