IN THE BEGINNING … THERE WAS NO CHURCH/STATE

Recently I had the pleasure of enjoying a beautiful evening with a God-loving married couple from our parish. During our conversation the lady nicely commented on a remark I had made during a Bible Study session by which I implied that this country was built on Christian values.  I remembered that session and how I even added that as citizens of this country we have the obligation of maintaining and supporting these Christian values that are really the foundation of this great and God-loving nation. In her discussion with me, this nice lady kept referring to the separation of Church and State in our constitution. She was defending an interpretation of the Church/State separation as I would a biblical teaching or Christian dogma. Needless to say this Christian lady was very passionate about her point of view. This pushed me to explore some literature regarding this matter. Sure enough, I found volumes and volumes of anti-Christian interpretations and publications financed and published by organizations whose main objective is to undermine the influence of Christianity on our nation. I, on the other hand, do not have the legal teams or the financial resources that these organizations do. However, in my basic research I came across a piece of literature concerning the history of the Day of Thanksgiving, which I believe sheds light on this issue. And since soon we will all be gathered in our homes with our extended family members, celebrating Thanksgiving Day, let me share my politically incorrect view of the Church/State situation in our country as a Thanksgiving thought.

We know from our own history that December 18, 1777 was the first time that all 13 American colonies joined in a thanksgiving celebration, commemorating the victory over the British at Saratoga. President George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving for November 26, 1789 to honor the formation of the United States government. That is to say, the president of the United States set a day of giving thanks to God for the blessing of forming the union. In this state-document, the President of the US reminds his fellow citizens that “it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will.”  His proclamation, calling for a day of prayer and giving thanks to God, is a beautiful Christian reflection and commentary on God as the creator and redeemer. Furthermore, in his proclamation President George Washington acknowledges God as “the Lord and Ruler of Nations” who is capable of pardoning “our national and other transgressions.” In fact, in the third paragraph of his prayer-like statement the President calls upon God to help him and the government “promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue.” From his November 26th diary entry we know that President Washington spent that Thanksgiving day at St. Paul's Chapel “though it was most inclement and stormy.” More than half a century later, on October 3, 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day "of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father." The President’s proclamation does not talk about giving thanks to a mere supreme power or energy rather  to the well defined Christian God, “the Father.” He adds, “I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

Having said that, I wonder what happened since the days of Presidents Washington and Lincoln that the same nation whose president
considered it the government's duty to give thanks to "the Father" is not allowed today to pray in Church for its president? I don't need to be a rocket scientist to realize that the national day of thanksgiving to God has changed to a "Turkey day." Having read about the government using our tax monies to pay for teaching Islam in public school (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/armenians4jesus/message/569), and being a descendant of the nation that gave birth to the first Christian State I am, to say the least, confused!

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, may I ask you to be a good citizen of this country and make sure to give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for all the blessings that we and our loved ones have enjoyed during the past year and continue enjoying, on the National Day of Thanksgiving and throughout the year. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

In Christ’s service,

Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian
November, 2004

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