So let me see if I’ve got this right: According to Christian nationalists, the evangelical church ought to have control over America and run the government strictly by Christian principles.
Why, then, are these same people unwilling to follow the clear teaching of Jesus Christ? Why can these biblical literalists not comprehend the unequivocal words of Jesus, who said, “When you feed the hungry you feed me”? And why do these same biblical literalists suddenly see all the references to “bread” in the Gospels as metaphors?
Mark Wingfield
Jesus talked a whole lot more about greed than about sex, marriage, doctrinal purity or beating immigrants into submission. Jesus talked a lot more about food and free banquets and bigger tables than about building golden ballrooms for the elite.
Once again, the problem with white Christian nationalism — as embodied by American evangelicals today — is that they’ve thrown Jesus overboard.
I’ve heard from some of you, dear readers, who were shocked at the headline on a news story yesterday: “Focus on the Family Opposes Free Meals in Schools.” We have not become the Onion; that’s a real headline on a real story expressing the real sentiment of evangelicals who can’t be bothered to do something Jesus clearly taught us to do.
And to double down on the hypocrisy, Focus on the Family opposes expanding free breakfast and lunch for hungry schoolchildren because they fear “Big Brother” encroaching on family life.
“I’m trying to stick with clean words here, but are they serious?!”
I’m trying to stick with clean words here, but are they serious?!
The very organization that wants to impose Big Brother-like control over everyone’s sex lives, family lives, political lives and school libraries is suddenly concerned about the lunch ladies being agents of Big Brother? Words fail.
As I’ve written before, hypocrisy is a hallmark of MAGA evangelicalism. Our current debate over funding SNAP benefits for hungry families proves that point once again.
Do you know anyone who gets help from SNAP? I do. I know ministers who feed their families with food stamps. I know hard-working people who sacrifice their own health to be sure their children get enough to eat with government assistance — in addition to visiting food banks and church pantries. I have friends who are alive today because of school lunches and food stamps.
The argument from some conservatives is that they do believe in feeding the hungry — at least some of the hungry they deem worthy — but they don’t think it’s the role of government. If that’s the case, stop claiming America is a “Christian nation.” You can’t have it both ways. A “Christian nation” would feed everyone who is hungry because that is the indisputable way of Christ.
But if you agree we’re not a Christian nation — because we’re not — you might reasonably say feeding the hungry is the role of the church. I see three fat problems with that:
- Most churches care more about comfortable seating than about feeding the hungry, so the financial and personnel resources are not there.
- The task is monumentally bigger than most churches could handle even if they tried.
- Most folks I know who complain their tax dollars are being misused by feeding the hungry don’t give even a tithe to their churches; they are just stingy at heart.
While America was not founded as a Christian nation, we were founded as a nation inspired and infused with Christian principles — namely principles that also are hallmarks of other world religions.
“Name me a major world religion that does not advocate for feeding the hungry.”
Name me a major world religion that does not advocate for feeding the hungry. This ideal transcends religious boundaries because it is a moral imperative woven into creation.
Donald Trump refusing to release rainy day funds to feed hungry Americans while he throws lavish parties at Mar-a-Lago and gilds a White House bathroom has nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Once again, his position and his actions are anti-Christ.
This all fits a pattern of MAGA cruelty, but it is such a glaring example even a child could see it. The president of the United States is using hunger as a political weapon — just like his friend Benjamin Netanyahu.
Yes, give to your local food bank. Yes, open a church food pantry. Yes, share your resources any way you can. But at the same time — especially if you are a Republican because your elected officials might listen to you — get on the phone and call your senator and representative and remind them there is nothing Christ-like in withholding food from anyone. Remind them they are accountable to God and to you, their constituent.
Feeding hungry people is not a waste of taxpayer dollars. And it shouldn’t be a partisan issue either. This is a moral issue that is being manipulated right now by immoral people. It will take the masses reacting to stop those in power who are acting like asses.
Mark Wingfield serves as executive director and publisher of Baptist News Global. He is the author of the book Honestly: Telling the Truth About the Bible and Ourselves.
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Focus on the Family opposes free meals in schools
Another lawsuit seeks to continue food stamp benefits
The children are starving; God is screaming | Opinion by Mallory Challis