Is it ethical to celebrate Thanksgiving given its history?
Introduction
Thanksgiving, in the United States and Canada, is dedicated to expressing thanks to God for a bountiful harvest and personal blessings. The act of giving thanks is one of the most fundamental and consistent commands in Scripture. However, the origin and national framing of the holiday are inextricably linked to the arrival of European settlers and the tragic, often violent displacement and genocide of Indigenous peoples.
The Christian must discern: Can I practice biblical gratitude while acknowledging historical guilt? The answer is yes, through intentional focus and honesty.
Main: Two Principles for Ethical Celebration
The ethics of celebrating Thanksgiving hinge on a believer’s ability to separate the pure spiritual discipline of gratitude from the morally complicated history surrounding the holiday's origin.
1. The Undeniable Mandate for Gratitude
The core spiritual discipline of thanksgiving is a command that is absolute and unconditional, unrelated to the actions of human history.
A Universal Command: The Bible repeatedly commands us to give thanks in all circumstances. Paul writes: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This command flows from the recognition that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17).
The Focus on God’s Provision: The Christian celebrates Thanksgiving by directing gratitude to the Giver of all life—God—for spiritual salvation and physical sustenance. This act of worship is morally pure and necessary for a healthy spiritual life.
A Christian Passover: Thanksgiving can be viewed as the fulfillment of ancient harvest festivals commanded by God, which celebrated His provision. This makes the day inherently spiritual and defensible on theological grounds.
2. Acknowledging Historical Guilt and Injustice
The ethical challenge arises when the celebratory focus ignores the pain that often accompanied the establishment of the national holiday.
Honest Historical Acknowledgment: The Christian must approach history truthfully. The initial feast in 1621 may have been peaceful, but the subsequent expansion of settler colonialism led directly to broken treaties, displacement, and mass suffering for Native American tribes. Ignoring this history is ethically dishonest.
The Biblical Call to Justice: We are commanded to "act justly and to love mercy" (Micah 6:8). A truly ethical celebration of Thanksgiving should include a pause to acknowledge the pain caused by past generations and a commitment to advocate for justice and dignity for Indigenous peoples today.
Repentance and Empathy: Instead of guilt over an event we didn't commit, Christians should cultivate empathy for the victims of injustice and repentance for the sin of prejudice that persists today. This transforms the holiday from a potentially self-serving event into a moment of spiritual maturity.
Conclusion
Is it ethical to celebrate Thanksgiving? Yes, if the celebration is redeemed from cultural sentimentality and rooted in biblical truth.
An ethical Christian celebration of Thanksgiving requires:
Prioritizing God: Center the day on genuine worship and gratitude to the Lord for His blessings.
Honesty: Teach the historical context honestly, acknowledging the injustices that followed the first feast.
Action: Let the day inspire you to practice mercy and pursue justice for the marginalized in your community, recognizing that true faith is demonstrated through love for your neighbor.
By doing this, you reclaim the day and fulfill the highest moral imperative: giving thanks while actively loving your neighbor.
