It seems as though our society can divide and argue over literally anything today. Even those things that in the grand scheme truly don’t matter or actually affect anyone. Issues that are nothing more than personal preference cause people to war against each other. What’s most saddening is that every year around the times that are supposed to bring people together we find meaningless reasons to divide. The greatest example is the arguments that arise every year about when the Christmas decorations can come out. A trivial matter indeed especially when you pause to remember that the Thanksgiving season is nothing more than that. A time to be thankful for all things.
Thanksgiving is a great holiday and serves a great purpose in our society. Especially when we take the holiday beyond the turkey and sides. As it is a yearly reminder to take just a moment and reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for. As the people of God, we know that we have more to be thankful for than we could ever start to list. God is working in our lives even when we are unable to see it or even feel it. Scripture calls us to give thanks to God for all things at all times. Thanksgiving offers us the perfect opportunity to truly do so. Where we can pause and really thank God for everything He has blessed us with through the last year. As well as what we know He will do in the next.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Thanksgiving is definitely a holiday that doesn’t need to be skipped or downplayed in our world. We need a time every year that causes us to look back over life and see just how many reasons we have to be thankful. A statement, especially true, for the church. Yet, that doesn’t mean that the way everyone celebrates their thankfulness needs to look the same. If someone wants to start to allow their celebration of Thanksgiving to intermingle with their celebration of Christmas that is completely fine. For two major reasons, the first of course, being because them doing so has little to no effect on your life. It shouldn’t bother you to see your neighbor getting the tree down from the attic because they have every right to do so.
The second reason is the fact that you do not know their heart behind it. Because what more do they have to be thankful for than the events celebrated the following month. Is it not possible that those starting Christmas before the turkey has even been bought are doing so because what they are most thankful for is the birth of their Lord and savior? Offering thanks because a Holy God was willing to humble Himself, manifest in the flesh, and offer His life upon a cross all so He could save a bunch of sinful people like us. I’m sure you can recognize just as well as I can that this is a great blessing worthy of our unending thanks. Can’t we see why others could not contain themselves and want to celebrate such a great blessing early? Even if that isn’t our personal cup of tea.
Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV)
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
When our opinions don’t match those of someone else it can be frustrating. That is just an average part of human nature. But don’t allow that to keep you from enjoying the thanksgiving holiday. Instead, follow the teaching of James and be slow to anger but quick to listen. You may just find out that the person you think you disagree with shares the same thankful heart that you do. They simply show it in a different way than you do. Look for the common ground and a way to connect, not to divide. Because that is the whole spirit behind the holidays anyway. Our nation is already divided enough so let’s let go of the small issues. Instead, let’s strive for peace and spend this time with a thankful heart and not a hateful one.
James 1:19 (ESV)
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Matthew 5:9 (ESV)
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Psalm 34:14 (ESV)
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
Who cares if Walmart is already playing Christmas music in July. Or that your neighbors have the tree up before the first leaf has started to fall. It doesn’t hurt anything and really as Christians, we should be glad to see the Christmas season get extended. Because during no other time of the year is Jesus talked about more than during the Christmas season. As secular businesses begin to play songs of faith and stores start carrying all kinds of sale items themed with the birth of Christ.
Sure many celebrate Christmas for the wrong reasons and are only interested in the material things. But if Paul could be thankful for the preaching Jesus for the wrong reasons, then I believe we can surely be thankful that Christ is being proclaimed throughout the Christmas season. Regardless of the heart behind it, the name of Jesus is being proclaimed all around the world and countless souls are saved every year because of all the circumstances surrounding Christmas. As I see it starting Christmas earlier just opens the door for more people to be saved and to me, that’s a reason to be thankful. Even if I personally prefer to wait until the day after thanksgiving to trim the tree.
Philippians 1:15–18 (ESV)
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
I have heard people say they just prefer the holidays to be kept separate. But how can you separate a holiday all about being thankful from the holiday celebrating the greatest thing you have to be thankful for when they follow one another so close. At the end of the day, this is a time to be thankful and that alone is what our focus should be on. The ways in which we show our thankfulness may differ and that’s okay. In all honestly, we may even need to look for a reason to be thankful for something. But that is far greater than allowing yourself to become hateful over what really doesn’t matter.
The best thing we can do is simply celebrate the holidays in the way we think is right. Allowing others to do the same in their own homes. Working to honor God in whatever way we chose to show our thankfulness to Him. Which means not producing strife or acting in anger as the scripture speaks against. Instead allowing the fruit of the spirit to be evident in our lives as we act in love, kindness, and peace towards all people. Giving others yet another reason to be thankful through our actions.
Galatians 5:19–26 (ESV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Regardless of your personal opinion, we can all agree that this is not the time for arguing, anger, disappointment, or division. It is a time to be thankful. Remember that in just a short amount of time, once the table is clear you too, will be turning up the radio and trimming the tree. Joining with all those who couldn’t simply help but get an early start on celebrating the most wonderful time of the year. In which we remember and honor the birth of Christ. Reflecting and offering praise for all his birth made available to our world. The great blessing is salvation. Which is just one more reason we have to be thankful this season and all year long. It’s a time to be thankful don’t allow anything to get in the way of that.
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