Each year on the Fourth of July, Americans gather to commemorate the birth of a nation founded on ideals of liberty, equality, and democracy. Fireworks illuminate the sky, parades fill our streets, and grills sizzle in backyards from coast to coast. But as people of faith, particularly within the Reformed tradition, we are called to look deeper—to ask how our celebrations reflect not only our national identity but also our discipleship to Jesus Christ.
Beyond patriotic displays, the Fourth of July gives Christians a moment to reflect on the deeper call to justice, responsibility, and neighborly love found in scripture, our confessions, and the Social Witness Policy of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In today’s polarized political landscape, we can reclaim the holiday as a spiritual discipline: a moment to engage in active citizenship, prophetic witness, and neighborly love.
A Theological Lens on Freedom
Reformed theology reminds us that all human institutions, including our governments, are fallible and in constant need of reform. As the PC(U.S.A) Book of Order affirms, “The church is to be a community of faith, entrusting itself to God alone, even at the risk of losing its life” (F-1.0301). This means our allegiance is first and foremost to the reign of God—not to any nation, political party, or ideology.
Scripture invites us to understand freedom not as self-assertion but as service. The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 5:13, “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become servants to one another.” This radical vision of freedom as mutual responsibility offers a corrective to the individualism that can dominate national narratives.
Alternative Ways to Celebrate
Rather than rejecting the Fourth of July, what if we reframed it? What if we turned this national holiday into an occasion for deepening our spiritual life, public witness, and community engagement? Here are some faithful alternatives and additions to traditional festivities:
1. Join the “Hungry for Justice” Relay Fast
This Fourth of July, consider participating in the Hungry for Justice National Relay Fast—an interfaith action to protest proposed cuts to health care, food assistance, and other essential supports for vulnerable communities. Instead of a celebratory feast, this act of fasting invites individuals and congregations to embody solidarity with those most affected by unjust policies. Use the day to reflect on the biblical call to care for the widow, the orphan, and the stranger (Deut. 10:18-19), and to engage in advocacy shaped by PC(USA)’s longstanding commitment to economic justice. Whether you fast for a meal, a day, or offer prayerful support, this public witness offers a powerful way to connect our faith to action and our freedom to responsibility.
2. Engage in Civic Prayer and Public Worship
Organize a prayer vigil or worship service that lifts up the promise of liberty and the pain of its absence for many. Offer prayers for elected leaders of all parties, for those who serve the public good, and for the disenfranchised. Invite local faith leaders, political figures, community organizers, and impacted voices to speak and pray.
3. Participate in Acts of Advocacy
Use the day as a launchpad for faithful advocacy. Write letters to your legislators on issues that align with PC(USA) witness—climate justice, fair housing, voting rights, healthcare, immigration reform, or hunger. Visit our Action Center for resources. Let your freedom in Christ compel you to advocate for the freedom of others.
4. Practice Restorative Reflection
Hold space for lament. The Fourth of July can evoke mixed feelings—joy, pride, grief, anger. As the Confession of 1967 reminds us, “God has created the peoples of the earth to be one universal family.” Acknowledge the harm that has been done in the name of American exceptionalism. Pray for healing, listen deeply, and recommit to God’s call for justice.
5. Celebrate Creation and Creator
This Fourth of July, consider honoring God’s creation through a threefold act of spiritual and civic engagement. First, spend time in nature, perhaps by visiting a national park, forest, or public green space—not as tourists, but as stewards. Second, center Indigenous voices by learning the history of the land you are on—whose land it is, what treaties were made and broken, and how Indigenous communities continue to care for creation and seek justice. Third, engage with PC(USA)’s Earth Care Congregations, which offer worship, education, and resources to help churches live into their environmental commitments. Together, these practices remind us that the land is not a possession but a gift from God—one we are called to protect with humility, gratitude, and justice.
A Nonpartisan Witness
This reimagining is not about rejecting our country but loving it enough to tell the truth. It is about bearing witness to the good and the broken, the progress and the pain. It is a reminder that patriotism need not be blind loyalty; it can be honest, hopeful, and rooted in Christ’s vision of justice.
In a time of division, the church can be a bridge. As Presbyterians, we affirm the sovereignty of God, which frees us from fear and compels us toward courageous love. The Fourth of July, when reframed through faith, becomes an opportunity to celebrate not only independence, but interdependence.
Conclusion: Freedom for What?
As Christians in the United States, we live in the tension of civic responsibility and divine allegiance—navigating life within a nation while ultimately belonging to God’s kin-dom. May we use this holiday not merely to remember a historical moment, but to recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of justice, peacemaking, and the restoration of historic harms. Let us ask not only what we are free from, but what we are free for: to love God and neighbor with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Rev. Christina A. Cosby is the Representative for Domestic and Environmental Policy Concerns with the Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness in Washington,DC, where she advocates for policies rooted in social justice, human dignity, and environmental stewardship. A dynamic faith-based advocate, Christina bridges church values with government action, championing climate justice and domestic human needs. Previously, she served as Middle East and Europe Mission Specialist with former Presbyterian World Mission and as Director of Christian Formation at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. An ordained minister in the Presbytery of the Peaks, Christina holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Interpersonal Communication from Queens University of Charlotte.
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