The Fourth of July. A day set aside to remember the United States’ declaration of independence. The birthday of a nation—when flags are raised, colors are worn, and patriotic songs are sung.
And yet, for some, it may feel difficult to wave red, white, and blue because so much feels uneasy in this country. When war is on the horizon, immigrants fear deportation, and essential systems like education, food assistance, and healthcare hang in the balance, it can be hard to muster celebration. How do you honor a nation that seems to be drifting from its own ideals?
For many Christians, the answer lies not in blind celebration but in faithful engagement. This was the way of Jesus.
Jesus the Advocate
Jesus sought out the marginalized—the sick, the excluded, the poor—and met them where they were. He disrupted governing systems that valued rule-following over people’s well-being, like healing on the Sabbath. He reinterpreted scripture in ways that liberated rather than burdened. He turned questions into opportunities for collective awakening and told parables that gave courage to the poor and shook the foundations of the elite. Jesus did not sidestep the powers of his day. He subverted them and publicly opposed unjust laws and systems—nonviolently, creatively, consistently. This is advocacy.
The Call to Advocacy
Advocacy is the work of public support for a specific cause. Jesus showed us that advocacy is not optional in the life of faith. It is the sacred act of being with and for those pushed to the margins. Advocacy is not only civic engagement; it’s discipleship. It’s using our voices, platforms, bodies, and votes to challenge systems that harm and to imagine communities that heal.
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out; judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8–9
As followers of Christ, our call is to bear prophetic witness—to speak truth, to lament injustice, and to imagine boldly. Our children and youth deserve to know that faith is not passive; it’s alive, brave, and justice-seeking. Advocacy in our faith communities forms disciples. It honors our sacred stories and calls forth God’s vision of flourishing for all.
From Charity to Systemic Change
Many churches are great at responding to human need through acts of charity: food pantries, clothing closets, emergency shelters. Charity asks, “Who is hungry, and how can we feed them today?” These acts are deeply necessary and reflect the compassion of Christ.
Advocacy moves us beyond charity. It is the faithful work of aligning ourselves with God’s vision for justice and collective liberation. Advocacy asks, “Why are people hungry in the first place?”
Advocacy pushes deeper, beyond charity and requires systemic change. It names what is broken, refuses to look away, and acts to make a change. It listens, learns, and acts in solidarity. Advocacy is the role of Christians not only to serve, but to speak up.
How to be an Advocate Today
As followers of Jesus, we are called to ask: Who is in need? How can we help? What systems, laws, and policies must change for lasting healing to occur?
Advocacy takes many forms: writing letters, calling your representatives to support public education, attending a rally in defense of human rights, having conversations with public officials about immigration policies and their real-life impacts…the list goes on.
When Jesus challenged the powers of his day, he pointed his followers and us toward advocating for a better way. One that prioritizes person over policy.
What Kind of Freedom Are We Celebrating?
This Fourth of July, as we witness rising Christian nationalism, systemic voter suppression, and intentional harm to the most vulnerable through budget cuts and militarization, the church must not be silent. This Fourth of July, as we hear echoes of liberty and independence, let’s remember what true freedom is, the kind Jesus proclaimed. It was never about empire, dominance, or exclusion. It was about releasing the captives, recovering the broken, and bringing justice to the poor.
Let’s ask ourselves, “What kind of freedom are we celebrating?”
If it’s not collective, it’s not liberation.
If it’s not rooted in justice, it’s not Gospel.
And if it doesn’t confront empire, it’s not Christ-like.
A Faithful Path Forward
May we be reminded that our call as Christians is to hold this country accountable to its promises. Two things can be true: we can love our country and be angry at its current policies. We can be grateful for all our country has provided and acknowledge all the hurt it has caused. We can wear red, white, and blue and put a flag in our front yard, and make the commitment to advocate for the flourishing of all.
Today, as we mark Independence Day, may we not only remember how freedom was declared but also commit to working for freedom for all.
Let’s raise our voices. Let’s resist injustice. And let’s embrace advocacy as our call.
Additional posts below if you’re ready to dive deeper…
Eileen Koppenhaver says
I saw this post July 5th. The day after the big celebration day. You said what I was feeling! I have never felt so ashamed of our country. I struggle to be identified as an American now. We have had our problems in the past with caring for others, respecting people from other nations but we tried. Now we have a government voted by the majority of Americans that has turned their backs on the teachings of Christ. Not only Christian but Jewish, Islam and other religions.