The Big Blasphemous Bill

Shane Claiborne

@ShaneClaiborne

Just a reminder… there are over 2000 verses in the Bible that talk about how much God cares for the poor. Keep posting your favorite Bible verses about God’s concern for the poor… while our politicians consider making a deal with the devil, cutting resources to our most vulnerable neighbors and giving more money to the millionaires and Pentagon.

 In Canada we are watching as a US bill that will reduce healthcare and food benefits for 12 to 14 million vulnerable Americans is lurching its way toward being passed. It is called The Big Beautiful Bill -- I kid you not -- and there are probably enough Republican legislators bowing down before their Lord and Saviour Donald Trump for this legislation designed to benefit the already wealthy, adding trillions to the deficit, and leaving those millions destitute to make it happen. 

Many of those who will be most affected don't understand how this will affect them, perhaps contributing to their own bankruptcy or death. Lots of them are evangelical Christians who are steadfast supporters of a president whose values are antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I simply don't understand this and I'm grateful that there are also Christians who understand that this is blasphemous rather than beautiful and are willing to say so in a country where stating the truth is risky these days. 

Rev. Benjamin Cremer

@Brcremer

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2h

When I see senators praying for the passage of a bill that will harm the poor, the sick, and the hungry, I think of Isaiah 1:15: When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood.

Shane Claiborne, an evangelical leader who spoke at a United Church youth conference several years ago, has offered a number of tweets like the one at the top of this page. Twenty Roman Catholic bishops joined together in decrying Trump's cuts to Medicaid and food stamps "an affront to the dignity of human life."

God bless them for their witness. And may God convict the hearts of the seemingly heartless who are supporting this bill. 

 Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House and "bible believing Christian" who apparently doesn't believe the bible