Big Buts of the Bible

“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

Every Fourth of July, Americans pause to celebrate a remarkable gift. Freedom. This weekend we celebrate a milestone—for 250 years our nation has enjoyed liberties that countless generations around the world have longed for but never experienced. Happy 250^th, America! 

I would encourage some time of reflection this weekend—a pause to give thanks. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those who risked everything to secure those freedoms and to the generations who have sacrificed to preserve them. It is entirely fitting to thank God for the blessing of living in a nation where freedom has flourished and where religious liberty has allowed people of many faiths—and no faith—to worship, speak, and live according to conscience.

One of the defining cries of the American Revolution came from Patrick Henry: “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

And the Declaration of Independence boldly affirms: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”

Those words helped shape a nation.

But the Apostle Paul speaks of another kind of freedom. A deeper one.

Political freedom asks, What am I free from? The gospel asks, What am I now free to become?

That little word but in Galatians 5:13 changes everything.

“You were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

Paul doesn’t diminish freedom. He redefines its purpose. The greatest expression of freedom isn’t doing whatever we please. It’s finally becoming free enough to love well.

Free from shame. Free from bitterness. Free from living only for our own comfort. Free to forgive. Free to serve. Free to notice the lonely. Free to care for the hurting. Free to lay down our own preferences for someone else’s good.

That is a very different vision of liberty.

Our culture often defines freedom as the removal of restrictions. Jesus demonstrates freedom through the giving of Himself. One says, “No one tells me what to do.” The other says, “How can I love my neighbor today?”

That distinction matters.

As followers of Christ, we can deeply appreciate our nation’s freedoms without confusing them with God’s Kingdom. Nations rise and fall throughout history. Political systems change. Constitutions are amended. Elections come and go.

But the Kingdom Jesus announced rests upon something far more enduring than any earthly government. His Kingdom advances one humble act of love at a time.

One forgiven enemy.

One shared meal.

One encouraging word.

One burden carried together.

One life quietly changed by grace.

This Independence Day, as we celebrate our country, let us also remember that Christ has entrusted us with even greater freedom. Because that kind of freedom doesn’t simply change a nation. It changes hearts.

And changed hearts have always been where God’s greatest work begins.