The poor and vulnerable stand to suffer the most from current policy changes

“It is not our business to make things happen. We are told to be witnesses, saying what we have seen and experienced, and we are told to make disciples. The job of the Christian is to witness to the word of truth, to show forth the Kingdom of God in our lives and in our prayers, and to give account for our hope with gentleness and respect.”
— Dallas Willard, in “The Scandal of the Kingdom”

Jesus Christ never forced anybody to follow him. The Rich Young Ruler would have been wise to sell all he had and follow Jesus, but Jesus let him go his own way. The same was true for the man who needed to bury a father and the one who wanted time to say goodbye to his family. There was no place for them among the disciples if they weren’t willing to let go of the world—of their own free will.

Jesus could have overthrown the Roman Empire. He had the power. He told Pontius Pilate as much.

“Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’” John 18:36-37

Christians don’t make things happen. They make disciples

This is what makes Christian nationalism heretical, along with its trust in worldly leaders rather than the Lord.

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.’” Jeremiah 17:5

Christians have had the most influence on the world around them, making lasting change, when they pray, persuade, serve, and witness, always in gentleness and respect.

A persuasion tool available in democratic republics is the ballot box.

Christians should vote. They should vote their values, and their values should be the values of Jesus Christ.

What were the values of Jesus? He told us at the start of his earthly ministry.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19

Christians have a duty to care for the least of these as a matter of personal faith, but since we submit to God in all things, that doesn’t let us off the hook for how we cast our votes. The priorities of Jesus should be our priorities with every vote we cast.

It’s sad, then, to think, so many Christians voted for policies that actively harm the poor and the vulnerable.

• Cuts at the VA have reduced the staff for the Veterans Crisis Line. (Source)

• The VCL handles about 60,000 calls a month, and any reduction in its staffing or operational effectiveness risks longer wait times and less effective care for veterans at high risk for suicide. (Source)

• The division in HUD that oversees homeless programs faces a massive staffing cut. (Source)

• Over $3.5 billion in federal funding for homeless shelters has been held up, and at least $60 million in grants for affordable housing developments has been stalled or canceled. (Source)

• A recently passed funding bill, signed by President Trump, repurposes $100 million from other HUD accounts to cover renewals but still leaves an estimated $150–200 million shortfall for homeless assistance programs, impacting services for at least 18,500 households. The Community Development Fund also saw a $3.29 billion cut from the previous year. (Source)

• The administration has effectively shut down the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the agency responsible for coordinating federal homelessness initiatives, signaling a shift away from the “Housing First” model that prioritizes permanent housing without preconditions (Source)

• The House budget proposes cutting at least $230 billion from SNAP over the next decade, shifting significant costs to states. (Source)

• The administration has cut $500 million from the Local Food Purchase Assistance program. There was another $500 million of COVID-era funding cut. (Source)

• The administration abruptly canceled the Patrick Leahy Farm to School program, which had provided over $100 million in grants to connect schools and communities with local farms, often with surplus produce going to food pantries. (Source)

• Congress is trying to cut $880 billion from Medicaid over the next 10 years. (Source)

• The Trump administration’s budget proposes to eliminate Head Start, the early childhood education program serving nearly 800,000 low-income children and families. This would end access to meals, developmental screenings, and health care for these children, and close regional Head Start offices. (Source)

• The 2026 budget proposal includes significant reductions to child care assistance programs, making it harder for low-income families to access affordable, quality child care. This risks parents’ ability to work or attend school. (Source)

• Billions in cuts are proposed for housing assistance and community development programs, including capping or time-limiting federal housing benefits. These changes would make it harder for low-income families to access or retain affordable housing, increasing the risk of homelessness. (Source)

• Staff and funding for programs that help low-income families afford heating and cooling (such as LIHEAP) have been cut, making it more difficult for vulnerable households to manage utility costs. (Source)

• Storms have caused $8.8 billion in damage in Arkansas. People have died, and residents have been left homeless, with the potential for an even greater human toll without assistance. The administration refused to provide disaster relief to the state. (Source)

Yes, federal spending is out of control and needs to be cut. But should you vote with your pocketbook or with your heart? Which vote serves yourself, and which vote serves Jesus?