Friends,
Today, we celebrate America’s 250th birthday. 250 years. Let me give you some statistics to help put that number into perspective: 

According to World Population Review, the average nation lasts only 150 years. In my lifetime alone (I was born in the late 70’s), around 40 nations have come into existence, while over 20 have been dissolved. 

According to the University of Chicago Law School, since 1789, the average constitution a nation operates under lasts seventeen years. You read that right. Seventeen. By contrast, the US Constitution was drafted and signed on September 17th, 1787 and officially ratified and put into effect in 1789, making it the world’s longest-surviving written charter of government. 

Our Founders were imperfect and limited, just like we all are. This is why they were so quick to ask for God’s grace and help in the formation of this new nation. Of the 56 signers of the Declaration, most were Christians. Even men like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson–both of whom were (probably) Deists, at least at this point in their lives–had a great respect for the God of the Bible. While the United States was never “Christian” in the sense of having a national religion, the delegates to the Continental Congress certainly believed that their actions were taking place before–and needed the blessing of–the God who sent his Son, Jesus, for us. 

And, in God’s kindness, he blessed their efforts. In human history, no nation has ever produced as much innovation, wealth, freedom, or opportunity–and few have enjoyed the same degree of stability. Does that mean that America became “God’s chosen people,” or that we were better than all who had come before? Certainly not. But it’s a fact that we have been blessed beyond measure.

Now, have we perfectly lived up to the moral convictions and ideals upon which we were founded? Of course not. Sins like unbridled materialism, slavery and abortion–just to name a few–are crimes to which our nation can only plead “guilty as charged.” In fact, these sins appear even more egregious when seen against the backdrop of the stated spiritual commitments of our Founders and the moral convictions affirmed in both the Declaration and the Constitution. Jefferson recognized the incongruity when–considering our participation in the slave trade–he wrote, “I tremble for my country when I consider that God is just, and that his justice cannot sleep forever.” 

To deny either reality–our blessings or our sins–is to miss a major part of the story. 

So, as Americans, what do we do heading into our 250th birthday? Let me give you two suggestions. 

First, we should pray for our nation’s repentance (as well as our own, where needed), for God’s mercy, and for the gospel to spread like wildfire in our land. Interestingly, studies have shown that empires generally last between 220 and 250 years. While the definition of “empire” is open to interpretation, many would argue that, due to its military and diplomatic presence around the world, the US would fall into that category. Whether that’s the case or not–and whether we have a few more years or or a few more centuries as a republic–we should long for our friends and neighbors to know Jesus. We should long for our nation to turn away from evil and embrace just laws and practices that will bless our society by promoting good and restraining evil. 

Second, we should give thanks and celebrate. One of the best things about the US hosting the 2026 World Cup is seeing all the social media clips of soccer fans from around the world discovering American food, American stores, and American cities. Things we take for granted like (generally) safe cities, full grocery store shelves, free chips and salsa at restaurants and Buc-ee’s…these are the things our friends from abroad just can’t stop talking about. Their perspective will hopefully give us fresh eyes for the blessings we enjoy, large and small.

This weekend, I hope you take some time to thank God for his kindness to us as a nation–and that you have some fun celebrating it! 

No, America isn’t perfect. But at its best, it’s truly special. And good or bad, “special” or not, it’s where God has placed us at this time, for his own good purposes. Let’s steward our time and our opportunities well. 

Have a great Independence Day.

Grace & Peace,

Brian