Emmanuel - Thanksgiving for Christmas?

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26^th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be ... And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions ...

Given under my hand, President George Washington, at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.   

And another…

By the President of the United States, A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and even soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. ... No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. ... I have hereunto set my hand, President Abraham Lincoln, and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred sixty-three.

Presidents Washington and Lincoln are likely two of the greatest presidents in American history. One led the infant country through its birth, and the other narrowly avoided presiding over its death. One of the items that leaps out of Lincoln’s acknowledgement is that we tend to forget God when life becomes too easy.

In Joe Biden's 2024 Thanksgiving proclamation, one would notice that there is no mention of God, His authority, His provision, and His blessings upon this great land. There is no mention to whom we are making our thanksgivings. This is not intended as a political statement; Rather, these points are raised that we may realize the work we have before us to restore the spiritual life of our nation and our people, and how we have indeed found it too easy to push Emmanuel out of our thanksgivings.

Matthew 7:7-11 is our Scripture for today. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Everything we have comes from but one place. Genesis 1 tells us how God created the heavens and the earth. Well, that pretty much encompasses everything. In our Scripture, Jesus teaches us that all good things come from God. So one might ask where all the bad things come from. God didn’t create anything bad, nor does He give us anything bad. Only men who are not of good will take the good gifts of God, and rather than offering Him thanksgiving, make something bad of them. Tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and countless similar things all have good uses, have medicinal qualities, or even have healing properties about them.

Now, I used the phrase “men who are not of good will” for good reason. As we move into the Christmas season, we will often hear the catchphrase, “And on earth peace, good will toward men.” If we look at the original Greek of Luke 2:14, it actually reads, “on earth peace among men of good will.” That is, peace among people who are the objects of the good will, the approval and love of God. The rephrasing is the same as in “His dear Son,” in Colossians 1:13. It literally reads “the Son of His Love.” Sometimes these variances seem small and insignificant, but as a Bible preacher, one of the things I offer praise and thanksgiving for is that we still have ancient manuscripts in the original languages to learn from.

The peace in the angels’ hymn is something far higher than any that comes from  the world. This speaks of the peace between man and God, and therefore peace within the souls of all who are reconciled to Him. We see a reference to the thought, possibly even to the words of this angelic song, in Paul’s way of speaking of Christ Himself being our peace, our Emmanuel, our ‘God with us,’ in Ephesians 2:14, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.”

“On earth peace among men of good will.” In this phrase, the word men is an all-inclusive Greek word that refers to all people to whom it applies. In other words, among all people who are the objects of God's good will and kindness. Is there any gift greater than God’s kindness and blessing for which we should offer a proclamation of thanksgiving? In the Communion service, we recite that ‘It is right to give our thanks and praise’ – we could rephrase that as George Washington did: Give our praise and thanksgiving. Of God’s good will and kindness, is there any greater gift than Emmanuel, God with us, His Son, by whom we have peace, for which we should offer a proclamation of thanksgiving? For us, it’s kind of a no-brainer. For the world, exemplified by the glaring omissions from the 2024 official proclamation, some have even chosen to replace the time of thanks and praise with something called “friendsgiving,” in which they gather to eat and shoot the breeze without it. It’s often advertised as an alternative to Thanksgiving celebrations, and it is devoid of any mention of the One from Whom all blessings flow. Of course, that goes hand-in-hand with all the alternative facts and optional moralities we live with today.  

So, this Christmas season, as we navigate the hubris of flying reindeer, jolly old elves, and alternative celebrations, let’s not forget the true meaning of Christmas. Let the beautiful lights remind us that Jesus is the Light of the world, and the evergreen trees to symbolize our hope of eternal life. Underneath the trees will be beautifully wrapped gifts, but the greatest gift of all was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

If I may, permit me to cast the following Bible passage in a slightly different light, how it might have been delivered differently.

By the Prophet of the Israelite People, A Proclamation.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

I proclaim before you this day a beautiful prophetic picture of Emmanuel, the One who would come to save, redeem, and restore people to God. Proclaiming these verses and seeing the Redeemer in all of His splendor and majesty, compassion and mercy sparks within us the God-given desire – and need – to proclaim our worship, our praise, and our thanksgiving.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, Isaiah, and caused the seal of the David to be affixed. Done at the city of Jerusalem and before the Lord God of Israel this day.

Isaiah did issue a proclamation. He issued a prophecy given to him by God. I have often wondered if Washington ever had any inkling of what this nation might become 249 years after proclaiming that first thanksgiving as a time to thank God for all He had done. Isaiah knew what was coming, but he probably didn’t know how the future would unfold. But he thanked God anyway.

Emmanuel. God with us. Let us offer thanksgiving for that. We know what’s coming too, but not how the future will unfold.

Our relationship with Christ as Emmanuel is not something we ought to focus on only during these weeks of advent, but maintain in our hearts all year round. Christmas – Christ’s Mass – isn’t a season, it’s a gathering of ourselves to Him in praise and worship every day of the year. Likewise, Thanksgiving – the giving of praise and thanks – ought to be a mindset we also maintain in our hearts and minds all year round. Make thanksgiving a lifestyle; frankly, I don’t see how we can truly experience Emmanuel without it.

Amen.