With all these things, we love the Lord. And with all these things, we love ourselves. And with all these things, we love our neighbors; queer, gay, trans, and anything else. And we honor the choices they make with the bodies, the hearts, the souls, and the strengths God has appointed to them on this side of heaven.

Just imagine if the body of Christ were humbly receiving the dignity and worth conferred by Jesus and holding ourselves with this level of self-compassion. And then turning around and treating every person we encountered with the same. It would be earth-shattering. 

The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is a landmark, yet the question remains whether we have a shared patriotism and a cohesive American identity to celebrate?

Each week in The Christian Citizen, we publish a Religion News Roundup with summaries of religion news stories and links for those who want to read more.

Like my fellow Americans, I will take time this year to enjoy all the festivities associated with the celebration of the Fourth of July. However, I encourage people to remember the backs, the blood, the beatings, and the brutality associated with 246 years of slavery that laid the economic foundation for this country. This is the promise and the problem with our Independence Day!