The first Thanksgiving

Have you heard about the law that was passed about church attendance? This law states that everyone over the age of 16 must attend their local perish. If the law was violated the punishment was fines and possible jail. This law was called the Act Against Recusant of 1593 and was directed by Elisabeth in England.

This evil queen was determined to keep loyalty to the church of England and stop the Catholics and the groups that where dubbed the Separatists. The Separatists generally had conflict with the idea of a state religion (like the Church of England and Catholicism) that combines the government with the church. They believed in a congregational church that proclaimed everyone was under the Lord Jesus Christ.

Part of the Separatists wanted to establish a very defined religious community noted by its holiness, purity, and separation. Further they wanted to further the Gospel of Jesus here on the earth.

To accomplish this, a small group of a little over a hundred boarded a boat to head for a new world. One of the leaders wrote they were “propagating and advancing the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world.” (www.baptistpress.com)

After experiencing must trials for their faith, they left England on September 16, 1620, and began a 66 day journey on the difficult waters. There were many obstacles they faced and many times they wanted to return to England, but through the encouragement and determination to God they continued.

On Nov. 11, 1620 they arrived at Cape Cod with thankful hearts and wonder. During this time, they drew up the first agreement of the new world which forty one men signed. This compact is as follows:

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. -www.mayflowercompact.org

You probably guessed by now, but this is the Mayflower Compact and those people where the first pilgrims that would celebrate the first Thanksgiving. I would like to finish and say it was all wonderful and they enjoyed a nice Turkey Dinner and went shopping, but this is only part one as they still had a very difficult winter coming.

Their journey reminds us to continue to follow God no matter who comes against you or what difficulty you are experiencing.

Second, although America has become secular, it definitely had it’s origins as a Christian nation (read the compact again). Have a Happy Thanksgiving and next week part two

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