Still Shut Down
The shutdown of the U.S. government is approaching one month in duration, and there are no visible signs of an imminent resolution. Republicans continue to insist on a short-term “clean” extension of funding while Democrats continue to insist on the extension of expiring subsidies for health insurance. The result of this entrenchment is a prolonged shutdown that now threatens military paychecks and the delivery of benefits for programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Analysis and eternal perspective: There will be a resolution that opens the federal government, but it is unclear when that resolution will be achieved. In the meantime, there is a very real and increasing opportunity for you and me as Jesus followers to meet the resulting practical needs around us. Virtually all the coverage of this story will be doom and gloom and focused on which party is responsible for which aspects of the shutdown, but let’s instead dig in and meet real need with real action.
Here are two ideas to get you started:
1) Who on your street or in your church is likely to be currently missing a paycheck? More specifically, who is likely experiencing hardship as a result? How can you help them? Maybe it’s covering a utility bill, providing a meal, or just a bit of cash to help get them through this unpredictable phase. But first think who. Then think how.
2) Provide access to food. There will this week be many looking for new ways to provide their family’s next meal. How can you ease that for at least one person or family in your world? You could deliver a meal, buy groceries, or partner with your church to increase the availability of food to your community in the short run.
The Equipped community has, I am confident, a wide array of views on the proper role of government in social safety services. That is no barrier to our collective answering of the call in this moment. In fact, if we as Jesus followers were to fill this void of need that exists, it might just change the public policy debate on several fronts!
But either way, it is quite simply what we are commanded to do:
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” (1 Jn. 3:17).
“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Heb 13:16).
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.