Thanksgiving in America

Yes, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It is quintessentially American. It is essentially Christian. I have been studying recently about the Pilgrims at Plymouth and will share here some of what I have come across.

These Separatists left religious persecution in England where they were "hunted and persecuted on every side" for the contested religious liberty in Amsterdam, but found no comfort in the bustle and filth of the city. They eventually removed to a place called Leyden, and there made it work for a while.

In a revealing statement of a somewhat indicting character, William Bradford, in his work, Of Plymouth Plantation, said that the Separatists, "fell to such trades and employments as they best could, valuing peace and their spiritual comfort above any other riches whatsoever. And at length they came to raise a competent and comfortable living, but with hard and continual labor."

However, Holland had a treaty with Spain that was soon to end, and these pilgrims knew that with the iminent return of the Inquisition, "The Spaniard might prove as cruel as the savages of America."

Upon seeing their way of life most likely unsustainable in Holland, they decided to strike out to those "vast and unpeopled countries of America".

Their main reasons were 1) to seek a better and easier place for living; 2) to leave before old age made fight or flight impossible; 3) to protect their children from physical degeneration and spiritual corruption; and 4) to advance the Gospel in those remote parts of the world.

Bradford tones a grounded, hopeful realism, "yea, though they should be but even as stepping-stones unto others for the performing of so great a work. "

And so began the story of our America - one of sacrifice, piety, and glory. And yet, even these Godly souls are found lacking with respect to the nature, character, and the rights of America's native people.

It was not until Roger Williams, the founder of Providence, Rhode Island, that the Indians found a strong voice among America's pilgrim fathers. His first work, A Key into the Language of America, was a strong critique of the Puritan's ignorance of, bad faith dealings with, and inherent misunderstanding of the native Indians, God's children.

William's words...

Nature knows no difference between Europe and Americans in blood, birth, bodies, etc.
God having of one blood made all mankind, Acts 17, and all by nature being children of wrath, Ephes, 2.

More particularly:

Boast not proud English, of thy birth and blood.

Thy brother Indian is by birth as good.

Of one blood God made him, and thee, and all.

As wise, as fair, as strong, as personal.

By nature, wrath’s his portion, thine, no more

Till grace his soul and thine in Christ restore.

Make sure thy second birth, else thou shalt see

Heaven ope to Indians wild, but shut to thee.

Happy Thanksgiving! It is special, controversial, and most definitely needful.

Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever. Psalm 107:1