What is the Christian perspective on Thanksgiving?

Answer 1

Thanksgiving is not a Christian holiday like Easter or Christmas. An overall perspective does not, therefore, exist in Christian theology or doctrine. Multiple opinions are held by individual Christians regarding Thanksgiving (and countless other topics), but that does not comprise a Christian perspective.

There were, in fact, more than one Thanksgiving tradition in the years prior to Abraham Lincoln issuing the proclamation that made Thanksgiving a national holiday. Lincoln's justification for a special day of thanksgiving was that the US had been especially blessed by God in all respects, but greed and self interest had squandered much of that blessing and lead the country into a bloody civil war. He felt it was therefore only right that a day should be set aside to reflect on God's blessings and offer up appropriate thanks. Lincoln stated all of this much more eloquently.

Christians have no problem with Thanksgiving because the origin of the day is to give thanks to God for all he has done for us. Neither do Jewish people hold Thanksgiving for anything else but to give thanks. I don't know what else to add except maybe we should give thanks to the Lord every day and not limit to just one day a year. Also thanksgiving is the most traveled holiday surpassing even Christmas so families are gathered together to enforce the need for having family.

Answer 2

The connection between Thanksgiving and being a Christian is that thanksgiving was celebrated by the pilgrims in the 1600's, they were seeking religious freedom in America so gave thanks to God for providing for them and helping them find 20 acres of land.