November calls Christians to gratitude for faith, freedom and perseverance

November is a month of “thanks-giving,” with both historical and contemporary reasons for which American Christians should be grateful.

The month begins with the centuries-old observance of All Saints Day, which replaced pre-Christian pagan traditions once associated with Halloween themes of death, ghosts, demons and darkness. The word “Hallow” itself is a shortened form of “All Hallows Eve,” meaning the evening before All Saints Day.

Christian missionaries to early European peoples brought light and hope to pagan societies and created a celebration of the victorious faith of departed Christians, many of whom were martyred in the early centuries of the faith. We can be thankful for the message of victory commemorated in the observance of All Saints Day.

On one such observance in the early 1500s, a monk named Martin Luther posted his objections to the errors and abuses he believed had crept into the church. That act marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Although it divided the church and revealed deep differences, it also brought renewal to Christianity—especially in the development of freedom of conscience and freedom of religious belief.

That spirit of religious freedom later inspired the English Pilgrims, who landed on the cold, wintry coast of what we now call New England. Their journey laid the foundation for the American holiday of Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on God’s blessings to us and to earlier generations of believers.

The first Sunday in November is also designated as a day to remember the persecuted church. Millions of fellow Christians around the world still face persecution and poverty because of their faith. Our gratitude can be expressed through prayer and through financial support for the many reputable Christian organizations reaching out to those suffering for their beliefs.

Pastor Gordon Warner 330-415-4766