We’re getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July and America’s 250th birthday. There’s something about the Fourth of July that always feels nostalgic. Many finds us thinking back to time spent with family, watching fireworks, and enjoying classic foods like hot dogs, baked beans, and watermelon. We picture flags waving across the country, sparklers glowing in the evening, and red, white, and blue banners hanging from streetlamps. What other precious memories does this holiday bring back for you?

The Fourth of July is about more than patriotic pride or even nostalgia. It is a day to reflect on the enduring ideal of freedom life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for which many have bravely sacrificed. When we think about the Fourth of July and notion of freedom that we celebrate and build our nation upon, we ask what is means to follow the ways of Christ. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Apostle Paul wrote, “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, NIV) For Paul, freedom lived well is not just doing or saying what we want, but looking out for others, creating space for others to grow.  Freedom for Paul, and for those following the way of Christ today, is not about selfish ways. It is about being a blessing for others in the name of love. This can be a difficult word for some. This method to freedom means that the privileged will sometimes have to surrender some of their privileges to make sure that both they and others can pursue life, liberty, and happiness. It means that we are as concerned with the freedoms of others as we are with freedoms for self. For the Christian, freedom brings both the opportunity and the responsibility to serve and stand for others, not simply to gather personal rights and privileges at the expense of others.

As we head into this Fourth of July and America’s 250th birthday, it is helpful to spend time reflecting on freedom, this beautiful, even if imperfect, ideal expressed in the Declaration of Independence. How can you be both grateful for the freedoms that you experience and show empathy towards others still crying out for freedom?  How can you use your freedoms to serve out of love, rather than pursue selfish acts?  These are the questions that we, the followers of Jesus, must think about.

Together we are the hands and feet of Christ.