✝️ Faith before flag: A July 4th reflection

Good morning, my brothers! This Fourth of July, as we fired up the grills and watched the fireworks, we celebrated the historically unprecedented freedoms and opportunities we enjoy in this great nation. But here’s a question that’s been on my heart: Can we love America deeply without worshipping her? Can we wave the flag high while bowing the knee to Jesus? The answer is yes … and understanding this distinction might be one of the most important truths we can teach our families this Independence Day weekend. Let’s go!

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This week’s manly topics (5-min read):

🇺🇸 PATRIOTISM How do we balance allegiances to the Country and the King we love? Let’s reflect on that as we enjoy Independence Day Weekend.
📰  NEWS Did you know you do not digest protein now as you did when you were younger (more great news!) Recent research offers an easy solution to save your muscle.
☸️ WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU Would you complete a quick, 7-question form that will help us know how MTM is helping you and how we can improve? 👇

PERSPECTIVE
Faith Before Flag: Loving Jesus More Than America

You and I love America and all that she stands for. America was built on biblical truth from its inception, and this foundation has been the very essence of our greatness. As a result, no other nation in history compares to us. 

We’ve been a force for good in the world and have stood for freedom and liberty throughout our history. When injustice occurs, our Constitution provides us with ways to rectify it.

This weekend, July 4th falls perfectly on a Friday. We celebrate the freedoms we enjoy, the blessings of prosperity, and the remarkable story of a nation built on courage and conviction. These gifts deserve celebrating. July 4th also reminds us that freedom comes at a cost. Many gave their lives so we could live ours with liberty.

If we stop there, though, we miss something important. America is great. Jesus is best.

As men of God, we love our country. But we must never worship it. Our loyalty must be to the Lamb before the flag. Patriotism is good. Idolatry is sin.

America's Biblical Foundation

From her inception, America’s story is deeply rooted in the light of Christian influence. Yesterday, like always, I read parts of the Declaration of Independence with my family. We focus on two lines:

And the last sentence before those famous signatures:

The first sentence shows us something clear. The founders knew all our rights come from our Creator. The second sentence shows us more. The founders relied on God’s protection. They called it divine Providence. They were willing to pay the ultimate price under His care.

In Their Own Words

The founders were far from perfect. Yet, almost all of them put God at the center of this nation’s birth. Hear them in their own words:

John Adams signed the Declaration, became our second president, and said this:

Patrick Henry gave us those famous words: “Give me liberty or give me death!” He also stated this:

Benjamin Rush signed the Declaration, too. He shared this:

George Washington spoke these words in his Farewell Address:

Christianity’s fingerprints are all over this nation’s foundation. Those truths were meant to support the nation. They were never meant to replace God’s Kingdom with America.

America is great. She’s not the New Jerusalem. She’s not the city on a hill that Jesus talked about. That’s His Church (Matthew 5:14). That’s not the United States of America.

Jesus Warns Against Divided Loyalties

The Gospel of Luke shows us a powerful moment. Jesus says:

Is Jesus telling us to hate our family? Is He telling us to hate our lives? No. He’s saying something different. Our love for Him must be so complete, so supreme, that every other love looks small next to it. Country included.

This includes patriotism. This includes politics. This includes the red, white, and blue. All small compared to our devotion to Christ.

We Are Soldiers in a Spiritual War

The American soldier carries a rifle. We carry the sword of the Spirit. That’s the Word of God.

Paul admonishes us:

This world is not our final battlefield. That includes America. That includes Ukraine. That includes the Middle East. We serve the King of kings. Our orders come from the Word of God. They don't come from the White House or Capitol Hill.

This doesn’t mean we withdraw. We must engage culture. We vote. We run for office. We lead. We protect. Yet, like our founding fathers, we never confuse the temporary with the eternal.

We’re not just American citizens. Even more importantly, we’re Kingdom men.

When Nations Fall, God Stands

America is a great nation. She’s the greatest in world history. She’s also fragile. The Roman Empire thought it would last forever. So did Babylon before them, and so did Assyria before them.

The Psalmist says:

Here’s the truth: If our hope is in elections, we’re hoping in the wrong place. If our hope is in politicians, we’re hoping in the wrong place. If our hope is in economics, we’re hoping in the wrong place. If our hope is even in America's survival, we’re hoping in the wrong place.

We can love our country and still weep for its sins. We weep for individual sins. We weep for collective sins as a nation. We can fly our flag high and still kneel humbly before Jesus.

We must never confuse our earthly nation with our eternal one.

What Kind of Men Does America Need?

This country needs more than just voters, more than just activists, more than just social media influencers. America needs godly men: men who love God and through whom God’s love and wisdom are expressed.

Men who fear the Lord more than we fear our government. Men who lead our homes in truth. Men who open our Bibles before we open our mouths. Men who speak up with boldness and humility, and bow down in prayer.

We need to be men who band together. Like our founders did. We need to be prepared to give our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor for the cause of Christ and the future of our families.

The future of this nation doesn’t rest on Washington. It rests on whether the Church will be the Church. Personal and national revival is the answer for all that troubles America and this world.

That starts with us.

Closing Challenge: Raise the Flag, But Bow the Knee

This Fourth of July weekend, we hope we can grill the burgers. Watch the fireworks. Wave the flag. Teach our kids about liberty.

Also, let’s gather our families to pray.

Let's thank God for our country and worship Him as our Savior.

We declare our allegiance to more than a nation that will pass away. We declare allegiance to a Kingdom that will last forever.

We don’t need less patriotism. We do need more perspective.

We love America. We love Jesus more.

We're grateful for freedom. We live like we’re already free.

We remember: We are More the Man when our identity comes not from the flag over our head, but from the cross that saved our soul and the empty tomb.

THIS JUST IN
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“… your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:19

Most men think they eat enough protein but research from the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism reveals we're falling short. A comprehensive study of older adults found that men over 50 need more protein than their younger selves to maintain muscle mass and strength. The recommended intake is 0.45 to 0.55 grams per pound of body weight daily. For a 180-pound man, that means 81 to 99 grams of protein each day. The research shows this higher intake helps combat age-related muscle loss and maintains physical function. A 6-ounce chicken breast provides about 54 grams, a cup of Greek yogurt adds 20 grams, and three eggs contribute 18 grams. The study emphasizes that adequate protein intake becomes more critical as we age because our bodies become less efficient at using dietary protein for muscle maintenance. Start tracking your protein for a week and see where you stand. Courtesy European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism

Style
“... whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Most guys find a hairstyle they like in their late-20s and or early-30s and stick with it for as long as they have hair … and that’s a shame (especially from your wife’s point of view.) Why not consider a change that will update your look and maybe even rejuvenate your presentation? Here are some examples and advice from our friends at Real Men Real Style that you can follow to give your fans a new take.