A Fourth of July MessageAs I consider fitting words for a Fourth of July message, two words stand out—gratitude and concern. I am most grateful to live in the United States of America. This Fourth of

A Fourth of July Message

As I consider fitting words for a Fourth of July message, two words stand out—gratitude and concern.

I am most grateful to live in the United States of America. This Fourth of July, I see the chaos in the Middle East; the brutal war prosecuted against Ukraine by Russia; the authoritarian and aggressive Communist leadership in China; and the increasingly fragile Spiritual, economic, and military state of Western Europe.  Despite well understood challenges, America’s Spiritual, social, economic, and military capabilities are an incredibly welcome contrast. America is the unquestioned leader of the free world and must never cease to embrace this obligation and opportunity for leadership.

I would like to take this opportunity to offer a special message to the elected Republican/Libertarian representatives in my party, in particular Kentucky’s Junior U.S. Senator and Fourth District Congressman. Your advocacy for fiscal conservatism and military restraint is a helpful and appropriate voice in state and national political discourse. However, it cannot and should not be the end of the discussion. Hence, I feel a special need to provide a word of caution to you. Is it possible that your ideological “purity” serves your personal brand more than your constituents, particularly constituents who have campaigned for you and contributed to your campaigns? Do you understand that the forces of evil in our world care nothing about the Democratic ideals of our great nation and will revel at the thought of our elected leaders desiring to retreat from maintaining a strong military and robust defense of liberty? To be sure, I share your concern about our national debt and about placing our fighting men and women in harm’s way unless U.S. national security demands this. While I have not served in the military myself, I well understand the horror of war through my father’s service in the Third Infantry in WWII, including the historic Battle of the Bulge. War and the consequences of war are indeed Hell on Earth. But liberty and freedom are never inexpensive. It is incredibly naïve to believe otherwise. There can be no comfort in pursuing isolationism. America must be the leader of the free world today and in the future by pursuing peace through strength or deal with the consequences of this abdication with a hot war in the future that could breach our shores. Ronald Regan understood this very well and led and governed consistent with this understanding. Today’s troubled world requires nothing less. Peace through strength is not “nation building.” Is it possible that you could best serve your party and constituents by not standing for re-election when your current term ends?

Tyrants and dictators are the standard in most nations and this approach to governance is ascending rapidly before our very eyes. History makes clear that these repressive regimes will always seek to take advantage of any perception of weakness in America’s resolve but will think twice about aggression when confronted with a strong and determined America.

America is an exception with legislative and executive branch leaders at the state and national level elected by the voters. The fact that American citizens have a voice in determining the laws and direction of our nation is a privilege not to be taken for granted as this is not the case in most nations of the world. It is easy to believe that things were always this way and will always continue to be this way. As I discuss below, I am not nearly so confident that these blessings will continue unabated and undisturbed in the future.

Scripture tells us in James 1:17 that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” I have seen this Scripture, which Christians refer to as God’s common grace, evidenced in spades over the years as Americans of all stripes embraced and cherished First Amendment freedoms of Speech, Press, Religion, and the right to peacefully Assemble. Individuals and groups who may have had vastly different religious, political, and social convictions were largely able to live peacefully together and extend tolerance and grace to others who were different. Today I see an unfortunate fraying if not cracks in this social fabric. Having a different view from the prevailing secular culture has often now engendered a vitriolic attack that the person with the different view is not just someone with an opposing view but is someone of bad character who should be cancelled and silenced in the interest of the public good.  As a result of this dynamic, we are more likely to remain in our respective “tribes” where there is safety and security and not take the risk of being ostracized, cancelled, or even physically attacked for holding and sharing a viewpoint out of step with the prevailing culture. This development does not bode well for our nation and its future. If this is not tragic enough, just witness the recent murders of elected officials in Minnesota, an arson attack at the residence of the Governor of Pennsylvania, and the attempted assassinations of Republican members of Congress at a baseball practice in 2017, and Donald Trump in the 2024 Presidential campaign.

How should Christians respond to these challenges on this Fourth of July 2025? As stimulating as it might be, I do not believe the ultimate answer lies in the latest best-selling book or hearing the latest and greatest podcast on geopolitical issues.  As Christians we should pray for our nation without ceasing. James 5:16 tells us that “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working”. I am convinced that 1 Timothy 2:1-2 provides important advice for Christians when it commands that prayers be offered on behalf of our governmental and other leaders in our nation that they may seek to lead and govern in a way that allows citizens to live and enjoy quiet, godly, and dignified lives. If you believe as I do that the most vexing problems in our nation today have a spiritual root, it only makes sense to pray that God will grant knowledge and wisdom to our elected leaders at the state and national level  that they might govern competently and righteously on behalf of all of their constituents and avoid the temptation to act in their own selfish interest in whatever form that might take. The time for this type of prayer is now more than ever!

God bless you and thank you for the privilege of your time in reading my blog.