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109: Biblical Thankfulness vs. Cultural Gratitude: What Christians Get Wrong About Thanksgiving
In this Thanksgiving episode of Naughty vs Nice, Todd and Laura untangle one of the most misunderstood ideas in Western Christianity: gratitude vs. biblical thankfulness.
Most modern believers describe thankfulness as a list of positive life circumstances—family, health, income, stability. But Scripture frames thankfulness as something radically different: covenant loyalty, submission to God, recognition of His provision, and joy in the Kingdom we already belong to.
Todd exposes how Western church culture has absorbed occult thinking without realizing it, treating “gratitude” as a self-generated emotional state—similar to manifestation, vibration language, and New Age positivity techniques. Laura unpacks how Paul’s idea of thankfulness is anchored in something far deeper: the seen gospel, the new kingdom, the body of Christ, redemption, and the rescue from darkness—realities no circumstance can take away.
Together they explore:
• Why “gratitude journals” and “be more positive” advice often shut believers down
• The difference between self-generated positivity and Spirit-rooted thankfulness
• How the occult reframes gratitude as a tool for self-empowerment
• Why Paul could rejoice in prison, shipwrecks, and suffering
• How thankfulness is connected to covenant loyalty, obedience, humility, and truth
• Why every believer should anchor their joy in the Kingdom that is now and not yet
• How relationships in the body of Christ shape true thankfulness
• Why suffering cannot cancel the gratitude rooted in Christ’s work
Packed with Scripture, honesty, humor, and the occasional murderous-Honda joke, this conversation reframes Thanksgiving in a way that actually aligns with the Bible—far beyond the Western version built on positivity and circumstances.
📚 REFERENCES
Scripture Cited
1 Chronicles 16:8–15
James 1:17
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Psalm 95:2–6
Deuteronomy 17–18
Colossians 1:13–14
Philippians 4
2 Peter 3
Revelation (various passages on endurance)
People / Sources Mentioned
• Marcus Aurelius
• Tony Robbins
• Esther Hicks (Law of Attraction)
• “The Secret” / manifestation language
• Strong’s Concordance (discussed generally)
• church cultural practices (gratitude journals, forced positivity)
View all episodes
By naughtyversusniceIn this Thanksgiving episode of Naughty vs Nice, Todd and Laura untangle one of the most misunderstood ideas in Western Christianity: gratitude vs. biblical thankfulness.
Most modern believers describe thankfulness as a list of positive life circumstances—family, health, income, stability. But Scripture frames thankfulness as something radically different: covenant loyalty, submission to God, recognition of His provision, and joy in the Kingdom we already belong to.
Todd exposes how Western church culture has absorbed occult thinking without realizing it, treating “gratitude” as a self-generated emotional state—similar to manifestation, vibration language, and New Age positivity techniques. Laura unpacks how Paul’s idea of thankfulness is anchored in something far deeper: the seen gospel, the new kingdom, the body of Christ, redemption, and the rescue from darkness—realities no circumstance can take away.
Together they explore:
• Why “gratitude journals” and “be more positive” advice often shut believers down
• The difference between self-generated positivity and Spirit-rooted thankfulness
• How the occult reframes gratitude as a tool for self-empowerment
• Why Paul could rejoice in prison, shipwrecks, and suffering
• How thankfulness is connected to covenant loyalty, obedience, humility, and truth
• Why every believer should anchor their joy in the Kingdom that is now and not yet
• How relationships in the body of Christ shape true thankfulness
• Why suffering cannot cancel the gratitude rooted in Christ’s work
Packed with Scripture, honesty, humor, and the occasional murderous-Honda joke, this conversation reframes Thanksgiving in a way that actually aligns with the Bible—far beyond the Western version built on positivity and circumstances.
📚 REFERENCES
Scripture Cited
1 Chronicles 16:8–15
James 1:17
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Psalm 95:2–6
Deuteronomy 17–18
Colossians 1:13–14
Philippians 4
2 Peter 3
Revelation (various passages on endurance)
People / Sources Mentioned
• Marcus Aurelius
• Tony Robbins
• Esther Hicks (Law of Attraction)
• “The Secret” / manifestation language
• Strong’s Concordance (discussed generally)
• church cultural practices (gratitude journals, forced positivity)