Betsy Kneepkens: This Fourth, honor those who stand boldly in the spiritual battle, too

As secular holidays go, the Fourth of July is worthy of a grand celebration. As a student of history, I think the birth of this country approaches a miracle, and the brilliance of our founders is nothing short of remarkable. I respect what other women and men sacrificed and continue to offer on our behalf. Those responsible for my freedom have been brave and bold, and I am grateful for their contribution. 

Betsy Kneepkens Faith and Family

Everyone knows our country is not perfect, particularly currently. And we know it will never be. However, our most significant failings are not because our founders’ principles were wayward but because we do not adhere to the genius inscribed in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. 

We should always remember the purpose of this July national holiday. However, we do not have a day to celebrate and commemorate those who are both brave and boldly fighting the spiritual battle of our time. The earthly challenges of our country are massive; the evil force against the Kingdom is certainly more aggressive and getting worse. Those that risk speaking and stepping out in love for the sake of others are often mocked and ridiculed. Having a different opinion than the status quo will silence you and, at times, be a career-ender. Living life as a Catholic, where you don’t compromise but remain steadfast with compassionate integrity, requires armor so thick and resilient that few dare to wear it. 

I have had the opportunity to observe and recognize some who are willing to step up for the sake of a deep and holy love for our fellow humans. 

Most recently, I watched three Oklahoma softball players online respond to an ESPN question about the joy of winning a national championship. The three players, each in their way, pointed out that their joy is in Christ, not a softball game, proclaiming, “Although winning was exciting and thrilling, the next day was just another day without finding true joy in Christ.” 

They spoke on national television about their hard work and sacrifices, which they announced were ultimately directed toward God’s glory. And if their efforts were not for Christ, what value would they provide? The ESPN reporter was not expecting such a response, so the line of questioning ended, and the interview was finished. These athletes poignantly articulated reasons why faith matters in a few brief minutes. They chose to answer counter-culturally, and that placed them in the public spiritual battlefield, and they should be recognized. 

If we had a day to honor spiritually bold and brave individuals, we would identify three professional baseball players, Trevor Williams, Clayton Kershaw, and Blake Trienen. Perhaps other players among the 1,200 in Major League Baseball spoke out against the Dodgers’ organization, which sponsored those who call themselves the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, but I couldn’t find anything. This group of actors performed and honored by the Los Angeles Dodgers is known for its performances that publicly ridicule and mock religious Catholic sisters, Christ, and other Catholic beliefs and traditions. Their act includes lewd and inappropriate gestures. These three professional baseball players spoke out, in love, against the Dodgers’ decision to allow such a hateful show. The potential fallout from speaking out could directly affect these men’s careers, and they spoke anyway. These heroic deeds are the kind of sacrifices that directly impact the spiritual battlefield and provide a voice for decency and common sense in our culture. 

These athletes are famous, and their message was strong, but I know other, less-known individuals who have sacrificed, yet their actions were equally effective. I recently met a person who held a professional position that required an advanced degree, a kind person who is also very faith-filled. Her employer required her and her staff to violate a direct tenet of her Catholic faith. This person did everything possible to convince those in authority that going forward with their mandate would be morally unacceptable. When her efforts failed, she took the sacrificial route by resigning. This woman gave up her career for love, true justice, Christ, and his church. These actions were brave, actualizing courage to live a life in Christ. I would give this individual a medal if we had a day to honor this kind of person for being a soldier in this spiritual war. 

Even more intimately, good friends were blessed with two beautiful children. When the second child was born, it was discovered early on that the child had a genetic abnormality that would take their child within months. Observing this family’s care and showering that child with unconditional love was a testimony for all of us who were granted the opportunity to observe them in action. The dignity these parents poured over this baby and each other was absolutely remarkable. Those of us that were privileged enough to come in contact with this Christ-like love have been forever changed. 

What I found even more impressive was how this couple handled thoughtless individuals who advised them not to have another child. These “advisors” missed the gift of love and holiness that poured from this couple. More importantly, this rightly directed couple, resolved in faith, knew that the decision to cooperate with their heavenly Father had nothing to do with the challenges they faced with their second child. They proclaimed their acceptance of the gift of their second daughter by willingly opening their hearts to a third child, even at the risk of insensitive comments by those non-believers who thought imperfect children were less worthy. After being in a relationship with this family during the loving end of their second daughter’s life, their third child was a more powerful lesson for me and all the students of their holiness. If we had a day to honor those entering the spiritual battlefield and could give medals, I would give them a gold star. 

With much fervor and respect, I think of a young college student who attended what he thought was a Catholic college. Over his four years, he slowly was disenfranchised by the school’s mission and what he was experiencing. During his time there, he tried to speak up, point back to the mission, and share the beauty of the Catholic faith and how the teachings could better enlighten some of the new policies that appeared to conflict with church teachings. 

Much changed culturally during his four years, but the church’s solutions to society’s struggles were minimized. He was not alone; other voices of opposition were ignored as well. He struggled to see any movement toward the richness and beauty that the Catholic Church offered in his four years. Feeling deserving of his secular academic achievements, he felt strongly that the Catholic mission was not inspired throughout the curriculum, and his education lacked that robust promise. He and his friends did not protest at graduation, did not walk out on the speaker, but rather decided not to attend the ceremony to make a respectful statement of the promise that they felt was unfulfilled. 

Will anyone at the institution know or care why these graduates did not participate in the commencement? Likely not. However, their absences were a personal proclamation, standing firmly on the front lines of the spiritual battlefield, making a mark that the university had failed on their part and was undeserving of public support. These students could be honored for caring that much for their faith and needed in the spiritual battlefield going forward. 

The Fourth of July is a necessary holiday, because it honors those who have sacrificed so much for us. Since this country was founded on religious freedom, I see a reason also to celebrate those who give of themselves for a battle more important than our country. As the voice for religious freedom and to a culture gone astray, I find the numerous sacrifices for the sake of faith worthy of special honors. 

As we enjoy a long weekend for the Fourth of July, hopefully with nice weather, let us remember those who founded this great country of ours, but also those who stand up for Christ and the laws and cultural norms that we were given to know the love of our heavenly Father. 

Betsy Kneepkens is director of the Office of Marriage, Family, and Life for the Diocese of Duluth and a mother of six.