Len Browning Says Cross Must Fly Higher Than Flag for July 4th

The smell of charcoal smoke hangs heavy over Craig, mixing with the dry heat of a July afternoon that feels less like summer and more like a promise kept. It’s the kind of weekend where neighbors lean over fences to ask about grill setups, where kids chase fireflies before the sky turns that specific shade of bruised purple, and where the air itself seems to vibrate with a low-level hum of anticipation. We are marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, a milestone that lands with unusual weight this year, demanding we look not just at the fireworks but at what they’re illuminating.

Len Browning, lead pastor at The Journey at First Baptist Church, sees this holiday as more than a backdrop for camping and barbequing. He wrote in the Craig Daily Press that it is an opportunity to reflect on two distinct, intertwined aspects of life: perspective and identity.

"What a great country we live in!" Browning wrote, noting that you don’t have to look far geographically or historically to be overwhelmed by the fortune and opportunity of the United States. He acknowledges the rough edges — the polarization, the pockets of poverty — but argues that for a Christian, these shouldn’t obscure the relative peace and prosperity enjoyed here. The key, he suggests, is letting gratitude invade your perspective, shaping how you move through the world.

But there’s a deeper layer to this reflection, one that moves beyond national pride into personal definition. Browning notes that for many people, identity is a fragile construct, shaped by what they do, where they live, or the messages received from influential figures during formative years. It’s a modern trap, we might say, where your worth is tied to your resume or your zip code.

For the Christian, however, Browning argues there is a "spiritual infusion of a new meaning of self." He points to the Apostle Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20, which state, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." It’s a radical reordering. We are not our own; we are, as the text puts it, "bought with a price."

This isn’t just theological abstracting. It’s a practical guide to navigating the noise of modern life, especially during a holiday that celebrates liberty. Browning suggests that celebrating national independence and understanding the birth of this nation should run parallel to understanding our "true freedom and ultimate citizenship." He quotes Philippians 3:20 to drive the point home: our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for a Savior.

The image he leaves us with is stark and simple, cutting through the patriotic red, white, and blue. "The Cross must always fly higher than the Flag," he writes. It’s a reminder that while we enjoy the fruits of American democracy, our ultimate allegiance, and the source of our identity - lies elsewhere.

As the sun drops below the Elk Mountains, casting long shadows across the valley floor, the first sparklers pop and hiss in backyards. The smoke clears, leaving behind the scent of ash and the quiet realization that while flags flutter in the evening breeze, something quieter, older, and more enduring remains.