Preaching on the Fourth of July Is Complicated

When I preached most Sundays, the Fourth of July weekend always presented a challenge. I love the United States, and Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. Most years, I spend it in Canyon, Texas—a town with a vibrant parade, a festival in the square, and a fireworks show that lights up the sky.

I love what Independence Day stands for. I’m stirred by the familiar words:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights...”*