No matter what day of the week it falls on, people get excited at the prospect of 4th of July!  And why not?  Awe-inspiring fireworks, good food, and spending time with friends and family. The July 4th holiday gives us a chance to take a step back and once again look around and consider what’s important to us. For some, it may even be a time for finding Christianity with family and friends.

Savoring time with the ones we love

Fourth of July, of course, is celebrating our nation’s freedom; typically doing so while surrounded by the ones we love. Unlike other holidays that sometimes cause stress and discord because of big expectations of cooking elaborate meals or exchanging gifts, this holiday provides us the chance to just hang out and enjoy each other’s company. It’s times like that that can open opportunities to share your love of Christ with friends and family who may not yet have found Him. While we celebrate our forefathers, who fought for our freedom, Jesus did this for us on the cross and gave us eternal freedom! He also gave us personal freedom; no more chains of bondage from this life!  Christians can share their faith in a gentle and loving way, and celebrations can be an ideal time to do just that while savoring time with the ones we love.

How to share your faith

There is no one-size-fits-all way to share your faith with others. It’s the small gestures, and the large ones, that illustrate to others that you’re living a Godly life, yet still enjoy your life openly and joyfully. Here are a few ways every Christian can share their faith:

  • Be big hearted, show love and hospitality, and be generous – be the first one to lend a helping hand during a 4th of July picnic or event. Bring food, keep the kids occupied, help clean up…it all shows your Christian generosity.
  • Pray -it’s OK if those around you don’t pray before digging into that watermelon or potato salad. Say a simple and sincere prayer. People are watching and will know your faith.
  • Be authentic and relatable – while you want to share your faith with others, do so in a way that will enlighten and inspire then, not make them feel uncomfortable or put on the spot. Tell your story what Christ has done for you in your life.  Be the testimony.
  • Just have a conversation – bring your faith into the conversation without being preachy. Share your love for Christ and how faith inspired you. Inspire people to find their own path to Christianity.

Not sure 4th of July is the time for such discussions? Consider this

Here are a few fun facts that you may not know about July 4th, our freedom, and Christianity:

  • John Adams believed that the Fourth of Julyshould be a religious holiday.
  • Molded into the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia (which proclaimed our independence) are these words from the Bible: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10)
  • The Declaration of Independence issued from Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, included four separate references to God.

Remembering what we’re celebrating this 4th of July

We’re celebrating our independence this July 4th; that independence includes our religious freedom. Our country’s founding fathers related our freedom with the freedom to praise and glorify God in this country. Through our words and our actions, we should find time this holiday to thank God for all that we have, and to share that thankfulness with others. Have a happy and safe 4th of July!