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There’s something about this time of year that wraps us in warmth from the summer sun, to the warmth that comes from sweet memories and deep gratitude. Kids waving sparklers in the fading light. The sound of a marching band echoing down Main Street. The familiar flavors of corn on the cob, grilled hot dogs, and red-white-and-blue desserts stacked on paper plates. These are the things that mark the Fourth of July for many of us, and they’re beautiful!
But in recent years, maybe you’ve felt something else trying to creep in. It’s this quiet tension or a hesitation that asks, “Is it still okay to celebrate?”
We see the brokenness around us. We hear the debates. And sometimes, even as believers, we wonder: Can we really rejoice in our nation when so much feels unsettled, divided, or unfinished?
All the angry, loud voices decrying our history, blaming our founders and current leaders, scream and protest that America is a hateful, racist, country…and those voices get more and more air-time. Should we listen? Can we still celebrate?
The answer is simple and yet, I think it deserves some thought.
To start: Yes! We absolutely can, and I believe we must celebrate! We can celebrate America because we know where our freedom comes from, how it’s meant to be used, and what it looks like to live it out in a way that honors God.
Think of the colors of our flag: red-white-blue and as you consider the following think instead: “Read-Right-Truth”
📖 1. Read
When the Word of God is read we have wisdom. Start here. We can’t celebrate what we don’t understand, and we can’t anchor our hope in what we don’t remember. To celebrate with wisdom and conviction, we need to be people who read. That starts with Scripture, our true north, and as people who love our country, this includes the writings and reflections of those who shaped our national heritage.
Remember this, James1 1:17 reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above.”
The freedom we enjoy is a gift, and we can honor it best when we read God’s Word regularly letting it shape our thoughts and actions.
Psalm 119:105 tells us, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” That light doesn’t just show us how to walk personally, it helps us see our country, our calling, and our responsibility clearly.
Our Founding Fathers understood this. It’s incredible to read their letters, writings, and speeches. They aren’t just men crying for freedom and rebellion against an unjust king. When you read what they wrote you can’t miss their deep reliance on Scripture and a reverence for God’s sovereignty.
Their vision was to build a nation on enduring truth. What a blessing we have. Here’s what Abigail Adams said: “A patriot without religion is like a ship without a compass.” ~Abigail Adams2
Wow. That’s very pointed and such a great reminder!
So, let’s read. Let’s root ourselves in the Word of God and in the wisdom of those who went before us. Let’s teach our children the stories that matter. Memory is a form of gratitude.
🧭 2. Right
Stewarding our freedom should mean doing what is good and godly. Peter Marshall3, chaplain of the Senate, and husband to Catherine Marshall4 once said:
“May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.”
That’s the second truth we need to hold close this week: freedom is for doing right. Paul5 the apostle puts it like this: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
Real liberty always calls us higher. It’s about true freedom where we’re now free to pursue: justice, mercy, righteousness, truth God’s way.
When we use our freedom to love boldly, speak kindly, and live honorably, we strengthen the very foundation our nation was built on. That kind of patriotism is faithful, and it’s rooted in obedience to God and love for neighbor. It shows up in the way we engage online, serve in our communities, raise our kids, and treat those who think differently than we do.
True freedom isn’t doing whatever we want. It’s the God-given space to become who He’s called us to be.
3. Truth
We have that! We can stand firm in a shifting world – We live in a time when truth feels slippery—where feelings often outweigh facts, and popular opinion tries to redefine morality.
But for the believer, truth is not up for grabs. It is not a matter of personal preference or political persuasion. Truth has a name: Jesus (John 14:6) and His Word is unchanging (John 17:17). What an incredible reminder that the apostle John6 recorded for us!
As Christians in America, we don’t celebrate because everything is perfect. Instead, we celebrate because we know Who holds the future, and we are called to be salt and light in our nation today.
John Witherspoon7, a pastor and signer of the Declaration of Independence, put it this way:
“He is the best friend to American liberty who is the most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion.”
Living in truth means we speak with grace, act with conviction, and stand without fear. Because our hearts are anchored in Christ – and only because of this – we have a true hope and it’s not misplaced in America.
The more we cling to God’s truth, the freer we actually become as Americans and as citizens of a kingdom that cannot be shaken! Praise God, right??
🎇 So This Fourth of July…Yes! Let’s celebrate! Celebrate in joy because our hearts are full of gratitude and lives grounded in purpose.
Let’s smile at the parades, savor the sparklers, eat the watermelon, and sing the songs.
Let’s read Scripture and the stories of those who sacrificed to secure our freedoms.
Let’s live lives that are right before God.
It’s okay to love your country!
It’s okay to be patriotic!
We have a great nation under God! Never forget that and always live to preserve that! George Washington8 once said, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”
So, let’s be people who read deeply, live rightly, and stand firmly. That’s a patriotism worth celebrating and a faith worth living.
Take It Home: Living Gratefully and Faithfully This Week
1. Read the truth.
Spend time in Scripture each day this week, and read a quote or passage from our founding history. Let God’s Word shape your thinking and inspire your gratitude.
2. Celebrate with joy.
Let yourself enjoy this season. Rejoice in the beauty of a grilled meal, a sparkler, a conversation. Celebration is a form of resistance in a world bent on complaint.
3. Teach the next generation.
Why not share stories of Scripture, sacrifice, and faithful citizenship. Show your children (or grandchildren) that love for God and country can and should go hand-in-hand.
4. Practice one act of civic gratitude.
Say thank you to a veteran, display the flag, write a prayer for our leaders. Let your freedom express itself in love.
5. Stand for truth with grace.
Speak gently but clearly in a culture that’s confused. Let your life reflect God’s truth unapologetically and with grace.
Free Download: Patriotic Wallpaper Collection
Want a little more encouragement in your everyday scroll? I’ve created a beautiful set of downloadable wallpapers for your phone, tablet, and computer—featuring patriotic backgrounds with Scriptures and quotations that remind you of the gift of freedom and the joy of living it out with purpose. You can add them to your device easily and enjoy them all month and beyond.
They’re free when you join my email list and leave a happy, thoughtful, comment or question below. Look for the purple “Let’s Connect!” box and get on my mailing list today and I’ll send you these encouraging (and free!) downloads! Yay!
Meet Great Leaders
Who were the men and women who laid such a wise foundation for our nation? I think you’ll enjoy this brief introduction. And what about the men who came long before them? They laid the foundation for our faith and, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote the words that bring us true life and liberty in Christ today! Here’s a little more about each of them:
- James (1st Century AD)
The half-brother of Jesus and a pillar of the early Church in Jerusalem, James was known for his wisdom, humility, and faith in action. His epistle challenges believers to live out their faith with integrity, justice, and mercy. He was eventually martyred for his faith, remaining steadfast in his devotion to Christ.
📖 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17)
→ A timely reminder that how we live and lead as believers should reflect the character of Christ. ↩︎ - Abigail Adams (1744–1818) Wife of John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams, Abigail was a devoted Christian, sharp political thinker, and trusted advisor to her husband during the founding of America. Her letters reflect a deep reliance on Scripture and an unflinching commitment to virtue, liberty, and education especially for women. Her wisdom and moral clarity continue to inspire generations. ↩︎
- Peter Marshall (1902–1949) A Scottish-American preacher and gifted orator, Peter Marshall served as Chaplain of the U.S. Senate from 1947 until his death. Known for his poetic and powerful prayers, he reminded America’s leaders that righteousness and national strength go hand in hand. His messages were so moving they were compiled and preserved by his wife, Catherine, in the bestselling biography A Man Called Peter. ↩︎
- Catherine Marshall (1914–1983) Wife of Peter Marshall and a widely beloved Christian author, Catherine shared her husband’s legacy through her writing. Her book A Man Called Peter became a national bestseller and later a film, inspiring faith and patriotism across the country. She also penned Christy and other influential works that brought biblical values and heartfelt storytelling into American homes. ↩︎
- Paul (1st Century AD)
A former persecutor of the Church turned apostle by the grace of Christ, Paul wrote much of the New Testament and shaped the theology of the early Church. His letters are filled with bold truth, deep doctrine, and pastoral encouragement. Beaten, imprisoned, and ultimately martyred, Paul lived and died proclaiming the freedom found only in the Gospel.
📖 “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
→ A powerful exhortation to use our spiritual and civic freedom not to turn inward, but to stand firm in grace and walk in righteousness. ↩︎ - John (1st Century AD)
The beloved disciple of Jesus and the author of the Gospel of John, three epistles, and the book of Revelation. John witnessed Christ’s ministry firsthand and wrote powerfully of love, truth, and eternal life. Exiled for his faith, he remained faithful to the end, calling the Church to walk in light and remain rooted in God’s love.
📖 “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
→ In a culture of empty slogans and political posturing, John calls us to a love that acts, is grounded in truth, and is lived out faithfully. ↩︎ - John Witherspoon (1723–1794) A Presbyterian minister, educator, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Witherspoon was the only clergyman among the Founders. As president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton), he trained many future leaders and believed firmly in the connection between liberty and the moral guidance of Scripture. His sermons and speeches continue to echo the call for faith-fueled citizenship. ↩︎
- George Washington (1732–1799) America’s first President and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, Washington was known for his humility, leadership, and unwavering commitment to divine providence. Though not a theologian, his writings reveal a reverence for Scripture and a conviction that moral character was essential for a free republic. He often attributed America’s survival and success to the hand of God. ↩︎
As always, I appreciate your thoughts and comments.
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