感恩节的由来

文 | 傅凯彬
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感恩节的由来

傅牧师信息音频如下：

有人认为，美国的历史开始于印第安人；还有人认为，美国的历史开始于1619年的一艘运奴船。

历史就像一个任人打扮的小姑娘。小姑娘打扮成什么样，体现了化妆师的审美观；而历史的论述，则体现了论述者的价值观。美国的传统价值观来自何处呢？

今年的感恩节，让我们一起来重温400年前，第一批清教徒来到美国的历史；一起来确认，美国的传统价值观、和背后的美国精神。

1607年，在英格兰的诺丁汉郡有这样一群清教徒，他们想脱离国教的控制，自由地敬拜上帝。他们离开家乡，经历艰难困苦来到了加尔文派基督徒佔主要地位的荷兰阿姆斯特丹。1608年又搬到了荷兰的莱顿。

他们掌握了先进的生产技术，再加上勤劳肯干，很快就在荷兰安居乐业。 然而，漫长的荷兰独立战争看不到尽头，天主教势力随时可能卷土重来，富裕荷兰的享乐主义、世俗主义氛围已经威胁到下一代子女信仰的纯正。 于是，这些清教徒产生了移居北美新大陆的想法，并在1620年付诸行动。

清教徒们选择“逆向移民”，从已经进入近代文明的欧洲，移民到仍是蛮荒之地的美洲新大陆。反对的声音不小。但是赞成者们相信，所有伟大和光荣的行为都伴随着巨大的困难，必须以负责任的勇气来面对，并且战胜困难。如果目标崇高，合乎上帝的律法，就可以寻求上帝祝福。这一切的努力配得上帝的荣耀。

于是这些清教徒分成两批，一批留在荷兰，一批去了新大陆，许多人从此再没见面。出发之前，罗宾逊牧师在讲道中引用《以斯拉记》8章21节“那时，我在亚哈瓦河边宣告禁食，为要在我们上帝面前刻苦己心，求他使我们和妇人孩子并一切所有的，都得平坦的道路。”

1620年7月22日他们从荷兰的代夫特港出发，临行前在船上一起祷告。

他们离开了美丽宜人的城市，深知自己是追寻神圣荣耀的天路客，他们抬眼定睛朝向高天穹苍，那令他们的灵魂得安宁的至爱国度。

他们先回到英国，寻求商人赞助，也因此有各色人等与他们一起去新大陆。1620年8月5日，大约120人坐着两艘船Speedwell和五月花号离开南安普顿。有一艘船漏水很严重，也有可能是船长不想去了，船上有些人留在了英国，大部分人上了五月花号。9月6日五月花号离开普利茅斯，船上共有102人。

五月花号长32米，宽七米半，它的船速虽然只有每小时2英里，整个65天的航程其实并不艰难。这期间两个人死亡; 两个婴孩出生。

11月11日他们到了新英格兰地区鳕鱼角（Cape Cod），12月11日定居在距波士顿35英里的Plymouth Rock，12月25日开始修建第一所公用房屋。

他们为了共同生活，制定了五月花号公约。这份公约带来了一个特别的公民政治团体，他们一致同意：在基督信仰的基础上拟定公正公平的法律法规，并且遵守服从。

这是创立美国的主要思想之一：同一个社会里的所有公民通过制定对大家都有益处的法律来管理自己。诞生于“五月花号”，并以“五月花号”命名的这份文件预告了一个新时代的来临。可以说，没有《五月花号公约》，就没有《独立宣言》和美国宪法。《五月花号公约》是美国宪政共和理念的源头。这一公约构成美国宪政的雏形，它在美国政治与法律制度演进中具有重要的意义与影响。

五月花号上的这批乘客还带来了美国最重要的节日传统：感恩节。

他们踏上北美新大陆献上赞美时正值冬天，四处看见的都是荒原，背后是刚刚渡过的茫茫大海。那年冬天极其艰难，两三个月的时间内死了一半人。有时一天之内就有两三个人死亡。最紧张的时候只有六七个身体健康的人能够工作。诸般艰难中，除了三一真神，他们还能依靠什么呢？

刚开始他们和印地安人是敌对的，1621年春天有个会讲一些英文的印地安人（Samoset 萨摩塞特）来到他们中间。Samoset 介绍了一位去过英国的印地安人 Squanto(史廣多)， 他的英文非常好，帮助清教徒与 Wampanoag 万帕诺亚格族的酋长缔结了和平协议。

1621年4月William Bradford(威廉布拉福德) 被推选为总督，他连任30次直到1657年去世。他所写的《普利茅斯开拓史 Of Plymouth Plantation》是这段时期的重要历史资料。他留下了这样的话： “我这样做的目的是想要孩子们今后能看到自己的父辈如何完成第一次冒险之旅，他们经历了何等的艰难和奋斗。尽管他们有种种的弱点和缺失，却最终被上帝拯救。”

1621年的秋天有了大丰收。他们决定用3天的节日来庆祝丰收，感谢上帝的恩典。参与者包括所有从1620年冬天幸存的人和大约90个印第安人。准备食物的人只有四个已婚的妇女和五个待嫁的少女。食物中包括：5支鹿及各样鸟类（可能有火鸡); 南瓜及各样蔬菜……

这就是第一个感恩节的由来！此后，1789年美国第一任总统乔治华盛顿发表感恩宣言；1863年林肯总统发表感恩宣言；1941年美国国会决议，每年11月的第四个礼拜四是法定的感恩节国家假日。

1630年，“阿贝拉号”横渡大西洋的途中，清教徒领袖约翰. 温斯罗普牧师在一次布道中说：“我们将如山巅之城，为万众瞩目。因此，如果我们在已经着手进行的事业中欺蒙我主，使主收回目前赐予我们的庇佑，我们必将成为世人笑柄，天下丑闻。我们将使敌人开口说毁谤上帝道路的话。我们将使上帝许多可敬的仆人脸面惭愧，使他们的祷告化成对我们的诅咒，直到我们在即将前往的美好土地上消亡。。。所以让我们借着聆听祂的声音而拣选生命，使我们和我们的后裔都得存活。因祂是我们的生命和福气。 ”

五月花号只是清教徒来到美国新大陆的开始，之后，有一批批的清教徒来到新英格兰地区，他们抱着同样崇高目的而来。

这就是美国精神的由来：一个清教徒在上帝面前立约要建立的山巅之城。它来自于一个立约的选择，以及立约后的诸多选择。今天的美国也面临着选择，是选择归回？还是选择背约？这是每一个在这片土地上生活的人们要作的选择，是你我的选择。

感恩节很快就到了，愿这段四百年前的历史带给您平安。我们一起享受节日的快乐、感谢上帝的恩典，并为美国的未来祷告！

English:

Some promoted the idea that American history began with the Indians; others argued that American history kicked off with a slave trade ship arrived in 1619.

History is like a little girl waiting to be dressed up. The final presentation of the little girl reflects the taste of her fashion stylist; the way history is narrated reflects the values of the narrator. Where do the traditional values of America come from?

During Thanksgiving this year, let’s revisit the history of the Puritans who first arrived at America 400 years ago. Together, we can reaffirm the traditional values of the United States and its American spirit behind.

In order to worship freely, a group of Puritans from Nottinghamshire, England longed to break away from the control of the state religion. They left their homeland in 1607, endured hardship and arrived at Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the majority of Christians were Calvinists. Then they moved to Leiden, the Netherlands in 1608.

Having mastered some advanced technologies of the time for production, this group of diligent Puritans quickly settled down comfortably in the Netherlands. However, there seemed to be no end to the Dutch War of Independence. Meanwhile, the power of the Catholic church could come back at any time. Hedonism and secularism of the wealthy Dutch people had already threatened the faith of their next generation. Therefore, these Puritans conceived the idea of migration to the North American Continent, and eventually they took action in 1620.

The puritans chose what we may call a “reverse migration”, from the much more modern and civilized Europe to the savage land of North America in the new world. There was a loud voice of opposition to the idea. However, the supporters believed that great and glorious decisions always come with struggles. And they were ready to face the challenges with enormous courage and responsibilities. Laboring to achieve an honorable purpose that abides in God’s holy Law, they trusted God for blessings and dedicated human efforts for God’s glory.

So, these Puritans were split into two groups. One group stayed in the Netherlands; the other group moved to the new world. Many of them never met each other again. Before their departure, Pastor John Robinson quoted Ezra 8:21 in his sermon “then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.”

On July 22, 1620, they prayed together on the ship before departure and left Port of Delft, the Netherlands.

They left behind a beautiful and prosperous city, knowing their identity as pilgrims pursuing sacred glory. Their eyes were lifted and fixed upon heaven where the beloved kingdom of God provides ultimate peace for human souls.

They first went back to England in search of sponsorship from local merchants. As a result, they attracted all sorts of accompanies to the new world. On August 5th, 1620, around 120 sailed from Southampton on two ships, Speedwell and Mayflower. Soon, Speedwell aborted the trip and stayed in England due to a serious water leak and perhaps the captain’s lack of will to go. Except for a few, most people boarded Mayflower. On September 6th, Mayflower departed Plymouth with 102 people on board.

Mayflower was 32 meters long, 7.5 meters wide. She traveled only 2 miles per hour within the 65-day voyage and nothing was particularly unexpected. During that voyage, they suffered the loss of two lives but celebrated the birth of two new lives.

On November 11th, they arrived at Cape Cod in New England. December 11th, 1620, they settled down in Plymouth Rock, 35 miles from today’s Boston. On December 25th, they started to build the first communal house.

In order to build up their community, the Pilgrims drafted the Mayflower Compact. This historical document brought forth a special civic and political unity. They unanimously agreed to

frame just and equal Laws and ordinances on the foundation of their Christian faith for the general good of the colony and promised all due submission and obedience.

One of the core ideas that United States was founded on is this: “We the people” govern ourselves by making laws for the general good. The birth of the Mayflower Compact on Mayflower proclaimed a brand-new era. The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were only possible because the Mayflower Compact paved the way for them. The Mayflower Compact was the source of the ideas of American constitutional republic. This significant piece of document served as a precursor to the American Constitution. Its impact on the founding and development of the American political and legal system can never be overstated.

The Mayflower passengers also brought forth the most important traditional holiday of the United States: Thanksgiving.

It was bitter cold when they set foot on the North American Continent praising God. The land was full of uncultivated wilderness. With the vast ocean behind them they had no return. The first winter was extremely harsh, within 2-3 months, death of half the population clothed the whole colony with grief. Sometimes, they could count two or three death in a day. And they were hit to the bottom when only 6 or 7 among them were healthy enough to work. In such toil and turmoil, whom else could they trust but the triune God!

At first, they were enemies to the Indians. Things changed soon, in the Spring of 1621, Samoset, an Indian came to them speaking some English. Then Samoset introduced to them Squanto, who had been to England and fluent in English. Squanto later helped the Puritans to sign a peace treaty with the Chief of the Wampanoag tribe.

In April 1621, William Bradford was elected as governor. He was re-elected 30 times before he passed away in 1657. His writing “Of Plymouth Plantation” became an important historical document of this period of time. One of his famous quotes says: “I have bene (pray) the larger in these things, and so shall Grave leave in some like passages following, (though in other things I shall labour to be more contrate,) that their children may see with what difficulties their fathers wrestled in going through these things in their first beginnings, and how God brought them along notwithstanding all their weaknesses and infirmities.”

Finally, their labor harvested great fruits in the Fall of 1621. They decided to set apart 3 days for celebration and to give thanks to God for His grace. Participants included all who survived the winter of 1620 and also around 90 Indian friends. Only four wives and 5 single young ladies prepared abundant food for all. The menu included five roasted deer and various birds (probably including turkeys), pumpkins and all kinds of vegetables.

This was the real history of the first Thanksgiving. Afterwards, in 1789, the first American president, George Washington, issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation; in 1863, President Lincoln issued his Thanksgiving Proclamation.  In 1941, the US Congress passed a bill to set apart the last Thursday of November as the official national holiday of Thanksgiving.

Mayflower only marked the beginning of the Puritan journeys to North American Continent. Subsequently, one voyage after another, more Puritans came to New England with the same noble purposes for life and eternity.

In 1630, on Abella sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, Puritan leader Pastor John Winthrop preached in a sermon, “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world. We shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of the ways of God, and all professors for God‘s sake. We shall shame the faces of many of God’s worthy servants, and cause their prayers to be turned into curses upon us till we be consumed out of the good land whither we are going……Therefore let us choose life, that we and our seed may live, by obeying His voice and cleaving to Him, for He is our life and our prosperity.”

This was the historical origin of the American spirit: A puritan made a covenant with God to build a city on the hill. It came from an initial decision through a covenant and it would have to take many decisions thereafter to keep that covenant and fulfill the promises. Today, America is standing at a crossroad. Will she choose to return to this covenant at the heart of her original spirit and founding values? Or will she choose to break the covenant? It is a decisive moment for all of us who live on this land, it is our choices.

Thanksgiving is near, may this short glimpse into the American history 400 years ago bring peace to you. Together, let’s celebrate, give thanks to God for His grace, and keep praying for the future of the United States of America!

傅凯彬 牧师，现在美国牧会。承光学会(inherit.live)负责人。

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