Calvin Synod Herald, 1973 (73. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1973-11-01 / 11. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 3 PILGRIM PRINCIPLES Rev. 3:11 Thanksgiving Day in its origin is the first American national holiday, even if it was only in 1941 that it was made a legal holiday by the Congress. It was first observed in 1621, by those remaining 50 persons who came to these shores to pursue the desire of their hearts for religious freedom. This was the motif that gave them courage for this venture which might very well have been a complete disaster. The passengers on the Mayflower dared to believe in God and dared to put their own and their loved ones lives in God’s hand, and it pleased God to keep them safe and fulfill the anxieties of their hearts. They landed in the “promised land”, established themselves, survived the hardest year in America, buried their dead and raised their new born; in sweat, in need, and in cold they kept their faith, prayed and continued again in their work. After a year filled with endless hardships, they gathered together to give thanks and to join in a feast. But the new settlers were not alone — the old settlers, the Indians, were also invited and they came to take part in the celebration. How blessed that day was! I only wish that the spirit of that first Thanksgiving would be with us today! The Pilgrim forefathers deepened the foundation of the Church and State not only into the ground, but into the hands of the Almighty God, father of us all. Today, in observing Thanksgiving, which differs so much from the first one, usually the most important part, that of giving thanks is missing, and the secondary part — the feast — prevails. Therefore, in the light of the scriptures, let us examine that great spiritual asset that our forefathers possessed which made their lives, their service, and observance more meaningful! 1. The pilgrims were religious people. In their homelands they were persecuted for their religious beliefs and were forced to immigrate to a new land, yet they were willing to undertake untold hardships to pursue their own religious beliefs. Now think of yourselves, many of you or your parents were bom on the other side of the ocean, but are you willing — not to undergo any hardships or persecution for our religion, but just to keep that church into which you were born and which was entrusted to your keeping? The religion of the pilgrims was not superficial, but a total dedication of themselves to God. 2. The pilgrims were people of faith. They left their homelands, their old villages and towns, the fields and cemeteries of their forefathers, and all their possessions. They knew however, that earthly things and forms change and perish, but their faith in the one eternal Lord, would prevail. They remembered what Christ had said about enduring faith, and they brought this faith with themselves, as their only treasure. Faith — this is what we need today in this unbelieving world. 3. The pilgrims were thankful. Throughout most of their lives, the pilgrims had asked God to deliver them out of their oppression, and now after a year in which they had struggled for survival, they came to give thanks to God for answering their prayers. Thanksgiving, prayer and singing, devotions, listening to and proclaiming the Word of God filled their hearts. They gave thanks for their new land, for their lives that were still filled with many hardships but at the same time they were victorious, and they gave thanks that the burning wounds were healing. They saw hope in a better life, a better community and government. Above all, they gave thanks for the opportunity of sharing Christ with those who had not heard about Him. 4. The foundation of their life was deepened with and through the Bible. They brought this document with themselves. This book penetrated, influenced, governed and guided their lives. How blessed it was to hold this sacred book, to see it with their eyes, to read from it with their mind and lips, to experience it with their own hearts, and to know that the Lord is their Lord, that He loves them and will keep them safely protected under His wings! What a foundation, what an everlasting rock for survival and victory! 5. Feeling all the blessings of their God, they were willing to put their lives into the hand of God, and they accepted His will and guidance. Through their lives and deeds, they showed their total dependence on God’s care. They knew that the Lord watched over them, that they were saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and therefore they belong to the redeeming Father, and that He cares for His children. They looked for God’s will in their everyday lives and when and where this will was revealed to them, they were willing to obey it. They believed that they were the repenting and redeemed children of God and they were willing to live for their Lord. In this complete surrender to the Almighty, they became the vital founding and building force at the birth of this nation and its future constitution. 6. As in their own lives, so in their community life, they placed God’s principles as the regulations and rules for their Church and local governing body. They strove to keep and live according to these rules from above, or as the great Church Father Augustine said: “Civitas Dei” — City of God, or as we say it today: one nation under God. .. They raised their children in a manner where religion was of the greatest importance in their lives. They wanted to be not only a Church, but a God-centered new society. How unfortunate, that this spirit is missing from our present day lives. Our motto therefore should be: back to the Church and back to our Lord Jesus Christ! 7. The pilgrim fathers had a definite goal in their lives, and to realize it they came to this new land. They pressed forward even when they were in danger, even when they lived in need; but they knew
