On a day when we celebrate independence, it is worth asking—is independence always a good thing? While freedom from tyranny is a gift, the kind of independence our culture often glorifies—total self-reliance, no accountability, no need for others—can leave us isolated and empty. And as a parent, I’d hate to see my toddler try to go at life alone.

The gospel tells a different story. We were not created for radical independence. We were made for relationship. First with God, and then with one another.

Paul wrote, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). These are not words of restriction, but of belonging. Of being known and loved by a faithful God. As Tim Keller said, “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is a lot like being loved by God.”

Belonging to God does not diminish us. It restores us. It frees us from the exhausting burden of being our own savior. It anchors our worth in grace, not performance.

So, while we give thanks today for the freedoms we enjoy as a nation, let us celebrate even more the joy of not being on our own. In Christ, we are not independent. We are beloved.

Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). And Romans 8:15 reminds us, “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”