November 25
Romans 5:1-8:17
We all see how the Christian holidays of Christmas and Easter have been both commercialized and secularized over time. But perhaps the holiday which has been most hijacked from its Christian roots is Thanksgiving, to the point that the overwhelming majority do not know or consider it to be a Christian holiday at all. In 1620, 102 Pilgrim colonists landed in Massachusetts, seeking religious freedom and opportunity. The first winter resulted in 44 of the original 102 dying. Their food supply was so depleted that at one point their daily food ration was 5 kernels of corn apiece. Yet one year later, Governor William Bradford decreed that December 13, 1621 be set aside as a day of feasting and prayer to show gratitude to God for all that He had done for them and that they were still alive. They thanked Him for the trading vessel that unexpectedly arrived, swapping beaver pelts for grain, restoring their food supply. They thanked God that with the arrival of that first spring, the sickness that had devastated the community and caused so many deaths had lifted. They thanked God for Squanto, the English-speaking Native American, who as their interpreter enabled the Pilgrims to communicate and establish friendly relations with the Wampanoag tribe. They Thanked God that all of this along with the advice from Squanto and the Native Americans, they experienced abundant harvests during the summer and fall of 1621. The first Thanksgiving was attended by an approximately equal number of Colonists and Native Americans and lasted 3 days. In addition to Prayers of Thanksgiving and feasting, there were games and celebration. The colonists next celebrated Thanksgiving in the fall of 1623, after another remarkable answer to prayer. Fast forward to November 26, 1789 as a Day of Thanksgiving wherein all citizens should offer gratitude to God for His protection, care and many blessings. This was the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the new national government of the United States. The original proclamation by George Washington was all about God, including: "Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor...to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God...". President Abraham Lincoln, in spite of the fact that the nation was in the middle of a brutal civil war in 1863, set forth the last Thursday of November as a Day of Thanksgiving. He elaborated on the many reasons the inhabitants of America had for being thankful to God, stating, "No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that these blessings should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people."
Cooper's Golden Rule of Biblical interpretation states: When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense, lest it result in nonsense." But filling seminaries and many of the churches around the globe, many in positions of authority have distorted the literal interpretation of Scripture and relegated it to the arena of allegory. Many have taken Genesis 1-11, which are historical facts as written by Moses, and have turned them into ideas instead. But this makes no sense. So many of the pure doctrines of our faith stem from a literal and correct interpretation of these events. Genesis 1 stands in direct opposition to the theory of evolution. Both cannot be correct. We read in Romans 5:12, "When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned." Paul elaborates on how this sin brought in by this literal man contrasts with salvation by grace was brought in by another literal Man in 5:17-19, "For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous." Yet seminaries are churning out pastors who are falsely teaching that Adam was not real,, but figurative. If Paul was incorrect in describing a literal Adam, was Jesus Christ, Himself wrong in describing a literal Noah in Matthew 24? Was Ezekiel wrong in Ezekiel 14:14, when he wrote, "Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves, says the Sovereign Lord."? The author of Hebrews speaks of a literal Abel, Enoch, and Noah in Hebrews 11:4-7. Luke includes Adam, Seth and all of the names in Genesis 5 in the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3. How much of the Bible should we twist from its literal roots to accept the liberal theology being pushed forth? Do we really think that those coming from academia and filling many of the pulpits now are more inspired than the actual writers of Scripture, who wrote directly under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?
One of the most freeing things in faith is to realize that we are not that smart. God knows this, but it takes time for us to realize this. He did not give us convoluted material to decipher in the halls of academia. No, He lovingly gave us, His simple followers, His pure book to guide our lives along with the Holy Spirit. We complicate what He made simple. Just like with our holidays, we twist that which was so straightforward. So, remember this when we face all of the trials in our convoluted and sinful world, as we read Romans 5:1-5, "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Peace is ours if we see ourselves for who we are, sinners covered by His grace.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: