5 Reasons Christians Should Celebrate the 4th of July

As fireworks light up the sky and star spangled banners wave across the nation, many Americans pause on July 4th to celebrate the topic which was the focus of my doctoral dissertation—freedom. But why exactly do we celebrate freedom? Is it just tradition? Fireworks and grilled burgers or hot dogs? Or is there something deeper—something that reaches beyond politics and touches metaphysical reality?

I believe there is. In fact, I’d argue that the 4th of July is one of the most philosophically and theologically significant holidays we have—just like Christmas and Easter. It’s a celebration not merely of American independence—but of objective truth, real human rights, and the God who grounds them both.

So here are 5 reasons I believe every Christian American—and every freedom-loving person around the world—should celebrate the 4th of July.

1. America Was Founded on Theological Truth

The Declaration of Independence boldly affirms:

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

That’s not mere poetry. . . it’s a metaphysical statement about the origin and grounding of objective human rights. These cherished rights (which we all claim to have) cannot come from kings, constitutions, or cultures. They can only come fromGod. And our Founding Fathers understood this.

If we’re not created on purpose and for a specific purpose—if we’re just accidents of nature—then any claim to “rights” is nothing more than a subjective human convention. But if the Creator exists, and He made all people in His image and likeness, then rights like life, liberty, and moral dignity are real. They’re objective and unalienable because they correspond to ultimate reality—a Maximally Great Being (God) and His creative intent and design plan.

That is to say, our cherished objective and unalienable rights come from God.

That’s not just a reason to wave the American flag on the Fourth of July. That’s a reason to praise God!

2. The American Flag Symbolizes the Fight for Objective Goodness

When I see the Stars and Stripes, I don’t see a perfect nation—I see an objectively true foundation. The American flag doesn’t stand for America's sins; it stands for the principles that allowed us to repent of them and correct them. That's why I love America!

Slavery is evil. Racism is evil, abortion is evil, and sexually mutilating confused kids (transgenderism) is evil. But how do we know these things are evil? Because there’s an objective moral standard—rooted in the Creator—against whom we measure right and wrong, good and bad, justice and injustice.

The Stars and Stripes remind us that America, at its best, aligns itself with that objective perfect standard. And at our worst, it's that very standard of perfection that calls us back.

3. Atheism Undermines the American Experiment

The Declaration of Independence only makes sense if God exists. If there’s no Creator, then humans weren’t created equal. If we weren’t created on purpose and for a specific purpose, we’re just cosmic accidents—and our so called “rights” are nothing more than subjective and imaginary preferences.

If atheism were true, humans would have no more objective and unalienable rights than mosquitoes and cancer cells. 

That’s why I’ve often shared this formal argument:

The Declaration of Independence Argument

1. If God does not exist, then the Declaration of Independence is false and humans do not possess objective and unalienable rights which ought not be violated by anyone (including governments).

2. The Declaration of Independence is true and humans do possess objective and unalienable rights which ought not be violated by anyone (including governments).

3. Therefore, God exists.

If we affirm human dignity and liberty, we must also affirm the God who makes those things possible. To celebrate the 4th of July while denying the Creator is like admiring a masterpiece work of art while rejecting the artist.

4. True American Nationalism Defends All Humans

Nationalism often gets a bad rap—and sometimes for good reason. But not all forms of nationalism are created equal. (See what I did there?)

American Nationalism, rightly understood, is not about race or superiority of genetics. It’s about defending the uniquely philosophical and theological ideas that are the foundation of our nation: that all people are created equal and endowed with rights by God—not government.

That’s why I say: if you’re a Christian, you should be an American Nationalist in this right sense. Because Christianity affirms everything the Declaration points to: universal dignity, moral responsibility, and equal worth under God. To love your neighbor is to defend their rights—and America’s founding creed gets that exactly right.

5. The 4th of July Points Us to Eternity

Freedom on earth is only a glimmer of what we were made for: eternal freedom in Christ.

The moral framework that undergirds America—objective purpose, libertarian freedom, and eternal consequences—isn't just good political philosophy. It’s eternal theology. As I’ve argued elsewhere, a robust moral foundation requires:

1. That humans were created on purpose and for a purpose,

2. That we have the power to freely choose (or not) to align with that purpose, and

3. That there are real consequences for how we freely choose to live.

All of this collapses under atheism. But it stands strong on Christian theism.

So when we celebrate Independence Day, we’re not just honoring a nation—we’re recognizing eternal truths: that God created us in love, on purpose and for the specific purpose to love God and all others, endowed us with the freedom to make love possible, and calls us to use that freedom for the good of our neighbors.

When America lives consistently with it's foundational philosophy of freedom, humans flourish.

Conclusion: Why I Celebrate

I don’t celebrate the 4th of July because I think America is perfect. I celebrate America becauseour theological and philosophical foundations are objectively true.

At its best, America reflects the heart of Jesus: a love for truth, a passion for liberty, and a commitment to the inherent worth of every human being.

So light the fireworks, grill the burgers, and enjoy the freedoms we’ve been given. But don’t forget where they come from. And don’t stop fighting to defend them.

God bless America—and Happy Independence Day.

Stay reasonable (Isaiah 1:18),

Dr. Tim Stratton