The Faith Of Our Fathers At The First Thanksgiving

When the Puritans said, “Trust God but keep your powder dry” they were putting first things first.

One American religious-political tradition dates back to the first Thanksgiving Day in 1631. The prayers of Early Americans at their Thanksgiving ceremony, the only national festival like it in American history, were simple. God was thanked. He was praised. The people believed the Lord had treated them well when He allowed them the opportunity to work and to worship and rejoice with full hearts and to be happy. We still say grace at our dinner tables, prayers before court and legislative sessions, and take an oath of office with our hand on the Holy Bible.

Early Americans believed that nothing would save our great nation if our faith in God was lost. 

At the center of our founding American beliefs was acceptance of the way things were “under God.” We mint our coin with the words, “In God We Trust.” These words mean that God knows better how to order the universe than we do. It is unrealistic to expect that all injustices, inequities, poverty and hard luck must be banished from life. They are part of life and give us learning opportunities.

Our nation was founded as, “One Nation Under God” which does not mean that we are God’s chosen people but does mean that we are a people who have chosen God. God is the foundation of our political philosophy and our nationalism. Our Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written in the light of Christian belief. Our Founding Fathers spoke of a higher law, a set of divine principles which are the basis of our founding documents. All subsequent reasoning depends upon the primary truths, the first principles.

We need to again elect officials who trust in God and act in His Name, not according to their own desires or to suit their donors. Throughout our history runs the theme, “Truth equals freedom” which comes from John 8:32, “…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” We need elected officials who are transparent and who are moral men and women.

The government cannot give what was given by our Creator. It was formed by the States with the consent of the people, to protect our God-given rights that were recorded in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Our rights were not given to us by the Constitution. These divinely ordered blessings are for “ourselves and our posterity”, for Americans, not to protect and enrich everyone else in the world.

Many fruits of the Spirit result from religious faith such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Returning to the Holy Bible and churches could restore these virtues in our people.

The Pilgrims were right about what our first priority should be: “Trust God.”

Are you ready to make it your first priority?