July 5th, 2026
by Lars Dahl
by Lars Dahl
As Americans celebrate 250 years of independence, there's a profound question worth asking: What are we doing with our freedom?
The celebration of national independence offers a perfect moment to reflect on something even greater: the eternal freedom we've been given through Jesus Christ. While flags wave and fireworks light up the sky, we must remember that the freedoms we enjoy in our nation exist under the sovereign hand of God Himself.
The Source of All Freedom
The Declaration of Independence is a remarkable document, and America's military strength, economic power, and natural resources are impressive. Yet none of these things is the ultimate reason this nation has survived for two and a half centuries.
God is sovereign over all nations at all times.
The Apostle Paul made this abundantly clear in Acts 17:26-27: "From one man he made all nations that they should inhabit the whole earth, and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us."
Nations don't rise and fall by accident. God determines boundaries. He raises nations up and brings them down. America has survived because God has chosen to be merciful to us—not because we've earned it or deserve it more than any other nation.
The Danger of Misplaced Worship
Here's a critical distinction: We don't worship America. We worship Jesus Christ.
When the flag becomes our gospel, it becomes an idol. Patriotism itself can become idolatry when it asks for what only God deserves. The flag—with its 50 stars and 13 stripes- is a powerful symbol of earthly freedom. But the cross? The cross is the symbol of eternal freedom.
The cross changes everything. It represents substitutionary atonement—Jesus taking our place, receiving what we deserved, paying the penalty for our sins. Because of the cross, we have access to the throne room of God. Because of the cross, we can approach our Heavenly Father with confidence.
Our citizenship may say "United States of America" on our passports, but Philippians 3:20 reminds us: "But our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await the Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."
When Christ Comes First
We can love our country rightly when we love Christ supremely.
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, His answer was clear: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.
When Christ is at the center of everything, patriotism can be a healthy expression of gratitude. But when a country becomes first, patriotism morphs into something dangerous.
Idolatry always asks for what God only deserves.
We can be thankful for our nation and its many blessings without ignoring our need to repent. This is where 2 Chronicles 7:14 becomes so powerful: "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sins and will heal their land."
God calls His people in every nation to humility, prayer, and repentance. There is never a lack of hope because God hears our prayers and promises restoration.
What We Thank God For—And What We Must Repent Of
As a nation, we have much to be grateful for and much to repent of:
Proverbs 14:34 declares: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people." Notice what this verse doesn't say. It doesn't say that military strength, wealth, technology, political victories, or national pride exalts a nation. Righteousness exalts a nation.
The Church's Role in the Nation
What should the church do if we truly love our nation?
The answer isn't waving flags more loudly or adding to the political noise. The church's first contribution is not political noise; it's spiritual clarity.
We are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-14). Salt preserves, and light exposes. Like a single light visible from 35,000 feet over the darkness of North Dakota, the church is meant to shine where God has purposefully planted us.
The greatest threat to America isn't external enemies or what's happening in Washington, D.C. The greatest threat is what's happening in the churches. When the church becomes worldly, prayerless, fearful, silent, or compromised, the nation loses the very people called to shine the light.
Paul urges us in 1 Timothy 2:1-2: "I urge you, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness."
Before complaining on social media about America, pray. Before panicking about cultural changes, pray for revival in your own community. Before criticizing leaders, pray for them by name.
Two Essential Questions
As we celebrate freedom, two questions demand honest answers:
What are you doing with the freedom that American people have died for?
What are you doing with the freedom that Christ paid for?
Are you using that freedom to worship, raise God-fearing families, share the gospel, serve your neighbors, defend truth, protect the weak, and make disciples?
The question isn't whether we are free. The question is what we're doing with the God-given freedoms we've received.
The Ultimate Kingdom
Revelation 11:15 declares a stunning truth: "The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever."
America will not save America. America needs the church, not a sleepy church, not a calloused church, not a self-focused church, but a church willing to go into the community and share the gospel wherever people work, play, study, and shop.
Revelation 19:16 reminds us of Jesus' ultimate identity: "And he has on his robe and on his thigh a name that is written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
We've been given much, and from those to whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:48).
Let's steward the gift of freedom well, both the freedom won through sacrifice on battlefields and the eternal freedom won through sacrifice on a cross.
As you celebrate this season of independence, remember: true freedom isn't just about what we're free from. It's about who we're free to serve, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who reigns forever and ever.
The celebration of national independence offers a perfect moment to reflect on something even greater: the eternal freedom we've been given through Jesus Christ. While flags wave and fireworks light up the sky, we must remember that the freedoms we enjoy in our nation exist under the sovereign hand of God Himself.
The Source of All Freedom
The Declaration of Independence is a remarkable document, and America's military strength, economic power, and natural resources are impressive. Yet none of these things is the ultimate reason this nation has survived for two and a half centuries.
God is sovereign over all nations at all times.
The Apostle Paul made this abundantly clear in Acts 17:26-27: "From one man he made all nations that they should inhabit the whole earth, and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us."
Nations don't rise and fall by accident. God determines boundaries. He raises nations up and brings them down. America has survived because God has chosen to be merciful to us—not because we've earned it or deserve it more than any other nation.
The Danger of Misplaced Worship
Here's a critical distinction: We don't worship America. We worship Jesus Christ.
When the flag becomes our gospel, it becomes an idol. Patriotism itself can become idolatry when it asks for what only God deserves. The flag—with its 50 stars and 13 stripes- is a powerful symbol of earthly freedom. But the cross? The cross is the symbol of eternal freedom.
The cross changes everything. It represents substitutionary atonement—Jesus taking our place, receiving what we deserved, paying the penalty for our sins. Because of the cross, we have access to the throne room of God. Because of the cross, we can approach our Heavenly Father with confidence.
Our citizenship may say "United States of America" on our passports, but Philippians 3:20 reminds us: "But our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await the Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."
When Christ Comes First
We can love our country rightly when we love Christ supremely.
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, His answer was clear: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.
When Christ is at the center of everything, patriotism can be a healthy expression of gratitude. But when a country becomes first, patriotism morphs into something dangerous.
Idolatry always asks for what God only deserves.
We can be thankful for our nation and its many blessings without ignoring our need to repent. This is where 2 Chronicles 7:14 becomes so powerful: "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sins and will heal their land."
God calls His people in every nation to humility, prayer, and repentance. There is never a lack of hope because God hears our prayers and promises restoration.
What We Thank God For—And What We Must Repent Of
As a nation, we have much to be grateful for and much to repent of:
- We thank God for liberty, and we repent of using our liberty as an excuse for sin
- We thank God for prosperity, and we repent of greed and materialism
- We thank God for religious freedom, and we repent of spiritual laziness and calloused hearts
- We thank God for free speech, and we repent of using our tongues to slander, divide, mock, or destroy
- We thank God for the vulnerable, and we repent where human life has been treated as disposable
Proverbs 14:34 declares: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people." Notice what this verse doesn't say. It doesn't say that military strength, wealth, technology, political victories, or national pride exalts a nation. Righteousness exalts a nation.
The Church's Role in the Nation
What should the church do if we truly love our nation?
The answer isn't waving flags more loudly or adding to the political noise. The church's first contribution is not political noise; it's spiritual clarity.
We are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-14). Salt preserves, and light exposes. Like a single light visible from 35,000 feet over the darkness of North Dakota, the church is meant to shine where God has purposefully planted us.
The greatest threat to America isn't external enemies or what's happening in Washington, D.C. The greatest threat is what's happening in the churches. When the church becomes worldly, prayerless, fearful, silent, or compromised, the nation loses the very people called to shine the light.
Paul urges us in 1 Timothy 2:1-2: "I urge you, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness."
Before complaining on social media about America, pray. Before panicking about cultural changes, pray for revival in your own community. Before criticizing leaders, pray for them by name.
Two Essential Questions
As we celebrate freedom, two questions demand honest answers:
What are you doing with the freedom that American people have died for?
What are you doing with the freedom that Christ paid for?
Are you using that freedom to worship, raise God-fearing families, share the gospel, serve your neighbors, defend truth, protect the weak, and make disciples?
The question isn't whether we are free. The question is what we're doing with the God-given freedoms we've received.
The Ultimate Kingdom
Revelation 11:15 declares a stunning truth: "The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever."
America will not save America. America needs the church, not a sleepy church, not a calloused church, not a self-focused church, but a church willing to go into the community and share the gospel wherever people work, play, study, and shop.
Revelation 19:16 reminds us of Jesus' ultimate identity: "And he has on his robe and on his thigh a name that is written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
We've been given much, and from those to whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:48).
Let's steward the gift of freedom well, both the freedom won through sacrifice on battlefields and the eternal freedom won through sacrifice on a cross.
As you celebrate this season of independence, remember: true freedom isn't just about what we're free from. It's about who we're free to serve, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who reigns forever and ever.
Lars Dahl
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