Presidential Pardon, Turkeys and Grace

Posted by Gary

For the past several years, there has been a Thanksgiving tradition at the White House involving the “pardon” of a turkey that was otherwise slated to be a part of the menu.

This has happened since the 1980’s and is fully ingrained in our culture; it is now fully expected that the current President of the United States use his authority to grant pardon to a turkey.  It has become almost ‘cute’ that one turkey is spared at a time when so many are consumed.  Brief research shows that many of the pardoned turkeys went on to live out their natural lives at a petting zoo or other such place where they remained out of danger.

And the general public accepts this as tradition.  The disparate treatment of turkeys – based on nothing but a non-public selection process – raises no concerns.  The President, it is said, is merely exercising his authority over the turkeys as he chooses.  And no one questions him.  No one inquires about the merits of the pardoned turkey or why another, possibly more beautiful, smarter or attractive turkey was not chosen.  No one is advocating for the pardon of all turkeys and that the Thanksgiving meal should consist of pizza.

Few people give it a second thought.

But translate this action to the Creator God who ‘pardons’ whom He chooses and allows the others to continue on their path to destruction.  Now we have a different discussion.

The Doctrine of Election has divided people for centuries.  Calvinist v Arminian is the current framing of this discussion.  Yet I do not see the discussion in any realm but the Church and God’s authority.  For the sake of consistency, shouldn’t the Armenian crowd be up in arms about the ‘election’ (or selection) process for the spared turkey?  Did all turkeys have the same opportunity to receive a Presidential pardon?  Should the President himself interview and inspect all of turkey-kind to offer his pardon to those who will accept it?

In my opinion, no – the President should not engage in such an act of obvious folly.  The pardon of a turkey is largely symbolic and has little direct impact on weightier matters.  Even so, it is still up to the President to use his authority in the way he deems appropriate – no one should question his decision. *

And, in my opinion, the Creator God should not be second-guessed about to whom He offers His salvation – it is by His grace alone.

Any argument brought on behalf of the non-pardoned turkeys would be immediately marginalized as totally irrelevant.  The same argument brought on behalf of those who have chosen to turn from the Creator God is also irrelevant.

Am I saying that human beings have the same status as turkeys?  No and yes.

Humans are the only creature (note the root word “create” in there – all living beings (animal and human) were created) that has dignity via the breath of life (Genesis 2:7) – all other animals were spoken into existence; man was formed and received the breath of God.

But as a turkey stands before a man – with the man holding within his grasp the power of life and death – so Man stands before the Creator God.

Any complaint against how God goes about His business becomes just as irrelevant as a turkey questioning a man’s actions.  In the Bible, Job had some questions about how God did things.  God answered plainly in chapter 38 (verses 1-4):

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?  Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.  Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”

The presentation is completely shut down in light of God’s absolute authority.

So how can anyone question the ultimate authority?  The Bible demonstrates that God does what He wills to do and no one has any standing to question His ways (Romans 9:20).  It is only our pride (read: original sin) that causes us to bristle against perceived “injustice” and “unfairness.”  Yet we are the ones who have ‘words without knowledge’ because we weren’t there at the beginning.  We do not have the same perspective as the One who created all things.  Our position is to yield to His complete authority.

One last thought on salvation through grace: because of our limited perspective and knowledge, we cannot recognize who will receive God’s grace (or when they will receive it).  Therefore, we are directed to share the news of His grace with all we meet.  This also is a yielding to God’s authority (recognizing our proper standing as a turkey before a man).

Happy Thanksgiving!

*note: before you start thinking that I am advocating a totalitarian civil government, please understand that the structure of human government is built on a system of checks and balances on purpose.  This is a wise and good system that needs to be perpetuated by free and open elections of our leaders.