Revisionists challenging Thanksgiving history

Those trying to revise our history and destroy America’s greatness were at it again at Thanksgiving.

Some even promoted their anti-Christian agenda by calling the early European Americans “Christians” rather than using the traditional term “Pilgrims.” I don’t mean to imply the Pilgrims weren’t Christians; I’m just recognizing it seemed the history revisionists were broadening their negative claims against the Pilgrims to apply to all Christians by using the different terminology.

All Christians make errors in judgment and even still sin, needing forgiveness, and there probably were at least some sinful acts of racism, if not worse, committed by some of the Pilgrims (1 John 1:5-10). The difference between a non-Christian and a Christian is our pattern of life isn’t sinful (1 John 2:1-6; 3:1-10). While we often associate the sinful life with heinous acts, it includes the lifestyle of those “good” people who merely don’t acknowledge God on his terms, however religious they may seem (Titus 1:16; Romans 1:18-25).

Anyway, the facts of history can be proven directly by the writings and quotes of the eyewitnesses. Speculative claims, such as those made by the revisionists, are based on how they interpret the writings with their inherent bias. They read their agenda into the less clear historical writings of people never intending to be historians. They provide no support for their claims using external documents, including other writings by the same individual. Note: I wrote, “no support.” That is, even if there is some support, it’s seldom provided. The facts of history never should be changed without the discovery and presentation of previously unknown documents that are verified as authentic.

The Bible says there were historical revisionists at that time and there will continue to be, but the biblical record never has been changed by its author, nor have any legitimate disputing documents been found (Matthew 28:1-15; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 Peter 1:22-25; Galatians 1:6-9).

During this Christmas season, several unprovable traditions about Jesus’ birth will be presented. For example, manger scenes will show shepherds and wise men together in the stable, but the Bible says the wise men came into the house to see Jesus (Matthew 2:1-18). Tradition also says Jesus was bornon Dec. 25, but the Bible gives no date. Some claim he couldn’t have been born then because it would be too cold for shepherds to be out in the field with the sheep. and there wouldn’t be any grass for the sheep (Luke 2:1-20). But Bethlehem and Las Cruces have the same day temperatures in December, and Bethlehem is over 10 degrees warmer at night and has wet winters, encouraging the grass to grow.

This being said, when Jesus was born isn’t a matter of salvation, but the facts he was born and then gave up his life to bring peace between humankind and God are critical and indisputable, have been observed by many eyewitnesses and recorded within a reasonable time after the events occurred (Ephesians 2:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8).

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]