The
Importance of Thanksgiving in a Pandemic
By:
Samson
Looking for and finding reasons to be thankful amid a global pandemic
where hundreds of thousands of human beings are dying while millions more are
getting sick is both difficult and challenging. Many people would find this
topic to be absurd, paradoxical, and foolishly naive. Although it may sound
bizarrely optimistic and paradoxical but from the biblical perspective, people
of faith are not only exhorted to praise God in times of crisis but required to
give Him thanks even when extreme suffering is afoot. Like so many other
aspects of Christianity, the walk of faith is a paradoxical one juxtaposed
along-side of the secular world. This article will explore the biblical call to
people of faith to be confident in the sovereignty of God during this pandemic
while giving Him thanks for we have in this world.
First, let us tackle the paradoxical relationship believers have with the
secular world. This is not only difficult to comprehend but it is even harder
to practice. Early on in biblical history God sets a predicate for this
separation from the secular world and people of faith. He establishes this with
the creation of the people of Israel; “And I will establish my covenant between
me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an
everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you”
(Genesis 17:7 ESV). After God leads His people out of Egypt He directs Moses
and the Hebrews to Mount Sinai where he declares: “I will take you to be my
people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God,
who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians” (Exodus 6:7).
We see the early stages of God separating His chosen people from the rest of
the world to sanctify, commune, and educate them. This is the basic theme of
Leviticus. Most Christians have a problem with the book of Leviticus, but its
purpose could not be more relevant to our topic. The book of Leviticus could be
summed up in one word:
holiness. “Holiness was essential for
the presence of God to remain in the tabernacle. In that holiness also involves
‘separateness,’ holiness was demonstrated when the nation distinguished itself
from other nations; this distinction in effect constituted Israel as a ‘holy’
nation (Exodus 19:6).”
[1] Here we see a
precedent for living outside of normal culture and realizing that living a life
in faith, at times, calls for believers to reason, act, and obey God contrary
to the mainstays of normative cultures and common customs of our secular
counterparts. This theme is further exemplified in the New Testament with the
proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Now that we have established an Old Testament foundation for Holiness and
the philosophy of separation leading toward a better relationship with God, we
can unpack what the New Testament requires of people who follow Christ
concerning the world. This is where theology and pragmatic
application of said theology is so crucially important. Jesus Christ echoes
these same points all through His gospels but with greater division. In the
gospel of John Jesus speak of the world hating believers because of Him and
therefore hating the Father (John 15:18-25). In Luke He calls on disciples to
renounce all that he/she has to follow him. The book of Mark has Jesus speaking
of gaining the whole world yet losing their soul (Mark 8:36). Even in the book
of Matthew Jesus calls on followers to deny themselves (Matthew 16:24). Not to
mention the verses that speak to family division and unrest. Christ outlined a
life lived unto Him and His glory meant recognizing that truth could, and
would, call for separation from the life around us and within us; “do not think
that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace,
but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own
household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of
me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of
me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy
of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his
life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:34-39).
The Apostles supported this lifestyle of living by faith and not sight (2
Corinthians 5:7); that is the world around us that we see, interact, live, etc.
To be a true disciple of Christ, the believer will elevate the scriptures and
exhortations of Jesus Christ over the incitements and urgings of societal
normative misgivings; “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of
God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
This might seem as if we are belaboring this point and by now you might
be thinking “ I thought this was about thanksgiving” but herein lies the rub;
Christians have a hard time separating living in the world, with all the
secular entrapping’s that entails, and walking in faith. This is where sound
theology and practicality clash. In all things and all circumstances, people of
faith elevate and exult the word of God over the bastions and conventions of
the secular world. This is our mandate. What does that look like? How is the
separation of secular society (in which we live) and biblical doctrine relevant
to thanksgiving during a pandemic? Only scripture can answer that.
One principle of biblical doctrine in both the Old and New Testament that
is abundantly clear is that fear, for a believer, is not something that should
engulf our life or response to a crisis. Fear and panic are a virus, unto
itself, for the believer because it leads to a lack of faith that God is both
present and in control of all things. We are asked to only fear God; “ And
the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for
our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day”
(Deuteronomy 6:24). The Old Testament is replete with scriptures about fearing
God, not the world around us. Proverbs declares that the genesis of wisdom is
the fear of the Lord (9:10). Jesus himself tells us not to fear for our own
lives because the Father knows exactly what is good for us (Matthew 6:25-34).
Fear leads to panic and panic leads to rash and irresponsible decision making.
Just look at the misinformation disseminated over the internet and the level of
animus in the United State Government. Panic and fear are infesting our society
and our culture that may change how we interact with each other for years to
come. As followers of Christ, we rise above the fray. It is time to let our
light shine (Matthew 5:16) for others to witness our lack of fear knowing that
we abide in Christ (1 John 2:5-6) who abides in us (John 15:4).
Words and definitions are important. We see in the media how easily you
can manipulate those listening/watching/reading by showing ambiguity or
misusing words to garnish a particular outcome. Words, and their proper
meaning, in context, matters. So how do we look biblically at thanksgiving?
That word invokes images of puritans and Indians sitting joyously around a
picnic table with a cornucopia and turkey. That is not the biblical image we
are presenting. Here is a strictly textbook view of biblical
thanksgiving:
Thanksgiving - (תּוֹדָה,
todah;
εὐχαριστία,
eucharistia). The act of offering thanks or being
thankful, usually to God. Often connected to provision, deliverance, or God’s
character. Commonly associated in Scripture with meals and worship. The concept
of thanksgiving evolves theologically throughout the Bible. In the Old
Testament, it is closely tied with the verb “to bless” (בָּרַךְ,
barakh;
e.g., Deut 8:10). The most common Hebrew noun used for “thanks” (תּוֹדָה,
todah)
derives from the verb “to praise, confess” (יָדָה,
yadah) … In the
New Testament, thanksgiving is often a response to the redemptive work of Jesus
(e.g., Rom 7:25).
[2]
This means so much more than simply
giving thanks for something you are grateful for. It is an act
of worship in which you praise God for what HE is doing for you, through you,
and to you. It is God-centered and God-focused. This theologically appropriate
understanding matters and cannot be overstated or overemphasized.
So, what does all this mean in light of this pandemic? Where is the
paradoxical point of living a separate yet, interwoven existence with the
secular and pagan worldviews? Simply stated: believers act contrarian to
popular and conventional wisdom. When the world panics, we are calm. When
society fears, we have hope. When people loathe, we have joy. When
civilizations questions God’s benevolence, we give thanks and praise God.
Christianity is the true, and first, counter-cultural movement and continues
from the ancient of days to today.
This all leads to our main
thesis:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will
say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord
is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7).
Knowing that God is in control, and
despite our worldly desires, believers not only rejoice but give thanks to God
for this time at hand. Pray always and be thankful for the shape and position
you are in. Look for God’s glory and faithfulness in this predicament. I.e., if
you are dismayed because Churches cannot meet (as is this author); we can meet
online. You might be sick, but others have died. You cannot go to work; be
thankful to spend more time with your family. You might be furloughed, but
stimulus checks are in the mail. You did not get a stimulus check; most
companies are forbidden from shutting off services. Your service was shut off;
people lived for thousands of years in the most primitive conditions and
survived with joy in their hearts. Someone you know died from coronavirus; they
are now with our Heavenly Father without worry, pain, or remorse. If you simply
allow yourself, you can bless God by being thankful to him in the most grievous
of circumstances.
Thankfulness is
more than respect toward God or a mandate, it is a healthy way to look at life.
Thanksgiving is a biblical approach to combat the terrible manner in which most
people, who do not know Christ (and unfortunately some who do) exist. In a way
it is an act of spiritual warfare; “you will be enriched in every way to be
generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For
the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but
is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11-12). You
can proclaim the good news of Christ during this terrible pandemic just by
being thankful.
People around you
will be curious as to why you lack fear and loathing during this pandemic. They
will wonder where that peace and joy comes from. They will begin to examine
their philosophy of life and wonder what the Kingdom of God really is. Thereby
believers can rightly proclaim that it is in the midst of all of us, even as we
combat this terrible virus. “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can
be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the
kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:20-21). Be thankful for your
part in this Kingdom and proclaim its good news during this pandemic giving God
the praise and glory He rightfully deserves knowing “that for those who
love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according
to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
[1] Mark F. Rooker, Leviticus, vol. 3A, The New American
Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 47.
[2] Chris McKnight, “Thanksgiving,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The
Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
