Thanksgiving Worship - November 23, 2025 at 6:30pm

Good evening church!

Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge the land on which we currently stand. We gather on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded it for generations. In particular, we recognize the Catawba, Cherokee, Lumbee, and Tuscarora nations who have deep historical ties to this region we now call North Carolina.

We honor their enduring presence and contributions to this land, and we acknowledge the painful history of violence, displacement, and colonization that Indigenous communities have experienced. Let us reflect on this history as we continue our efforts to foster understanding, justice, and respect for all peoples.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. "Pastor, I just came here to sing a hymn and go home to brine Turkey, and you’ve started us off with colonization and displacement." It is a heavy appetizer, I admit.

But here is the thing about families—and nations are just big, messy families: We can be honest about our messy history and still be deeply thankful for the food on the table. We don't have to pretend the past was perfect to believe the present is a gift. In fact, gratitude is deeper when it's honest. So, let's take a deep breath, let the truth sit, and look at how Scripture handles this exact problem.

We often think of the Israelites storming into the Promised Land like superheroes in a summer blockbuster—conquering Canaan in one fell swoop. But historians, archaeologists, and even Scripture itself tell us it wasn’t that simple. It wasn't a superhero movie; it was a slow, messy migration over centuries.

Why does that matter? Because it proves the very point Deuteronomy is making today: The people didn't get the land because they were mighty conquerors. They got it because God was gracious. Just like us. We didn't get here because we are perfect; we are here because God provides. The text warns them—and us—against the biggest lie of success: "Do not say to yourself, 'My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.'"

That then calls us to avoid false triumphalism:

Deuteronomy’s theology “is not about military victory or righteous conquest—it's about gratitude, humility, and covenantal responsibility in the face of abundance” and if settlement was gradual, complex, and involved cultural continuity and mixing, then the manifest destiny theology that justified displacement of Native Americans got both history AND scripture wrong.

Which brings us to the “Secondly” - manifest destiny theology misunderstands and twists what is actually written in the Bible. As we can see in our text in Deuteronomy, it does not endorse claims of divine favoritism for modern nations or equate their actions with Israel’s sacred history and thinking such risks sanctifying violence, dispossession, and oppression, because it ignores the explicit biblical warnings against pride, injustice, and failing to care for the stranger, poor, and indigenous. So not only it is likely based on something that did not quite happen in that way, it also misses the point of what the Bible says.

Having grounded ourselves in this humbler, more honest history, we can now hear Deuteronomy's warning with fresh ears. It is not a threat; it is a reminder of where our true security lies. Deuteronomy calls to gratitude as something essential to sustain identity and relationship with God, ESPECIALLY in times of prosperity -

17 Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today

New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Dt 8:17–18. A very clear message not to give in to some false pride.

Paul’s 2 Corinthians then turns to giving that is both a response to and participation in divine grace and is key to unity - The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.* 7 Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not regretfully or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.* 8 And God is able to provide you with every blessingn in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.*

New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), 2 Co 9:6–8. Our God is generous and thus we should be moved to be generous also.

And finally, our gospel reading in Luke shows how faith and thanksgiving bring holistic salvation - the 9 received their healing, but it is the one Samaritan that returned and gave thanks that was truly blessed -

Did none of them return to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”*

New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021), Lk 17:18–19. The Samaritan not only received, but also gave what he could back - his praise and in that he was doubly blessed.

Gratitude to God, giving generously, and thanksgiving in faith - all are themes that are very appropriate for this evening. We are called to remember that blessings come from God as a gift, that our God is generous, and that it is through thanksgiving that our faith flourishes. Does this mean we cannot feel good about our hard work? Of course not. But as Christians, we don't call it 'pride'—we call it 'vocation.' We delight that God has given us strong hands to work, sharp minds to think, and good soil to plant. We aren't 'self-made' men and women; we are 'God-made' instruments.

When we succeed, we don't pat ourselves on the back; we look up and say, 'Thank you for using me.' It isn't about denying our effort; it is about recognizing the Source of the energy that made the effort possible. That is the secret to the Samaritan's joy in the Gospel reading —he knew exactly where the healing came from, and his gratitude made him whole.

So this holiday season, let us remember that all good things ultimately come from God and to God we shall give our worship and praise for that and a big part of it is being generous as God is generous to us. Go, eat, and enjoy the fruit of your labor—but as you do, look up and give thanks to the One who gave you the strength to harvest it. Amen.

Notes

Deuteronomy: we are not the chosen nation that came to Canaan. Nevertheless, blessings come from the Lord, not from our efforts

2Cor

As it is written, ‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’

We are to give cheerfully, especially to those that need it.

Luke:

Ten with skin disease, only one came back to Jesus after being healed and he is a samaritan - suprise