How should Christians in the U.S. view Thanksgiving?

TL;DR:

Christians can view Thanksgiving as an opportunity to intentionally thank God for who He is and what He has done, practice gratitude in community, and reflect Christ’s love, always keeping the focus on God’s goodness.

what does the bible say?

Christians in the U.S. should view Thanksgiving as a special opportunity to thank God for His faithfulness, provision, and eternal goodness. The Bible calls believers to reflect God’s love and grace by cultivating a continual attitude of gratitude, both individually and in community. Old Testament festivals, like the Feast of Tabernacles, remind us to celebrate God’s provision, while the New Testament emphasizes giving thanks in all circumstances and keeping Christ central. Historically, Thanksgiving began as a Christian celebration of God’s protection and blessings, a tradition Christians can continue by focusing on faith rather than cultural distractions. Ultimately, Thanksgiving should inspire us to praise God for all things, especially the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

from the old testament

The Israelites were commanded to observe specific days of thanksgiving, such as the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:39-43), which celebrated God’s provision and faithfulness.
God’s goodness remains constant regardless of our circumstances, and Scripture calls us to continually offer thanks to Him (Psalm 107:1; see Ephesians 5:20).
Just as the Israelites set aside festivals to thank God for His provision (Deuteronomy 16:10-15), Thanksgiving can be a time to remember and praise God for His daily blessings and faithfulness.

from the new testament

Scripture calls believers to “give thanks in all circumstances,” recognizing God’s goodness and sovereignty (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Giving thanks is emphasized throughout the writings of Paul, Peter, and the Gospel authors. For example, Paul urges believers to give “thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20), and Peter encourages a thankful heart in all situations (1 Peter 1:3).
The Gospels also show Jesus giving thanks before miracles (John 11:41) and teaching gratitude as essential.
We are called to cultivate thanksgiving in community. Paul repeatedly urges the church to be thankful together and to let gratitude shape worship and relationships (Colossians 3:15-17).
While giving thanks, Christians should be careful not to turn the day into an excuse for greed, gluttony, or placing cultural traditions above honoring God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Thanksgiving can motivate generosity and care for others, reflecting God’s love and grace (Hebrews 13:16).

implications for today

Nearly four hundred years old, the tradition of Thanksgiving in the United States directed people to God to offer thanksgiving for His goodness, protection, and provision. The pilgrim settlers held the first Thanksgiving in December of 1621, which was their second winter in Massachusetts. Their celebration was decidedly Christian. Though they started with 102 colonists, the first winter saw forty-four of them die. At one point, the colonists had only enough food rations for five kernels of corn per person, but they were resupplied unexpectedly by a trading ship and the summer's crop brought hope. They also gave thanks for God's guidance to a place with cleared land, friendly natives, and for Squanto, who served them as an interpreter and guide. The three-day feast was attended by the colonists and about eighty natives, who brought wild turkeys and venison to the feast. The festivities included feasting, games, prayers, sermons, and praise songs.

Different days have served as official days of thanks in U.S. history. Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November 1863 "as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father." In 1941, Congress made the fourth Thursday of November the legal holiday called Thanksgiving Day.

On a national Thanksgiving Day, we have a choice as Christians. We can focus on non-substantive things such as football, important things such as family, or eternal things such as faith. We can complain about the things that go wrong in our festivities or focus on the many reasons we can be grateful. All good things come from God (James 1:17). The best thing that comes from God is eternal salvation through His Son Jesus (John 1:12; 3:16; Romans 6:23; 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9). If we belong to Him, we know that even those things that do not appear good to us can be redeemed by God for His glory and our ultimate good (Romans 8:28). God deserves our thanks always. As Christians, our focus on Thanksgiving should be God and His goodness.

understand

Thanksgiving is a purposeful time for Christians to thank God, both personally and in community.
The Bible commands believers to cultivate a continual attitude of gratitude.
The historical roots of Thanksgiving in the U.S. reflect a Christian tradition of recognizing God’s protection and blessings.

reflect

How can you intentionally focus on thanking God during Thanksgiving beyond the usual family and food traditions?
How do you cultivate a continual attitude of gratitude in your daily life, not just on Thanksgiving Day?
What distractions or cultural pressures might pull your focus away from God’s goodness during Thanksgiving, and how can you redirect your heart toward Him?

engage

How can we as believers intentionally cultivate thanksgiving that reflects Christ’s love and encourages generosity during the holiday season?
What lessons from the Old Testament festivals and early Thanksgiving celebrations can we apply today to keep God central in our gratitude?
How can we encourage one another to balance enjoying cultural traditions with maintaining a spirit of genuine thankfulness to God?