A Thanksgiving Letter from Dr. Hotze

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His loving kindness is everlasting.” (Psalm 107:1)

For those of us who have kept our eyes fixed upon God’s sovereignty, we can look back with thankfulness for a wonderful and successful year. We have enjoyed the benefits of facing and overcoming adversity, and reaping the benefits.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, we would do well to hearken back to the first Thanksgiving in 1621, nearly 400 years ago at Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts. On November 11, 1620, after the Pilgrims had landed on Plymouth Rock on Massachusetts, they signed the Mayflower Compact.

“IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.”

The Pilgrims were a Bible-believing Christian group who came to America to practice their religious freedom, having been oppressed by the Church of England. Their voyage was undertaken to the glory of God and to advance the Christian faith. This is the founding principle upon which America was established.

This Thanksgiving, we should recommit ourselves to restore our nation’s Godly heritage, following the strategy that our Pilgrim forefathers gave us, which is to love God, and to place our hope and faith in the God of the Bible and our Lord Jesus Christ. This faith gives us wisdom and instructs us on how to live our lives. This wisdom from God builds our character and transforms our hearts.

Civil law should be derived from God’s law found in the Ten Commandments, and its purpose is to provide society with order and a foundation for our freedom, providing mercy, justice and equity under the law.

Civil government’s purpose is to protect our God-given, unalienable rights and liberties.

As parents and elders we should educate our children to follow these beliefs and principles in order to ensure liberty for future generations.

Liberty under the law is the result of this strategy which will ultimately defeat tyranny and result in a strong, peaceful and prosperous nation.

Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation reflects the Biblical worldview of our Founding Fathers. More than ever, this worldview needs to be kept alive. This can be achieved by reading this proclamation with your family members on Thanksgiving Day. Our nation’s Christian heritage must be passed on to our children and grandchildren.

You will find the George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation below.

My prayer is that you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving Day and weekend.