Thanksgiving Even in a Pandemic

“By prayer and supplication we pour out our desires before God, asking as well those things which tend to promote his glory and display his name, as the benefits which contribute to our advantage. By thanksgiving we duly celebrate his kindnesses toward us, ascribing to his liberality every blessing which enters into our lot. . . . The sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving can never be interrupted without guilt, since God never ceases to load us with favor upon favor, so as to force us to gratitude, however slow and sluggish we may be. In short, so great and widely diffused are the riches of his liberality towards us, so marvelous and wondrous the miracles which we behold on every side, that we never want a subject and materials for praise and thanksgiving.” (John Calvin, Insitutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapter XX.

Don’t we have so much to be thankful for? Of course! But it’s kind of difficult to be thankful when enduring a pandemic. This powerful quote from Calvin seems so out of place for our time. Yes, when prosperity is before us, we are never in want of reasons to be thankful. Calvin probably wrote this line when he was enjoying the serene company of family and friends over a delicious meal. He probably wrote this when his investments were up and to the right. He probably wrote this when there wasn’t a worry about infection or disease. His words are so out of context for our day, right?

Todd M. Rester, a professor of church history at Westminster Theological Seminary, in an article “Reforming Christians in a time of Plague” explains that the early modern church (1500-1700) was in the throes of pandemics. This is the very time period of the Reformation and when Calvin wrote the Institutes. Far from being a serene time of peace and prosperity, it was dark and difficult. Pandemics were common. People suffered through the prevailing stench of death. The average mortality rate was 25%. People suffered through difficult economic shutdowns. You see, lockdowns are not a recent phenomenon. In fact, if you lived a generous 75 years between 1500-1720 you would on average spend 15-25 years in lockdowns that stretched between 6 to12 months restrictions.

So the words of Calvin about being thankful are not out of the context of our day. It coincides. And if anything, it goes so far beyond what we have yet endured. So please consider the power of his quote. He’s speaking to our day. We have so much to be thankful to the Lord. In light of who He is and what He has done in the gospel! 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We never exhaust reasons to be thankful, even in a pandemic.