THIS YEAR OF 2022 THE NORTH AMERICAN "THANKSGIVING DAY" FALLS ON THE FIRST HOLY DAY OF GOD'S FEAST OF TABERNACLES --- OCTOBER 10TH.
Thanksgiving Day
Do you really LOVE the Truth?
by Bradley D. Richardson FORWORD by Keith Hunt Jesus taught us, "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Mat.5:6). Peter was inspired to admonish us to "grow in grace and knowledge." (2 Pet.3:18). Paul said to "prove all things - hold fast to that which is good." (1 Thes.5:21). How many in the Christian community really practice the above Scriptures? Not many! What about those of us in the Sabbath keeping churches? Do we earnestly apply those teachings of Jesus, Peter, Paul? Do we have our hearts always wanting to LEARN, to be CORRECTED, to DESIRE to know the TRUTH of the matter? Jesus said once, "you do not know the DEPTHS of Satan." The apostle Paul was inspired to tell us that Satan and his co- workers do not always come bold-face in your face, like they do with Halloween celebrations, but they come sometimes as angels of LIGHT! (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Until we have the MIND of Christ in us (Phil.2:5) we just do not see things as God sees them. Jesus said that in the last time of this age, DECEPTION would be so HUGE, that IF it was possible even the VERY ELECT would be deceived (Mat.24:24). The elect will not be deceived because they will have a mind that is willing to prove all things, and to hold fast to that which is correct. They will have a heart that is willing to be TAUGHT, willing to be CORRECTED, willing to grow in grace and KNOWLEDGE! So for many of you out there in this world, especially in some countries like the United States of America, this study we are about to embark upon, will be somewhat of a test for you. Many who were in the old Worldwide Church of God, and are now in many of its off-shoot (who are correctly taught the truths about January 1st; Easter; Halloween; Christ-mass) - well you were not taught the truth of the matter about "Thanksgiving Day" - so you might want to check your mind's attitude towards the plain truth as we start this study. I am, as a servant of the Most High, commissioned to "spare not, cry aloud, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Israel their sins" (Isa.58:1). Back in the 1960s and 1970s I for one had not given much thought to the world's THANKSGIVING DAY - I had never done any research on it's origin. I had seen (for many years) that God's commanded "thanksgiving time" was His Feast of TABERNACLES, but I had not quite put "Thanksgiving Day" into the same basket as Christmas Day or Easter Day. I personally have never taken much notice of Thanksgiving Day when it came along in the Roman calendar, but I had also never taught others not to do so if they desired. That has all changed in the middle 1980s, thanks to Mr. Bradley Richardson who so kindly sent me a copy of his article on THANKSGIVING DAY. His research on this festival is profound. The Biblical truths presented, are in my judgment, correct and unanswerable. Truth is truth, and Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would lead us into ALL truth, maybe not all at once, but little by little, some now, some later, as long as we loved truth, and as long as we hungered for righteousness. Those who know me will agree that I am not easily or quickly moved to a given persuasion unless all major objections are answered by the presentation. I find Mr.Richardson does answer all serious arguments in his presenting us with the historical and Biblical facts concerning this popular feast day. I thank our Lord for many wonderful truths He has shown me over the years - truths that have been a warm pleasure to find. I must now add one more to that list - the truth about THANKSGIVING DAY. So we start Mr. Richardson's study: THANKSGIVING DAY Many individuals within the various congregations of the Church of God are fully aware of the TRUTH about Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentines Day, etc., etc. Pagan through and through, unauthorized by God. Nothing need be said further concerning these days. But what about Thanksgiving Day, occurring during the latter part of each November? Could this be a day acceptable to God, to thank Him for our many blessings, or could it be just as pagan and unauthorized as "man's" other days? That is the purpose of this study. All we ask is keep an open mind, and consult God in prayer on this and all subjects. If we ALL remember that we were wrong before, and wrong on some very 'major' points concerning God's word, just maybe we could be wrong again. Or, we could go in with the attitude of one individual we are acquainted with who, on one Sabbath, held up his Bible and said, "I have my diploma. For over twenty years I've been studying this book. I don't know all the minor points, BUT ON EVERY MAJOR POINT I KNOW GOD'S WORD." This gentleman truly does know a lot of God's truths, but does he have the 'open mind' that will allow him to accept that even though he thought he was no longer keeping pagan holidays, but was keeping God's Holydays, he may be wrong? Before getting into the actual history of Thanksgiving, which will shock and surprise many people, let's look at some arguments this writer has heard. 1. "I do not keep Thanksgiving holy. It is a national day of thanksgiving for what God has provided. It is not a Holy day." Is this not virtually the same response others use for their justification for keeping Christmas, Easter, etc.? Many do not keep those days as Holy Days. Is it therefore alright, before God's eyes, to keep those days? We do not think so! Many are aware of the Catholic Church's stand on Christmas, Easter, and so forth. The Catholic Church expects a 'good Catholic' to be in church those days. The Catholic Church considers those days 'Holy' days. How many of you are aware this same Babylonish group feels much the same way concerning Thanksgiving Day? There are also Protestant groups that keep Thanksgiving Day as a Holy Day. Should not this tell us something??? 2. "The Feast of Dedication in the Bible was not ordained by God, yet it is still kept by the Jews. Where does God say it is wrong?" This line of thinking seems to be lacking the obvious. WHERE DOES GOD SAY IT IS RIGHT? Just because the Jews keep a feast, and God doesn't specifically say it is wrong, does that make it right? There are many many instances in the Bible where someone, or some group of people did things that were obviously wrong, yet God never said specifically it was wrong. Remember, it's not just what the Bible says, it's what it doesn't say also!!! (Then, national "historic" days - to remember certain events in a nations history is NOT "theological" per se. It is just an historical event. But creating "holy days" and "festivals" is an altogether different matter. As we proceed we shall see that "Thanksgiving Day" was established as a "religious holy day" when introduced, and brought into being - Keith Hunt) What we do have is God saying in Leviticus 23:2, "These are my feasts." He doesn't say we can add to His feasts, He doesn't say we can subtract from them, He plainly says, "These" are the ones. He doesn't make us follow His wishes. That is up to us. We of course all know that God says repeatedly in His WORD to not add to it, or subtract from it. He tells us which days are to be permanently kept as days of thanks to God. Why does man think he can add to that? Follow Christ's example and you cannot go wrong! 3. "In 2 Chronicles 30:23-27, we are told the people kept an extra seven days, making the Feast of Unleavened Bread 14 days long. We are told that God approved of it, by citing verse 27." Now, this line of thinking does not seem to make much sense. Just because God approved of a one-time extension, brought on by the festivities and great joy, then we have the right to add a permanent day of thanks to God, i.e.: Thanksgiving Day? How does this follow? Do we have the right to permanently increase God's Feasts? I for one love the Feast of the Tabernacles. An extra week or two all the time would suit me just fine. Do I have the right to change God's word? NO! He did not say keep the feast at least seven days, He said to keep it seven days. That's it! If occasionally, throughout our lifetimes, a feast of particular joy is extended, God's word possibly authorizes that in 2 Chronicles 30:27, but we are stretching God's word too far to use that verse to say, "Thus we can set up a permanent day to give God thanks, Thanksgiving Day." We should tremble at the thought of doing this, for God's word will judge us. Finally, without going into detail, I would like to point something out that many may have missed in 2 Chronicles 30:27, "Then, the priests and Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to His Holy dwelling place, even unto Heaven." Did you notice the first word in that sentence? "Then," after the 14-day feast, after it was over, then the prayers were heard by God. It does not say their prayers were heard by God during the second seven days. It does not even say God approved of the extra seven days, as many would like us to believe. All it says is after it was all over, "Then" God heard their voices. Let us be careful not to read something into God's word that isn't there. (As we can see in 2 Chronicles 30 and the context. This was an INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL historic context of events in Israel. And the extra 7 days was still concerning the Feast of Passover, NOT some other man-made feast to replace God's feast - Keith Hunt) 4. "Thanksgiving is not from pagan times, hence we are at liberty to keep it, and God will appreciate it." It is true, God's word commands us to not be like the pagans and heathens, to not worship Him like they do. People seem to have forgotten another attribute to the pagan people; they set up their own holidays (holydays). Since they worship gods who are not gods, these gods cannot give them the days of gathering, etc. Only God can do this, by definition. Hence, since their gods do not talk, the heathens invent their own days. This is a practice of heathens, of pagans. Are we to follow their example, or do we listen to God, follow His days, and add not to them? Does it have to be old to be pagan? NO!!! However, concerning whether or not Thanksgiving itself comes from ancient days, read on. We have tried to show so far the excuses people use for justifying the keeping of Thanksgiving. Many of these same excuses are used by other people to justify Christmas, Easter, etc. If they are not justification enough for those days (which they are not), then they are not enough to justify Thanksgiving Day. That should be plain, yet many will still keep Thanksgiving, because to change is to admit error, one thing we humans do not like to do. Are we willing to "Grow in grace and knowledge"? It is hard to understand one's stand concerning the right to keep Thanksgiving. Even if it doesn't go back to pagan times (which we will show it does), have pagan times ended, really? If not, pagan times are now also. At some point, the pagan holidays were only a few years old,'not thousands.' But did that make them right then, and wrong now? That line of reasoning seems to be lacking something. Thanksgiving is not a day ordained by God to be kept. Yet it is, and is considered by many to be a Christian holiday. A lady this last November '85, upon finding out I didn't keep Thanksgiving said, "Why, isn't it a Christian holiday?" This lady is not even a practicing churchianity believer. Yet this is her understanding of the holiday. What a witness to God we proclaim by keeping such days. It is not a Christian holiday. To keep it as such is adding to the word of God. Where does God give man the right to set up a holiday to honor and give thanks to God? Show me the verse! God does that, not man, at least the God I try to follow does. How about yours? Do you realize how silly and stupid we sound when we try and tell someone, "Don't keep Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, etc., because they're pagan, and God didn't authorize them. But do keep Thanksgiving, a day to God. Sure, He didn't say to do it, but He's sure to appreciate it." For us Christians who keep God's Holy days, like Jesus did, have you ever thought of this? Just what is Thanksgiving? It is a proclaimed holiday for the purpose of giving thanks to God for the many blessings we received, especially agriculturally. (Let me quote my six-year-old daughter's response just now, after asking me what I just wrote, "That's what we do everyday, not just one day, except on the days God says to do it." Out of the mouth of babes...) Why do we need ANOTHER fall harvest festival? We have the Feast of Tabernacles! It seems apparent Christians who keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and then keep, only 30 or so days later, another harvest day of thanks to God, must think that God's ORDAINED feast is not good enough. Perhaps they think God didn't hear them the first time. God's days are good enough! A COPY The day of Thanksgiving is at the very least, an outright copy of the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a day when people thank God for His blessings. Does God hear people on this copied day? I don't know, only He does. But what do you think? Who is the great copier? Do we need another harvest festival? Do we need Satan's copy? Isn't God's good enough? Do the majority of people keep any day important to God??? The majority are deceived by Satan. The majority keep Thanksgiving. That in itself ought to tell the Christian something. However, there is more, much more. We don't have to 'think,' we can KNOW.
HISTORY SAYS: Let's go on to what we have found concerning the actual history of Thanksgiving. This is not a complete study, but it was more than enough to convince us. If there's even a slim chance Thanksgiving is wrong, and pagan on top of that, we should drop it like a HOT POTATO. My wife and I did just that. Until shown where this study is wrong, we will continue to keep the only fall festival God authorized. Most history books would like to convince us that Thanksgiving goes back to Plymouth Rock, in the 1600's, or thereabouts. Even though we were personally convinced prior to looking into the history of the day (based on the above and proceeding paragraphs), we were surprised just how right we were concerning the non-appropriateness of Thanksgiving. Plymouth Rock was not the first Thanksgiving, although history books would like us to believe that. You can bank on the fact that Satan would like us to believe that, too. This non-authorized feast day to God goes back thousands of years, in one form or another; that is Thanksgiving. The following quotes will not be attempted to be placed in perfect order. We will basically quote from one source completely, then go on to the next. This may not be the ideal presentation method, but the seeker of God's truth will be able in his or her own mind to put the information in whatever order will help him or her in coming to a conclusion. We do ask you to prayerfully consider the following. God will provide the answer, if we let Him, if we keep our minds open, and if we are willing to admit that even "Christians" may still be keeping pagan holidays. From the WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA, 1992 Edition, Article entitled 'Thanksgiving Day.' "Thanksgiving Day, in the United States and Canada, a day set apart for the giving of thanks to God for the blessings of the year. Originally, it was a harvest thanksgiving, and while the purpose has become less specific, the festival still takes place late in autumn, after the crops have been gathered." (Doesn't this sound like God's Feast?) "Indeed, it is probably an outgrowth of the Harvest-Home celebrations in England. Such celebrations are of very ancient origin, being nearly universal among primitive peoples." (Do you really want to be a part of this, after receiving so much of God's truth?) Continuing on in the same reference, until otherwise noted, let's see just how much Thanksgiving is a copy of God's Feast. I bet you thought Thanksgiving was just one day, right? Even the supposed original one in the 1600's? "The first Thanksgiving in the new world...," (Notice the wordings, not the first, but just the first in the new world), "...however, was not merely a feast - there were prayers and sermons and songs of praise; and three days had gone by before the Indians returned to their forest and the colonists to their tasks." "In 1789 ... the Protestant Episcopal Church in America announced the first Thursday in November as a regular annual day for giving thanks." "It was not until 1888, however, that the Roman Catholic Church formally recognized the day." "Throughout the country, but especially in New England, where the custom originated, the day is looked upon with great reverence." (This sounds like more than just a holiday, rapidly approaching Holy Day status.) "Thanksgiving Day in Canada. The Dominion, too, has an annual Thanksgiving day, which is celebrated in much the same way, with family reunions and religious services." (Did you note that - religious services!!!) "It is proclaimed by the Governor-General as a harvest festival, but although it is a public statutory holiday, it is not traditional in date. Usually, it falls on the last Monday in October, but if harvest is especially early, an earlier date may be appointed." (Sounds like God's Feast, not on the same day each year. Satan is a great copier!) "When the corn crop was gathered, in the fall of 1621, Governor Bradford decreed a day of Thanksgiving." (Please notice the type of crop, CORN. This will be important later in this study.) From the book, SPECIAL DAYS; History Folklore and What Not, by Sharon Cade - 1984. "Fourth Thursday in November (observed the second Monday in October in Canada)." "Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for the harvest and for other blessings of the past year." "Governor Bradford of Plymouth Colony ordered the day for feasting and thanks." (Follow this carefully.) "Although we have nationalized Thanksgiving, celebrations were held in ancient times to give thanks for bountiful harvests. The Greeks honored Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, with a nine-day celebration" (sounds like Christ's eight-day feast of Tabernacles copied); "the Romans honored Ceres, Anglo-Saxons rejoiced with a feast to celebrate the reaping of the harvest; and the Jews have given thanks for bountiful harvests with their eight-day Feast of Tabernacles." "Thanksgiving is a sports holiday.... It is a religious holiday (welcomes the Christmas season), as well as a civil holiday (most offices and shops are closed)." Notice this writer called Thanksgiving a religious holiday. Why are Christ's people keeping this day? Let us pull away and ask His forgiveness. From the book, WE GATHER TOGETHER - The Story of Thanksgiving, by Ralph and Adelin Linton, 1949. "Thanksgiving is ... a giving of thanks for divine bounty coupled with a practical demonstration of that bounty. Churches of all denominations are open for services on this particular Thursday every year .... Quite as important as worship on this day is the renewal of family ties." (Why are churches open for services on a non-religious day? Do they consider it a religious day? They must!) "Pilgrims and Indians, turkey and pumpkin pie are so much a part of the American tradition that it is hard for us to realize that the beginnings of Thanksgiving go back not only to the old world but to the early world." (READ THAT AGAIN!) "The Pilgrims frowned on all the holidays of merrie England and refused to celebrate even Christmas because they knew of its pagan origins." (Yet Satan still got them.) "In proclaiming a day of Thanksgiving after the crops were gathered and before winter set in, they may have taken a hint from the Old Testament, but they certainly did not know that they were acting in a tradition which went back to the time when men first began to sow and reap. Long before the dwellers by the Nile learned to measure the year, or dreamed of building pyramids, all people who grew grain gave thanks at harvest time to the beings who had given them their daily bread for the hard winter months. Moreover, these ancient farmers sensed in the changing seasons and in the cycle of seed-to-plant-to-seed again the miracle of death and resurrection and turned their wonder of it into legends." "The Old Testament includes many references to harvest festivals... It is recorded that Moses gave instructions to the Hebrews for the celebration of their harvest festival, which was called the Feast of the Tabernacles." (The same feast our Lord and Savior kept. Can you find where He kept Thanksgiving?) "Even before Biblical times the ancient people of the Mediterranean Basin held festivals at harvest time in honor of the Earth Mother. The goddess of the corn ('corn' is the European term for any grain; Indian corn - our American 'corn' - is called maize), was always one of the most important deities in the hierarchy of the gods, and her child was the young god of vegetation." "The ancient Semites called the earth mother Astarte.... The Phrygians called her Semele.... The Minoans had an earth mother for each district. All these local deities were absorbed by the Greeks into the one great goddess, Demeter." "Besides eating, feasting, etc., the married women practiced in special rites, under the cover of night. The matrons spent the next day bathing nude in the sea and dancing and playing games on the shore. Then they fasted, sang songs, then feasted, sang, and had general gaiety. All this lasted over a period of several days." (Where were the men, I ask the reader? The writer of this book did not say. But it does somewhat remind us of even today, when on Thanksgiving, the men get together and watch football, leaving the women to get together! Sure, the women may not practice their gatherings the same way as the pagans, but the gatherings are there.) "The Roman harvest festival ... was called the Cerelia, after Ceres, the Roman goddess of the corn." "With the acceptance of Christianity as the official religion of Rome and the conversion of the barbarians who had invaded the crumbling empire, these pagan rituals were frowned upon and even forbidden by law. However, the peasants clung to them with a tenacity which has made the word 'pagan' (originally meaning simply 'villager') a synonym for 'heathen.' As late as the sixth century,... St.Benedict.... found the local peasantry worshipping Apollo in a sacred grove. Even after conversion, old habits and beliefs died hard, and the church was too busy trying to keep the flame of civilization alive to trouble with minor heresies." "The benevolent earth mother ... blended with the equally benevolent mother of Christ. Folk memory of local deities fused with the Christian tales of saints to provide patrons for villages, and the white robed goddess of grain lived on in various guises. To those who live close to the soil, the harvest has an emotional and religious significance...their gratitude finds expression in rites in honor of the being who they feel is most closely related to fruitfulness: a being of warm earth rather than cold Heaven." "Even today a half-pagan belief in the corn mother still survives among the peasants in many parts of Europe." (Everyone should pay close attention to the following paragraph.) "The Pilgrims undoubtedly brought memories of such English harvest-home celebrations with them when they came to the new world. They had also witnessed 'thanksgiving' ceremonies during their sojourn in Holland .... The Pilgrims themselves would have denied that the Thanksgiving feast in honor of their first harvest in 1621 was evoked by memories of the profane practices of the old world; however, all revolutionaries, political or religious, once their goal is accomplished, turn back to the patterns of the society in which they have been reared, and the Pilgrims, at the time of the first Thanksgiving, were no exception." (When will we learn, if God doesn't say it, don't do it. Keep Satan and his lies and copies out of our lives.) "Quote from LINCOLN's ADDRESS on October 3, 1863, when Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday, after he discussed the many gifts we received from God in mines of iron and coal, industry, defense, population increase, etc.). "They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath never the less 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." With the Lincoln proclamation, Thanksgiving became a legal holiday on which the whole nation closes its shops, offices, schools, and banks, and offers its thanks to the Deity for the blessings of this free and bountiful land. Who gave him the right? Did you notice the words? It seemed to him (Lincoln) fit and proper to set up a RELIGIOUS HOLYDAY! Was Lincoln even a member of God's Church? Only God knows. However, he believed in ghosts, his wife had seances in the White House. By all rights the man, no matter how great he was as a President, was apparently a pagan. And it is he, a heathen, who officially set up the day everyone just keeps like sheep to the slaughter, even members of God's Church. Truly Satan has deceived the whole world, not most, all, even the Church of God. Can we ever come completely out? Maybe, maybe not, but we sure should try! (While Lincoln may have been a sincere Christian, the fact is he was like MOST "Christians" of his time and of today - sincere maybe, but sincerely wrong - sincerely deceived. He had NOT been led by the Holy Spirit to see the truths contained in the Word of God, hence he could not see and teach and proclaim to the American people, the FEAST of God and the feast that is the REAL "thanksgiving" feast to God - the Feast of Tabernacles - Keith Hunt) Notice the following, taken from a most unusual source, but even this writer knew the truth! From ORGANIC GARDENING and FARMING, November 1975, page 132 article entitled 'Thanksgiving Day.' "The day is fixed by proclamation of the president. It is "an annual festival of thanks for the mercies of the closing year, celebrated by prayers and feasting." "The earliest harvest Thanksgiving in this country was held by the Pilgrim fathers at Plymouth Colony in 1621." "But long before the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving dinner, harvest festivals were observed in this country. Among the North Dakota tribes, the corn spirit was known as the 'old woman who never dies.'" "In Peru, the ancient Indians worshipped the "Mother of Maize,' and tried every year to persuade her to bring in another good harvest." "In Europe, the Austrians also had a 'Corn mother' doll fashioned from the last sheaf of grain cut in the field and then brought home to the village in the last wagon." (Notice Satan's poor attempts at copies, so obvious; the last sheaf instead of the first sheaf, done at the Fall festival instead of the Spring festival.) "In Upper Burma, the friends of the household are invited to the barn for a feast when the rice has been piled in its husks on the threshing floor. After a prayer, to the 'father and mother,' for a good harvest next year, then, much as we do, the entire party celebrates this year's harvest with a feast." (End of quotes from this book.) (There are indications in history books that the Indians of our early country, when invited to that 'Thanksgiving' in 1621, thought they were coming to the pagan feast they were used to keeping at that time. That's why they came!) (This is not just an indication. I was present in Florida at a lecture given by a literal descendant of those Indians of 1621. He told the factual story of it all. Those Indians back then, DID think they were coming to celebrate with those pilgrims, their "thanksgiving feast" or put it another way. Those Indians thought the pilgrims HAD ACCEPTED the Indian's "thanksgiving day" - Keith Hunt) There are also indications that the Pilgrims, out of shame, invited the Indians to that feast, for the corn they harvested was stolen from the Indians earlier that year (the seeds for planting). THE PILGRIMS AND ENGLAND A substantial portion of our ancestors in 1621 came from England. Let's look into English history to see if we can determine what festivals they were used to, etc. From the book, A YEAR OF FESTIVALS - A Guide to British Calendar Customs, by Geoffrey Palmer and Noel Lloyd, 1972. "Thanksgiving for the harvest is one of the oldest and the most joyous festivals that man has created." "Most of the pagan customs that gathered round the harvest season have either disappeared or have sunk under the weight of Christian disapproval and have radically changed. Today, the climax of the season is the picturesque but genteel harvest festival celebrated in churches." "However innocuous harvest rites are today, they are a relic of the great drama of the season when the fruits of the earth were collected and the means of life ensured for another year, and the thankfulness had a hidden stratum of cruelty." "The leading role in the drama was taken by Ceres, the Roman Corn-Goddess. In Britain she was later known by several names; the Maiden, the Harvest Queen, the Kern or Corn Baby, the Kern Doll, the Ivy Girl, the Neck and the Mare. Sometimes she was simply the stalks of corn; sometimes she was represented by a sheaf dressed in many-coloured clothes which were decorated with flowing ribbons and the finest lace. Whatever her form, she dominated the banquets, harvest suppers, and merry-making of early times." (Even though we may not have the exact physical items in our homes, how many homes around Thanksgiving have at least pictures of wicker 'horn' baskets holding vegetables, fruits, etc., stalks of corn, etc.? Where did these come from? We just read part of it. Also, it is a custom for the ladies to dress the table up with a lacy tablecloth. Could this be related to 'the finest lace' on the corn doll?) "The Kern Baby," (an image!), "was made either from the last of the corn left standing .... or from the biggest and ripest ears to be found in the field .... The spirit herself dwelt in the corn, and mere mortals shirked the responsibility of cutting her down. So, often the act was left to chance. All those present threw their sickles at the lone sheaf from a respectable distance, thus no one could be said to have deliberately performed the act. In the depths of folk memory there was still the awareness of the death and resurrection cycle. The vegetation deity of the remote past needed to be propitiated by a human sacrifice. "When the feast was over, the Kern Baby was taken to the farm house and kept there until the next harvest supper. The symbol of the previous year's harvest was ceremoniously burned in the farmyard. "The Kern Baby is by no means extinct, and can be seen in some churches as part of the harvest festival decorations, though she has been divested of her divine powers. At Little Walthem in Essex and Whalton in North Umberland, for example, Kern Babies are attached to one of the pews, 'the custom of crying the neck,' once prevalent in the west of England, is still observed here and there, though now it is incorporated in the harvest festival held in the church. The origin of the word 'Neck,' or 'Nack,' is obscure. It may come from an old Norse word for sheaf of corn, or it may have a connection with 'Nix,' a water spirit that is supposed to be from where we get Old Nick, one of the Devil's names. "Crying the neck - "While the labourers were reaping the last field of wheat, one of them went to each group of sheaves and selected the best of the ears, which he then tied up neatly, 'plaiting and arranging the straws most tastefully.' When the labourer's work was done, and the last of the wheat cut, the entire company of reapers, binders and gleaners would form a circle round the man with the neck. He then stooped down, grasped the neck with both hands, and held it near to the earth. The people surrounding him removed their hats and held them downwards, too, a gesture of homage to the soil which had nurtured the crops. "Most countries had their own special way of celebrating the 'ingathering,' but they all sprang from the same pre-Christian impulse," (pre-Christian is earlier than 1611), "the act of sacrifice which had to be performed at the end of the harvest.... The cries when the neck was held up were originally the wails of death, and the shouting and dancing which followed captured the joy of resurrection." (End of quotations.) Now, we are aware most Americans do not follow the above described rituals. Yet, does that make it alright? Is it acceptable for me to celebrate Christmas, as long as I don't have a tree, a yule log, etc., etc.? We would all say a resounding NO! So, why would Thanksgiving be acceptable? We who have come out of so much, out of Babylon, do we cling to this Thanksgiving Day? At best a copy of God's fall festival, at worst, pagan through and through, should we be keeping something like this? We are to be like Christ. Did He keep this day? You have obviously noted that this study has not quoted extensive scriptures from the Bible, concerning wrongful practices, etc. We all have studies on Christmas, Easter, etc., etc. The references from God's Holy Scriptures concerning those pagan practices, not adding to His word, not following the ways of the world, etc., are just as applicable here. It is assumed the reader knows of these scriptures. However, there is a most important part of the Bible that must be considered when one is searching for God's will concerning the appropriateness of Thanksgiving. Since these verses are not quoted in most pagan holiday studies, it seems appropriate to make the special effort to list them here. The question at hand is, can MAN SET UP DAYS ON HIS OWN, or is that up to God only? Even if Thanksgiving isn't thousands of years old (which it is), it is at best a COPY of God's fall festival of thanks, the one He DID COMMAND to be kept, the Feast of TABERNACLES, the 15th to the 21st day of the 7th month of God's sacred calendar. Read 1 Kings 12:26 to 13:5. Here we have Jeroboam, the King, setting up golden calves as gods. He institutes a substitute feast in the 8th month, on the 15th day, and offers sacrifices on the altar. Obviously, God was displeased, and sent His signs signifying this displeasure. The standard teaching is the punishment was solely for setting up calves as gods, and sacrificing to and worshipping them. And indeed, this is so, but not the only reason! What about other reasons? Notice 12:33, God specifically chose these words. God does nothing in vain, therefore, these words have a meaning, also. So, what was another reason God was not pleased? From the King James version, Jeroboam set up a feast in "the month which he had devised of his own heart." From the NIV."a month of his own choosing." Lamsa says, "in the month which he had devised of his own heart." Notice Jeroboam instituted a feast "like the festival held in Judah" (12:32 NIV). Why would God specifically use the words "own choosing," unless it was to show us WE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT to set up dates? Continuing with 12:33, from the New English Bible, "In a month of his own choosing." The N.A.S., "In the month which he had devised in his own heart." The Amplified, "A date which he chose individually." The picture seems clear. We should not, cannot, ignore the additional words God chose to be written concerning this SUBSTITUTE Fall festival (just like Thanksgiving is); the words are there. MAN DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SET UP DAYS OF THANKS TO GOD TO BE CONTINUALLY KEPT! Do we dictate to God? NO! He tells us what His will is, and we either follow or not. The choice is ours. But the Scriptures sited above seem pretty clear, MAN cannot set up substitute days. There are only the times God ordained, all else are days of tradition, which Jesus Himself said was worship in VAIN. The question demands repeating. Do God's servants need a substitute, SECOND Fall festival, that at the very best is a copy (who is the great copier?), and most likely pagan in addition? The choice is ours. May God guide us, and lead us all to the truth. Do not change God's days, do not add to them, do not keep duplicate days. Notice Jeroboam's day was the 15th day of the 8th month, around mid-October to early November, which is when Thanksgiving was originally kept in the U.S., and possibly the very beginnings of Thanksgiving, and pagan, (GOING BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS - Keith Hunt) It is Satan who copies, who seeks to change times and days. God is the same today, yesterday, and forever. If we keep Thanksgiving, and claim it is acceptable to God, we therefore say that God changes. After all, His word does not indicate Thanksgiving ever was, or ever will be acceptable in His eyes. He is all that matters, along with His Son, our glorious Savior. If it wasn't an acceptable day to God 1,000 years ago (due either to non-existence or pagan beginnings), if it won't be acceptable to Him in the world tomorrow (after all, it's not mentioned anywheres in the Bible), then by what twisted logic do we say it is pleasing to God now? My God ... does not let man set up, or dictate to Him, which days are acceptable days of permanent thanks or worship. What about your God??? Bradley D.Richardson Permission is granted to reproduce and distribute this study. ................ There are TWO serious sides to this topic. 1. GOD HAS HIS **OWN** THANKSGIVING FEAST. HE SET IT DOWN FOR US IN LEVITICUS 23. IT IS A 7 DAY FEAST OF THANKSGIVING! 2. GOD DOES NOT GIVE THE RIGHT FOR MAN TO ESTABLISH HOLY DAYS OR RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS, TO WORSHIP HIM WITH. IT IS CLEAR FROM HISTORY THAT PRESIDENT LINCOLN **DID** PROCLAIM AND ESTABLISH THIS "THANKSGIVING DAY" AS A RELIGIOUS HOLY DAY OF WORSHIP. AS WE HAVE SEEN, SATAN IS THE GREAT CHANGER OF TIMES AND SEASONS (Daniel 7:25). IT WAS PROPHESIED HE WOULD. THE CHRISTIAN WORLD AND THE UN-CHRISTIAN WORLD FOLLOWS FESTIVALS THAT ARE NOT FROM GOD, NEVER ESTABLISHED BY GOD, AND NEVER WILL BE ESTABLISHED BY HIM. THE MOST HIGH ALREADY HAS ESTABLISHED HIS FESTIVALS. THE WHOLE WESTERN WORLD HAS BEEN DECEIVED INTO HOLDING A FALSE SUBSTITUTE DAY OF THANKS TO GOD, WHILE **COMPLETELY FORGETTING** ABOUT GOD'S FEAST OF TABERNACLES. THE CHRISTIAN WORLD WOULD LIKE YOU TO STOP WORKING, COME TO CHURCH, GATHER IN RELIGIOUS SERVICES, ON ITS THANKSGIVING DAY .... YES THEY WOULD .... BUT THEN TELL YOU THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES IS "DONE AWAY WITH" - "JUST FOR JEWS" - "ONLY FOR OLD TESTAMENT ISRAEL." TRULY, TRULY, SATAN AND HIS BABYLON WHORE WOMAN OF REVELATION HAS DECEIVED THE WHOLE WORLD (Revelation 12:9) Keith Hunt ...... In 1996 when on a "religious forum" the topic of "Thanksgiving Day" came up for debate. A lady by the name of Renetta posted the below (plus a lot more I'm not uploading) - a list of "books" showing the origin of Thanksgiving Day from thousands of years ago - Keith Hunt Dear Kevin, You sound a lot like me, SHOW ME, don't tell me! So, the following reference list will show you if you are willing to research it. You will be able to find a link with the ancient harvest pagan/heathen festivals and Thanksgiving, guaranteed! IMO, this will be a much better way than if someone else wrote up a paper and sent it to you. This way you can see for your self, no color added, a research method we've all learned to use over the years. If you live in an area of a good library, they should be able to help you with some of these references. I own some of them, but not all. 1. THANKSGIVING, Robert Haven Schauffler, Dodd-Mead, 1957. 2. THE BOOK OF HOLIDAYS, J.Walker McSpadden, Thomas Y. Crowell, Co., NY, 1958. 3. ALL ABOUT AMERICAN HOLIDAYS, Maymie R. Krythe, Harper & Brothers, NY, 1962. THE BOOK OF FESTIVAL HOLIDAYS, Marguerite Tckis, Dodd Mead & Co., 1964. 5. THE GOLDEN BOUGH, THE ROOTS OF RELIGION AND FOLKLORE, John G. Frazer, Random House, 1981. (Full of Information) 6. THE BOOK OF FESTIVALS, Dorothy Gladys Spicer, 1937. 7. THE YEARBOOK OF ENGLISH FESTIVALS, Dorothy Gladys Spicer, 1954. 8. OUR WONDERFUL WORLD, by Grolier Incorporated, NY, Vo.,17, p. 220. 9. ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, 1980, Vol.5. 10. THANKSGIVING, AN AMERICAN HOLIDAY, AN AMERICAN HISTORY, Diana Darter Applebaum, 1984. 11. CELEBRATIONS: THE COMPREHENSIVE BOOK OF AMERICAN HOLIDAYS, Robert J. Myers, 1972. 12. THE AMERICAN BOOK OF DAYS, Jane M. Hatch, 1978. ...................... KEITH HUNT --- LET ME ADD--- Christian Feasts and CustomsThe upfront and revealing Book
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