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The “Big Beautiful Bill” and the Christian Wrong
I’m not writing this as an opinion piece or a historical analysis, but as a plea for help and an invitation to a conversation. The Senate today passed its version of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” In a 51 to 50 vote, requiring J.D. Vance to break the tie after three Republicans decided to vote no, the bill represents a massive transformation of the role and size of the government. As is typically true of Trump, he achieved this victory through the unwavering support of Christian conservatives, especially Evangelicals and Fundamentalists. Before I pose my question, I would like to deliver a quick sermon.
For our text today, we turn to the Gospel According to Luke, chapter 4, verses 14–21.
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read,
17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “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…
