America: The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave

July 4, 2025

America: the land of the free and the home of the brave

Every year, millions of Americans gather to celebrate their freedom by grilling out with family, lounging in a pool with friends, and watching fireworks illuminate the sky. However, if we’re honest with ourselves, we rarely slow down to contemplate the cost of this freedom. If you watch the news at all, you can’t help but be bombarded with the atrocities of our fallen world. It seems that everywhere we turn, there are freedoms being taken away while injustice runs rampant. So, I find myself filled with a heart of gratitude that I live in a country that allows me to worship my God freely. Yet, I am deeply aware that not all Christians get to celebrate this freedom.

Unfortunately, this is not a new reality in the history of Christianity. In fact, early church father Tertullian stated that “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.” I recently found myself astounded by this reality as I read about two women, Perpetua and Felicitas, who were martyred in the arenas of Carthage (or modern-day North Africa), in 202 AD because they were unashamed to share their faith.*

You could say that Perpetua and Felicitas had unusual circumstances – even for martyrs! At the time of their imprisonment, Perpetua was still nursing her son, and Felicitas was eight months pregnant. Perpetua kept her son with her in prison so that she could continue to care for him; she found herself overcome with anxiety about his future. However, God gifted her a vision and promised that her son would be cared for. Sure enough, a few days later her son no longer wanted to nurse, and her milk had dried up. Perpetua had a new sense of peace, knowing that God would take care of her and her child after her death.

Felicitas’ unique experience of motherhood also gave her comfort as she approached death. Felicitas and her fellow prisoners prayed fervently that she would go into labor early. God answered their prayer, and she gave birth to her daughter. As the guards mocked her for her suffering, Felicitas knew that her suffering in childbirth uniquely linked her to Christ’s suffering and passionate love on the cross.

Even though Perpetua and Felicitas died together as martyrs in the arena, they both found immense joy and freedom in Christ when all other freedoms had been stripped away – even their right to live. How much more joy in Christ can we find in this country today? Paul tells that “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1a NRSVue). We are not free from this world, but we have freedom to live in Christ. So, as we gather this Fourth of July, may we remember the cost of our freedom, both physical and spiritual, and live fully transformed in the grace of our Savior.

*Women in the Mission of the Church: Their Opportunities and Obstacles throughout Christian History, by Leanne M. Dzubinski and Anneke H. Stasson

by Grace Kann, Elwood, IN
Body & Soul® Spiritual Impact Team

Body and Soul® Fitness is an international Christian fitness organization that trains and equips instructors to lead a variety of group fitness programs including choreographed aerobics-style Cardio Strength & Flexibility™, cardio dance style Dance Blast™, free-weights-focused Power Strength™, boot camp style FIT360™ and Longevity FIT360™, and GOLD™ - lower impact programming for participants that are pregnant, have weight challenges, injuries, or other medical conditions. These exercise classes meet in church gyms, community centers, gymnasiums, parking lots, schools, etc. across the United States, Europe, and Africa. In-person and virtual fitness classes are available.

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