“‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV)

As fireworks light up the sky and flags wave boldly in the wind, Independence Day reminds us of the incredible gift of freedom we have in America. We honor the sacrifice of those who bled and believed for liberty’s sake. Their courage echoes through generations, leaving us with a heritage marked by justice, resilience, and the right to choose our own path. For many, it’s a time to reflect on the rights we hold as citizens of a free nation.

But for those who walk in step with Jesus, this day carries an even deeper resonance. Beyond political freedom and civil liberties lies a more profound reality—the spiritual freedom secured by the blood of Christ. It’s a freedom not earned by battle, but granted by grace. Not won through revolution, but through redemption.

In Christ, we’re not just freed from something—we’re freed for something.

Freedom in Jesus is more than a release from the chains of sin, guilt, and shame. It’s an invitation into purpose. It’s liberty with direction. When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he wasn’t trying to stifle their newfound liberty; he was calling them to something greater than indulgence. He was reminding them—and us—that not everything that’s permissible is beneficial, and that true freedom isn’t found in doing what we want, but in becoming who we were made to be.

That’s what this blog today is about.

As we celebrate freedom, let’s consider how we’re using the freedom we’ve been given—not just in our nation, but in our walk with Christ. Are we using our liberty to live louder for the Kingdom, or are we drifting toward self-centered living cloaked in spiritual terms? The world may define freedom as doing whatever pleases us. But Scripture calls us to a higher definition: doing what glorifies God and serves others.

This Independence Day, let’s not just wave the flag of freedom—let’s carry the cross with conviction.

Because in the Kingdom of God, freedom is not the finish line—it’s the starting point of a life lived on mission.

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Not Just Free—Freed for Something Greater

When Paul addresses the Corinthian believers, he’s confronting a cultural mindset that resonates all too well with our modern world: “If it’s allowed, it must be good. If it feels right, it must be right.” But Paul, led by the Spirit, offers a sobering correction—just because something is allowed doesn’t mean it’s beneficial. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

True Christian freedom isn’t a license to live recklessly—it’s the liberty to live righteously.

In Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin, but that doesn’t mean we’re autonomous wanderers. We are servants of a better Master. The Gospel sets us free from the oppression of the flesh and invites us into the joy of obedience. It removes condemnation and replaces it with calling.

This is why Paul was so adamant: “I will not be dominated by anything.” Freedom in Christ means we don’t live under the domination of the law, but we also don’t live under the domination of our desires. We are free, yes—but not directionless. Our freedom is a doorway into a Spirit-filled life marked by holiness, humility, and purpose.

And here’s the part we often overlook: your freedom isn’t just for you.

Yes, you’ve been set free from shame, addiction, guilt, and fear—but not just so you can live more comfortably. You’ve been freed to live more intentionally. The grace that saves you also sends you. The liberty you walk in is meant to reflect the One who liberated you.

That’s where the conversation shifts from internal liberty to external impact—from enjoying freedom to stewarding it. And that brings us to one of the most overlooked responsibilities in the Christian life: how we manage our influence.

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The Weight of Influence

Whether you realize it or not, you are a person of influence.

Influence isn’t limited to stages, titles, or follower counts. It’s not reserved for pastors, public speakers, or social media personalities. Influence is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. It’s present in the way we parent our children, serve our neighbors, interact with coworkers, and engage with the cashier at the grocery store. Influence is about impact—how your life shapes the lives of those around you.

And here’s the humbling truth: your freedom in Christ amplifies your influence.

Paul wrote to the church in Galatia:

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

– Galatians 5:13

In other words, your freedom isn’t just personal—it’s missional. It’s not just about what you’ve been saved from, but what you’ve been saved for. The liberty you’ve received isn’t meant to end with your own comfort; it’s designed to glorify God and uplift others.

The Corinthian church, like most people today, struggled with using freedom selfishly. Their newfound liberty became a loophole for compromise. Rather than asking, “Does this glorify God and help others?” they asked, “What can I get away with?” Paul’s response wasn’t just theological—it was pastoral. He was urging them to view their choices through the lens of love.

Because when it comes to the Christian life, freedom is always tethered to responsibility.

Think about the influence of your words. The jokes you tell. The opinions you post. The entertainment you endorse. The behaviors you excuse. These aren’t just isolated choices—they’re seeds sown into the soil of someone else’s spiritual journey. And while God holds each person accountable for their own walk, He also holds us accountable for how we might help or hinder another’s pursuit of Christ.

Jesus gave it to us pretty plainly:

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

– Matthew 18:6

That’s how seriously God takes the influence of our lives.

This is not meant to produce guilt, but gravity. There is weight to your witness.

When you understand the influence you carry, you begin to evaluate your freedom differently. You don’t ask, “Is this allowed?”—you ask, “Is this loving?” You don’t just wonder if something is right for you—you ask if it’s helpful for them.

It’s the difference between living permissively and living purposefully.

So what does it look like to live with that kind of intentionality?

It means filtering your decisions through both Scripture and love. It means laying down your preferences if they might lead another believer into confusion, temptation, or compromise. It means refusing to let your liberty become someone else’s stumbling block.

And that brings us to the heart of the matter: when we live from a posture of love, our freedom becomes a tool for building others up, not tearing them down.

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Freedom That Builds

Our culture equates freedom with doing what we want—on our own terms, in our own timing, and often without accountability. But biblical freedom tells a very different story. Freedom in Christ is not a permission slip for personal indulgence—it is a divine invitation to live purposefully, love sacrificially, and reflect the heart of God to a watching world.

“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:24

To fully understand the weight of Paul’s words, we must consider the context of the Corinthian church. Corinth was a cosmopolitan, multicultural port city in ancient Greece—flooded with wealth, religious pluralism, and moral looseness. It was a place where status, personal rights, and public image were held in the highest regard. Sound familiar?

Many new believers in Corinth had been set free from pagan idol worship, legalism, and sexual immorality. But instead of walking in humble gratitude, some used their newfound liberty as a banner of superiority. They flaunted their freedom—eating food sacrificed to idols, participating in questionable social settings, and dismissing the convictions of more vulnerable believers—all under the banner of Christian liberty.

Paul’s rebuke wasn’t about food—it was about the heart. It was about posture.

He wasn’t calling for a return to legalism, but for a maturity of love. For Paul, Christian liberty must always be tempered by Christian responsibility. His call to the Corinthian church, and to us today, is this: Freedom must build up—it must never tear down.

This challenge still speaks today because we live in a culture that celebrates the self: my rights, my voice, my truth, my freedom. But Paul reminds us that Christian freedom is radically countercultural. It doesn’t center on self—it centers on others. The mature believer understands that what is permissible is not always beneficial—and that what is beneficial is often what costs us the most.

In the Kingdom of God, just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Biblical freedom is not aimless liberty—it is focused love. It doesn’t ask, “What can I get away with?” but rather, “What builds up the body of Christ?” Your freedom, when rightly stewarded, becomes a powerful tool for encouragement, protection, and discipleship. But when misused, it becomes a quiet force of confusion, compromise, or even spiritual harm in the lives of others.

Friend, freedom is never neutral.
It either cultivates spiritual maturity—or caters to selfish desires.
It either builds others up—or slowly breaks them down.

So this Independence Day, as we celebrate the gift of national liberty, let’s also renew our commitment to a higher calling: to live as those who gladly submit their freedom to the lordship of Jesus. He is not only the Savior who liberates us—He is the King who governs how we live out that liberty.

Take a moment to pause and examine yourself:

• Am I using my freedom to serve others—or to satisfy myself?
• Do my choices glorify God and build up the faith of those around me?
• Where might I be unintentionally using my liberty in ways that undermine the gospel I claim to represent?

These questions aren’t meant to condemn—but to sanctify. Because God didn’t set you free for aimless comfort—He set you free for eternal impact. A life that reflects Jesus won’t always be convenient, but it will always be worth it.

You have incredible influence. And with that influence comes holy responsibility. Let your life preach the Gospel in the way you love, lead, post, decide, and serve. Let your freedom speak of Jesus—not just in what you avoid, but in what you build.

Because in the Kingdom of God, freedom isn’t about doing less—it’s about becoming more.
More surrendered.
More purposeful.
More like Jesus.

So wave the flag. Enjoy the cookout. Celebrate well.
But let your greatest act of freedom be this: living for the good of others and the glory of God.