Now with Thanksgiving approaching, the fear of “spreading Covid-19” by gathering together is nothing like the outlook and desire of the Pilgrims, whose celebration this holiday is to follow! For they knew that coming to the New World was a monumental task and a threat to their own lives!
Well, it should be of interest to recall what the basis of their celebration really was. For, we have all heard there was a fall harvest celebration with the bounty in crops and game the Pilgrims had after the first hard winter at Plymouth. However, we are not commonly taught much else about them.
Above all, the reason for their journey to the New World was for religious freedom. The Pilgrims were Separatists, who dissented from the practices in the Church of England. The King of England was considered the head of that church who appointed bishops, who appointed the local clergy. Many were not spiritually minded, and did not follow the Scriptures. The principles of the Bible were being disregarded in many ways.
Therefore, the Pilgrims came to America, first of all, to worship God rightly! That was also the thinking of the expedition to Virginia beforehand. The First Charter of Virginia declared their purpose was for the honor of God! They wanted to come to the new world for His glory “in propagating of Christian religion to such people, as yet live in darkness and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God.”
Likewise, the Mayflower Compact of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Bay Colony in Massachusetts declared they had come for “the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” How contrary to those in our time who foolishly want no influence of Christianity in our nation!
Instead, the Pilgrims faced the possibility of death in order to worship the Lord God as they saw the Scriptures leading them to do! One half of them died the first winter, after coming ashore on Dec. 21, 1620. Yet, later when the Mayflower was to return to England the surviving members refused to leave on that ship.
Why would they do so? Because they knew what Jesus said was the first and great commandment. That is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30). Obedience to His word, in faithfulness and in our work, is then expected by the Lord!
Yet, both of these colonies attempted at first to have a communal system of goods and food. The fruit of those who worked hard was gathered into a common stock and distributed to the whole colony. The result was laziness on the part of those who did not want to work. It almost meant the starvation of both colonies until each family was made responsible to work for themselves. They could no longer live off of the labors of others, when they were quite capable of working themselves!
How foolish then are modern communalists, who desire a socialistic government, “free college, free health care”, and all manner of handouts. What is never worked for will never be truly valued. Socialism derives from man’s innate greed, which is instead to be kept under control when one must work to advance in prosperity.
Of course, the idolatry of man experienced by the Pilgrims was not unique to them. Instead, the Bible proclaims the truth that human beings are made to worship our Creator. As in Genesis 1:26, God declared, “Let us make man in Our image”. Therefore, all human beings have a spiritual nature. Our sins have corrupted that understanding, yet you and I will worship something or someone!
The first of the Ten Commandments counters the evil of worshiping or putting first ourselves or anything besides the one true God, the triune God of the Bible. All are commanded to have no other God, who is also the Redeemer of sinners through the Lord Jesus Christ! His perfect obedience and sacrifice at the cross, for sinners, is the only means to have forgiveness of sins and everlasting life with God!
Also, when one has repentance and faith in Jesus, he or she will have thankfulness, of course! Then, we will want to do all things in life for the glory of God! We must then seek to support ourselves in our labors, to “work in quietness and eat (our) own bread.” (II Thessalonians 3:12).
Oh, may we each understand more fully that to know the one true God, trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, is the only true way to live! To worship Him rightly, according the Bible, and to live honest, industrious lives, however God enables, is the way of thanksgiving!
May the Lord bless you, through daily repentance from sin, seeking to trust and obey Jesus Christ! May that be your and my daily experience, to God’s glory and our good!
Pastor Harvey Opp serves Providence Reformed Church, 830 Madison Street in Vermillion. The service schedule includes Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Worship at 10:30 a.m. He is also heard on WNAX, 570 AM each Sunday at 8:45 a.m., on “God’s Word is Truth”, and on sermonaudio.com.
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