A THANKSGIVING REVIVAL

by Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

This coming Thursday our nation will pause to remember a special day set aside to give thanks to God for His bountiful blessings we all experience day by day in this land of ours. Yet, as the years roll by, I fearfully observe that such a day of thanksgiving is almost lost to most Americans. In its place, we celebrate unworthy things such as Halloween and a secularized Christmas that is centered on greed, avarice, and idolatry of the worst kind. However, today I want to remember THANKSGIVING.

Perhaps the most misunderstood facet of the faith of Christianity today is that it is not a religion as are other systems of worship. Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, Islam, and a host of other world religions worship and adore a system of rules, regulations surrounding an order of beliefs about the god or gods they adore. But Christianity is different! It is exclusively worship of a Person revealed to us as God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, true Christianity, historic Christianity is set apart from all other world religions in that it is not just a mindset, but a life and world view of living out that life. When one becomes a genuine Christian by faith in Christ, he or she is a "new creation,"

2 Cor 5:17 (NIV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

This is exactly what history reveals in those who down through the centuries, followed the true faith and abandoned religion. In the 17th century, a small group of believers in England found out that living their faith as God intended would not be allowed. As such, this small band of Christians became known as Separatists, for they wanted to live out their faith in a daily life that included the fullness of what the Word of God taught them. This is the story of "A Thanksgiving Revival." You see, revival is a strange word that essentially means in the Latin from which it came - "to live again!" Permit me to recount the story of our Pilgrim fathers, as this time of the year is appropriate to remember them and this nation from which faith it came. To do this I'm going to share the story as the history books still tell, and as I do so, please begin to examine your own heart to see where you stand in light of such a faith. I'm sure God will use this to help us who are Christians today, to have a renewed appreciation for "the faith once delivered to the saints," ( Jude 1:3).

Now, throughout the United States and Canada Thanksgiving Day is an annual legal holiday. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States and on the second Monday in October in Canada. As celebrated in the United States, Thanksgiving was originally a Christian harvest festival, one of the oldest and most widespread of celebrations. The American holiday commemorates a harvest celebration held by the Christian Pilgrims of Plymouth colony in 1621.

The Pilgrims we know, had come ashore from the Mayflower on Dec. 21, 1620. IT was an unfortunate time, for the first winter in the new world had been heartbreaking. Only about half the original group had survived. But through God's intervention, the following year's harvest was miraculously preserved and bountiful. Written records remain that tell us, there were 20 acres of the strange Indian corn, for which the Indians had furnished seeds. There were also barley and plenty of meat. Governor William Bradford sent four men to hunt for fowl. They returned with enough waterfowl and wild turkeys to last a week. Fishermen brought in cod and bass. Indian hunters contributed five deer. Ninety Indians, with their chief, Massasoit, feasted with the colonists for three days. Truly this first Thanksgiving, was a time to remember God's sovereignty over life and His love expressed for them.

Now the Pilgrims as we came to know them, were solid Bible-believing Christians who saw the errors and false teachings that had permeated the state church of their day. They wanted their faith to be worked out in their lives as God personally led them, not as King James I of England wanted for them. This brought a tremendous clash between ideologies as well as the wrath of the King. King James I, in an angry outburst declared, "I will make them conform or I will harry them out of the land." This threat was made to the Puritans when they asked him to "purify" the state church of England of certain ceremonies and usage's derived from the Roman Catholic church, which they knew from Scripture was wrong. Contrary to teachings these days, these Puritans or "Separatists" were not dangerous revolutionists or fanatics, rather they were plain honest citizens of England - farmers, merchants, professional men, and scholars especially from the University of Cambridge. However, those who were conformists, regarded them as gloomy fanatics.

Now in addition, we must remember that the Puritans were not "the ignorant" of society either. They were the advanced and educated wing of the Protestants in England in the days of the Reformation. In general, the Puritans inclined to follow the lead of Knox, Calvin, and the Swiss reformers, who rejected all usage's of the Roman church for which authority was not found in the Scriptures. These Separatists thus reduced the worship of their day, to the bare simplicity of apostolic times. This is why they were called Puritans, for they wanted to purify the faith that had long been corrupted. They were in effect, the early fundamentalists, as we proudly call ourselves these days. But in so doing, they rejected the public reading of written prayers, the placing of religious images, pictures and icons in their churches, and in some cases being sinners such as we are, they went overboard and some even rejected the use of all instrumental music at services, and the like.

However, most of the Puritans, realized that their faith could not be limited to a place of worship, but was in effect to be lived out in their public life. Accordingly, they wanted the whole government under which they lived to reflect this freedom to worship and live according to God's revealed Word. A group known as the "Presbyterians," for instance, wanted to do away with the government of bishops in the church but wanted retain a "state church," which was contrary to Scriptures. Others, called Separatists, or Independents, wanted the church and state to be entirely separated and each congregation to manage its own affairs; these were later called Congregationalists. These were the ones who actually founded our nation and gave us our Constitution and laws.

But history reveals that it was a small band of the Separatists, who went first to Holland in 1608 and then to America in 1620, where they founded Plymouth Colony -- For James I and Charles I carried out the threat to harry the Puritans out of the land. In the ensuing years, thousands of others went with them to America, especially during the Great Migration of 1630-40. (1)

Yes, our Pilgrim forefathers were bonafide fundamental Christians, who because of persecution and prevention of living out their faith in the life and community around them, founded a new community in which they could do this.

My friend, although we no longer honor the Pilgrims nor the God of the Pilgrims in this nation of ours, its time to have our own Thanksgiving revival. Yes, we too need to "live again," and restore our lives, our homes, our churches, and our nation to the place our founding fathers wanted. Perhaps the most important historical remains of the Pilgrims is their commitment to establish a land and nation whereby their religious freedoms would be maintained to the glory of God. Permit me to read to you the very first document of the Americas, that became the foundation of our Constitution and laws that govern us to this day. This document is known as the Mayflower Compact." It reads,

"In ye name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwriten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord, King James, by ye grace of God, of Great Britaine, Franc & Ireland, king, Defender of faith, etc. Haveing undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just & equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the generall good of the colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience." - Mayflower Compact 1621

This Compact was one of the earliest plans for self-government by European Christians in America. But notice the basis of it. It stated that their purpose for government and their living in this new land was, "Having undertaken for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith." How far we have strayed from this historic and Biblical truth. Today we are told lies, and deceived by godless alien forces of men and minds, that want to restructure the governing laws by which we live.

The "politically correct" teaching today is our nation's laws and government must be separated not only from religion, but from the God of that religion as well. Nothing is further from our American historic truth! This nation my friend, was indeed founded by Christians, for Christians and with the intent to have land free from the control of any "state church, " or any established religious sect, but not from the basic philosophy of the Christian world view for life and living.

Therefore, if any of us are going to experience a Thanksgiving Revival, we have to go back to our roots and realize that God is inseparable from all life, especially the governing of that life. All of us witness that as we publicly deny our American Christian heritage, we are experiencing the rotted fruit it brings. Witness the corruption of the land in every facet of life. Crime, drugs, lawlessness, disrespect for human relationships, greed, all forms of abuse are publicly permeating the land. Why? What has changed? What's different from our more simpler and ordered past? The answer is we have thrown off God and His Word from public and personal life. And, until we return to that, we shall no longer have God's blessings of peace, prosperity and happiness. Jeremiah the prophet of old once declared,

Jer 6:16 (KJV) "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls...."

The cry is out today that we must not legislate morality. However that cry is hollow and false. You see, law and morality are really inseparable. Law is morality! It will either be God's or fallen sinful man's that rules any nation and land. Thus, we have a choice. We can either be ruled by a Christian world view, or we will be ruled by a secular world view, engaged by sinful, depraved humanity.

Now let me ask you, which one has proven to bring the greatest blessing? The answer is just read your American history books. The Christian world view as seen in our laws and the hearts of our American forefathers, testifies that God's hand of blessing does not come through political maneuvering, rather through simple obedience to His Word as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. So today, unless we personally change things, I fear all will soon be lost. More than ever, we need a national Thanksgiving revival, and it must begin in the hearts, not the laws of the land.

Say friend where do you stand? Have you surrendered your life and heart to the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and God? If so, are you living for Him? Is your life outside the walls of Sunday worship reflecting the Spirit of Christ and His Word? Are you witnessing such truths to others praying for them and working to bring them into the fold of God? How's your family? Is it going to Hell because you are pursuing your own lustful selfish ways? Is your marriage intact or is it failing or lost because of disobedience to God and His Word for life and living? Is your church fallen into a pitiful state? Pews almost empty, programs and ministries lifeless and dead? Then revival is what we need, and revival is what God promises to send to those who seek Him fresh or anew! The Bible says in,

2 Chr 7:14 (NIV) "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Oh friend I believe the hour in American history is late, but God is not willing that any of us should perish. God gave us this land, and our forefathers delivered it to us, to pass on to succeeding generations. Let's not lose it because of neglect.

Christian history of course, centers in the reliability of the Bible. American history centers in the reliability of our Christian forefathers faithfulness to God. Let us be true Americans and turn from the godlessness we are promoting today and in a wholesale revival, turn back to God and His Word. I for one want you to know that this is the commitment of my heart more than ever, to live for Christ,. and to promote and advance the Christian faith for the glory of God. That was our ancestors beginning compact and must again be ours again for this day.

Let us never forget the words of our nations great leaders. George Washington in his "Inaugural Address" in 1789, at the foundation of this nation said,

"The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained." (2)

Abraham Lincoln declared in 1863 in his "Proclamation of National Fast" these words,

"It behooves us then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness..."2 (3)

And at the turn of the century even our Supreme Court the highest defender of American law stated,

"Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian." (4)

Oh may our nation experience revival, may we all personally take time this week to remember our Christian heritage and beginnings and, as the Bible calls the "old paths," wherein is still the good way and God's way. May this Thursday as you gather together with family to enjoy a full and overflowing meal - may you remember to bow your head and heart and turn back to God giving thanks for His abundant mercies in the grace of salvation through Christ; And, for His mercies bestowed upon us in the nation and land. Hallelujah, may Jesus Christ be praised! Hallelujah, may God the Father be praised. Hallelujah, may God the Spirit be praised for His ministry and work through our founding Pilgrim fathers who brought us this land.

ENDNOTES:

1) COMPTON'S INTERACTIVE ENCYLOPEDIA, extensive notes on historical data
2) AMERICA'S GOD & COUNTRY, George Washington's Inaugural Address 1789
3) AMERICA'S GOD & COUNTRY, Abraham Lincoln's "Proclamation of National Fast," 1863
4) U.S. SUPREME COURT, 1982 "Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States."

Radio talk # 4795
Broadcast date: November 19, 1995
Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator
Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast
Address: P.O. Box 575 St. Charles, MN 55972-0575

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan at wwyfin@sparc.isl.net.