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ls it “Turkey Day” or “Thanksgiving?” This question came to me a few days ago as I read an ad in the newspaper regarding the upcoming holiday. But I wonder if the renaming of Thanksgiving is not filled with cultural overtones.
Church attendance has been in decline for many years and the culture in which we live has seen a shift away from Christ. It is no wonder, then, that “Christ” would be removed from a day of honor in our society. “Merry Christmas” has been renamed to “Happy Holidays.” “Turkey Day” may indicate a further drift away from God. Traditionally Thanksgiving has been observed as a day in which the nation stops to thank God for all the blessings we Americans enjoy. Have we gotten so far from God that we fail to honor Him with thanksgiving?
Now let it be understood that the fourth Thursday in November is not a “holy day,” nor is it a day commanded in the Bible. It is a holiday set up by our leaders of the past to thank God for His blessings on the people of our great country. But modern day leaders have led us away from God as a national policy. Sadly we are fast becoming like the heathen nations described in Romans 1:28 who “did not like to retain God in their knowledge” and even though they knew God does exist they “did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful” (21).
The parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) is about a man who took all the credit for all of his wealth and was unthankful to God who made it all possible. “Turkey Day” smells of the same rotten spirit.
May we make every day a day of thanksgiving to the God of all creation and to Jesus Christ our Lord for every blessing we enjoy comes from the Father and the Son.
Alton Norman
Owingsville church of Christ
Owingsville, KY