Proclaiming Christ in the Public Square

Two years ago, the Biden administration chose to mark the holiest day in the Christian calendar by celebrating trans visibility. In contrast, this year, Secretary Rollins boldly acknowledged the true meaning of Easter in a message to the Department of Agriculture. Secretary Rubio posted a thoughtful reel celebrating Christ’s glorious resurrection, and Secretary Hegseth shared from Luke 24:6, declaring, “He is not here, but is risen!”

However, some have expressed outrage that our national leaders are making explicitly Christian declarations in their public offices. While generic invocations to a higher power may be deemed acceptable by some, there are those who argue that there should be no public visibility for the 64% of Americans who celebrate the God who resurrected from the dead.

Nevertheless, those who wish for Christians to remain silent may not fully understand how Christ’s death and resurrection have shaped the foundation of a free society.

Consider what happened at Calvary.

The death of Jesus Christ is the most profound expression of love known to humankind. On the cross, Christ’s love compelled Him to lay down His life for others, offering the highest example of self-sacrifice. This vision of love inspires those in the military to risk their lives to protect our freedom, awakens first responders to serve neighbors in need, and motivates families to adopt vulnerable children. Christ’s self-sacrifice shapes a people’s vision to live for something greater than themselves.

Furthermore, Christ’s resurrection is the ultimate declaration of freedom. The resurrection of Jesus ensures that individuals can be freed from the oppressive bondage of shame, guilt, and sin. It guarantees that freedom from death is possible and that life everlasting is available. Christ’s resurrection provides society with a structure of freedom that allows all people to flourish—even granting the freedom not to believe.

Importantly, the freedom established in Christ’s resurrection is not the license to do whatever one desires, but the freedom to do what one ought. Belief in the resurrection instills the self-restraint necessary to sustain a healthy society and prevents it from self-destruction through vice or the pursuit of fleeting pleasures at the expense of lasting virtue. This freedom gives our nation the concept of ordered liberty, which protects us from descending into anarchy or tyranny.

Finally, the Christian faith requires a personal choice: to accept or deny the resurrection. This very reality is why Christ’s resurrection forms the basis of religious freedom. The Christian faith is strong enough to allow for spirited disagreement, as evidenced by the responses to our cabinet secretaries’ bold confessions. There are no firings, no shaming, no retaliation for disagreement —the resurrection of Jesus Christ is powerful enough to give even dissenters a voice.

Thus, we are proud of Secretary Rollins and our other cabinet members for boldly proclaiming the event that gives freedom and order to all realms—both seen and unseen (Colossians 1:15–17).