Giving Thanks as Protest

Dear DJAN Friends,

If the pandemic has taught us nothing else, it has hopefully taught us not to take community for granted! The Apostle Paul knew how difficult maintaining community can be–and how precious–which may be why he ended his earliest letter, I Thessalonians, with a counsel for life together.

We appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (I Thessalonians 5:12-19).

The phrase that jumps out for many readers is "give thanks in all circumstances." It is surely important, at this moment in our history, to express gratitude for medical personnel who have treated COVID patients, often at risk to themselves; for teachers and other workers who must find new ways to teach and work; for pastors and other leaders who struggle to maintain community. We give thanks, as well, for those who, through words and actions, call us all to recognize our complicity in racism and to strive for a more just society. But there also are things for which we do not give thanks, including this pandemic and the reality of racial and sexual oppression. Perhaps what Paul has in mind is gratitude, not always for what is, but for all God has promised: for the vision of the day when community flourishes because everyone has enough and people are at peace with one another. Perhaps, in other words, our very act of giving thanks is itself a protest against the greed and violence and exclusion of the world as it now is.

May God grant us understanding and commitment.

—Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon