As a child growing up in Eastern Kentucky, I was very aware of our nation’s 200th birthday. It seemed that the entire nation was enthralled and actively celebrating. Even my local community of Paintsville, Kentucky, a small town of 6,000 people, became engaged in its own patriotic efforts, such as parades and contests. My dad, pastor of a local church, was never one to miss a great opportunity to bring new people into our church. He declared that Sunday would be used not only to worship God but also to recognize our great nation. I remember fondly the “50 Voice Freedom Choir” wearing red, white, and blue and singing patriotic music like “God Bless America.” He followed with a fiery message that ended with an appeal to come forward and dedicate your life to Christ. The day concluded with a large outdoor potluck lunch prepared by the best cooks in the world—local women. This was the post-Vietnam, Gerald Ford era, so there must have been naysayers, but I honestly cannot remember any. Even my local public school participated in patriotic celebratory displays.
These childhood memories of a nation united in gratitude and patriotic pride, contrasting with the questions many Americans are asking today about our national identity and future, naturally lead to a larger question: have we lost that spirit and spiraled down a rabbit hole of self-hate, or can America once again find its voice and unify in recognition of American exceptionalism?
I am optimistic! We as a nation are no doubt an “imperfect union” of people from numerous countries around the globe. Each state has a distinct character and charm, as well as its own challenges. Our history makes us proud, but we also know that we do not always get it right; we had to literally fight a war to end slavery, and fight we did. We have worked hard to combat illiteracy and promote the recognition of God-given human rights. However, what many refuse to acknowledge is that what makes us uniquely successful stems directly from our founding in Biblical Truth.
America’s founding was deeply rooted in Christian principles, as expressed by its Founding Fathers. John Adams stated, “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” George Washington affirmed, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” This Biblical worldview—that humans are endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights—guided the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, highlighting liberty, equality, and justice as divine mandates and thereby encouraging a culture of innovation, the rule of law, and the exercise of free enterprise.
As we celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, we reflect on God’s blessings over our nation. We celebrate the uniqueness of every life created in His image and hold tight to the principles of our founding. Let us each take a moment this monumental Independence Day to renew our commitment to and stewardship of these principles that have made us a beacon of freedom to the world.
Happy 250th birthday to America!
