All creation groans—but some groans go unheard. As the government shutdown stretches into its fifth week, SNAP benefits have run dry for over 40 million Americans. Children sit at empty tables while political leaders debate strategy. One side holds the power to fund emergency aid but refuses, even as luxury renovations continue elsewhere. This isn’t just a policy failure—it’s a spiritual crisis. When we withhold bread from the hungry, we don’t just neglect the poor. We neglect Christ himself.
Let’s get real here. Forget about the perceptions you have in your head about how the two people, mother and daughter, got to where they are.
Just look at where they are. And ask yourself, “Am I OK with this?”
It’s a simple question. One most people will avoid thinking about.
And yet, if you call yourself a Christian, it’s one our leader, Jesus, does not allow us the luxury of not thinking about it.
We will think about it.
If not now – then later. I pray for all of us that it’s not so much later that it’s, well, too late.
What happens when people can’t afford food?
That image illustrates what happens when people can’t afford food.
By the way, they aren’t just statistics. We, Christians, aren’t given the option of referring to them as collateral damage. They are, quite simply, people. People created by the God that so many of us claim to believe in for our provision in this life and our salvation in the next.
You do remember, I hope, “give us this day our daily bread“?
It’s “just a little something” Jesus told us to pray to the Father.
But then, Jesus also told us to do something for Him.
The Great Commission
If you’re wondering whether it’s really the government’s job to care for the poor—or if Christians have a greater calling—check out Who’s Supposed to Do the Great Commission? Christians or the Government? It’s not just about policy. It’s about obedience, witness, and whether the good news actually sounds good to those who’ve been left behind.
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Mt 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I’ve written entire articles on The Great Commission. Adjacent to this is one that’s titled, “Who’s supposed to do the Great Commission? Christians or the government?” I’ll give you a hint – it’s not the government.
But for now, all I want to ask is this: If we’re supposed to be performing The Great Commission, how likely are people like the mother and daughter in that image to listen to anything we have to say about the good news actually being good news? How likely are they to listen to anything we have to say at all, when they know that right now, so-called Christians in our government are making this kind of scene happen more and more often?
But even worse, how likely are we to even talk to these people if we think they’re to blame for their circumstances and therefore shouldn’t be helped?
Are you still with me here?
Are you tracking the various topics with me?
- SNAP – a government program for people to help out with buying food.
- The Lord’s Prayer – where Jesus tells His followers to ask for “our daily bread”.
- The Great Commission -where Jesus tells us to teach people how to follow Him, like we do.
Well, let’s add one more item, then we’ll tie them all together. Hang in there – it’s coming.
All creation groans
Here’s the thing about “all creation groans”.
Sure, it’s the part we remember. We remember the bad part – that all of creation is groaning. I wonder, how many of us even remember the reason? Not the one we “memorized” or condensed it down to, but the one Paul actually wrote.
But let’s make the message even more lost from our minds. How many of us remember – or know/knew – the NIV title for this passage isn’t negative at all. It’s good news. It’s “Future Glory”!
That means, for today, after all the stuff I just wrote about people not having enough food to eat, us trying to ignore the problem, or justify not helping them, there can be – not is, but can be – good news for us and for those who are hungry. But the catch is, I wrote “can be” – not “is”. And it’s up to us to be the difference between is, can be, and won’t be.
SNAP, the Lord’s Prayer, The Great Commission, and All Creation Groans.
SNAP
What is SNAP? For those that don’t know, here’s what NSAP is, from the USDA federal government website:
Putting Healthy Food within Reach for Those in Need
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being. 1https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program
I could ask, how many of you think this is important enough to fund it, no matter what? Normal times, government shutdown, any time?
But that’s not my question. Frankly, it’s too easy. Here’s my question. If you couldn’t put enough food on the table for your family, how many of you think the government should help?
Further, if you have family that’s willing to help you, pretend they aren’t. Many of us never had that, so again, let’s get real. If you’ve got family willing and able to help you, you’re better off than a lot of other people. My own family was able to help, but wouldn’t. When I was in college, I often got down to my last dollar. Literally. No savings. Just $1. But I wasn’t about to ask for help. The thing is, I could still pay rent because I did have a part-time job that could keep me from being homeless, if not always well fed.
But many people don’t have even that. Or they work multiple part-time jobs, but it’s still not enough because they have kids. That makes the need for money higher, the importance of even your own life higher, and the willingness to do whatever it takes is higher. And yet, we live with a government, corporate structure, and assistance programs that literally demand a certain amount of unemployment! To make it worse, they don’t even count some of the unemployed, such as people who are deemed unemployable. And so, the need is forced to be higher than the assistance provided.
So, let’s say you’re one of them. Can’t get a job. Or you have a job, maybe two or three, part-time because there aren’t full-time jobs for which you’re qualified, you’ve got kids, and you don’t have the funds to feed them. Should the government help, using funds from those of us who can afford to pay the taxes for it, but only grudgingly, because we need our expensive super-trucks for all that stuff we never ever put in the truck bed?
Now that we know something about what SNAP is and what’s on the line, let’s move on.
The Lord’s Prayer
In case you don’t know the Lord’s Prayer, here it is:
6:9-13 pp — Lk 11:2-4
Mt 6:5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Mt 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
Mt 6:10 your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Mt 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.
Mt 6:12 Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Mt 6:13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
OK – it wasn’t just the prayer – it was the entire passage.
Why? Because the parts before and after the prayer part that most of us pray are important. Very Important. If they weren’t, Jesus wouldn’t have said them. And the divinely inspired author – Matthew in this case – wouldn’t have included them.
Yes, the part about our daily bread is in there. And maybe that’s the part we care about the most. Although, maybe we want more than just our daily bread.
But look at the other parts.
Don’t be like the pagans. Don’t be hypocrites. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. What Jesus doesn’t say here, but which we all (should) already know, is that the Father also knows what’s in our hearts – even if we don’t speak the words aloud. So when we ask for our own daily bread, are we also thinking that we want to keep all our money, not pay taxes to help those who don’t have their daily bread – even though we Christians are supposed to be Jesus’ representative here on earth today?
And what about this part: Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. When we pray to keep what’s “ours” and not have to give to help others, do we realize that maybe we should also be praying for forgiveness for that very thought? And do we have any sorrow, grief, or any kind of feeling at all when, time after time, we say this prayer with that thought and without asking for forgiveness for thinking that what we “have” is our – even though we all claim to believe that everything is really God’s – and so maybe we’re refusing to use what’s His to do what He wants us to do with His possessions?
Let’s not forget the end of that prayer: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. We’re thinking something while we pray during the Lord’s prayer while asking for that very same thing for ourselves, we (should) know in our hearts if not in our conscious brains that it’s wrong, we’re claiming ownership over something that we know is God’s, we’re refusing to do what we know in our hearts is the right thing to do, and then we have the nerve to pray to God to keep us from the evil one – all the while we’re doing what the evil one wants us to do rather than what we should know God wants us to do.
If you’re still not quite sure where I’m going with what God wants us to do – hold on. It’s maybe the missing puzzle piece. But it’s not time to reveal it just yet.
The Great Commission
I was pretty sure the link to The Great Commission was a bit much to stand out right away, so much of this has already been discussed above.
I do want to ask the question again though, now that we’ve seen more of the picture of what’s at stake when SNAP funds are cut, let alone withheld entirely.
Do you have any intention at all of reaching out to others, as Jesus commanded us to do in The Great Commission?
If not, well, then I guess none of this will have all that much impact on you anyway, although I do hold out hope that something in here will touch your heart and maybe be a seed for change.
But if you do perform the activities of The Great Commission, and you’re in favor of cutting, withholding, eliminating SNAP, why do you think people will even want to listen to you? Especially if they’re among the poor, the vulnerable, the families with children that need assistance?
As a Christian, I am all too aware of who’s making this a problem. The person who’s in charge of the government, more so than probably any other president in our history, claims to be Christian. Has said he’s the greatest thing ever for Christianity, except for maybe Jesus. And his main supporters both inside and outside of the government claim to be Christian in everything they do. Pastors have even said he’s anointed by God to lead this country at this time.
If you’re Christian and don’t think this problem is going to be dumped on our faith, our beliefs, our God – then it’s time to go pray about this.
Here’s a bit of today’s news from msn.com:
Trump Issues ‘Death Wish’ Warning to Americans Ahead of Gubernatorial Elections
He requested supporters to “VOTE REPUBLICAN for massive Energy Cost reductions, large-scale Tax Cuts, and basic Common Sense,” promising that under his leadership, gasoline prices would fall to around $2 per gallon. 2https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-issues-death-wish-warning-to-americans-ahead-of-gubernatorial-elections/ar-AA1PLhNl
and
Trump says he will withhold SNAP benefits until the government shutdown ends
Trump said he will withhold food stamps until government reopens, affecting 42 million Americans.
This comes after cases in Rhode Island and Massachusetts demanding SNAP funding during the shutdown.
The administration previously said it would pay partial November benefits.
…
Trump’s announcement comes alongside rulings from federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts calling on the administration to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which 42 million Americans rely on to afford groceries each month.
In a November 3 court filing, the US Department of Agriculture said it “is complying with the Court’s order and will fulfill its obligation to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds.” The USDA said it has authorized states to begin dispersing benefits to eligible households, and it “intends to deplete SNAP contingency funds completely and provide reduced SNAP benefits for November.”
[https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-says-he-will-withhold-snap-benefits-until-the-government-shutdown-ends/ar-AA1PNAHL[/mfn]
Let’s face it – that’s not a good look for us as Christians to be tied to that.
I know – the Trump fans out there will blame this on the Democrats. But let’s get real again. Who has control of the Executive branch, the House, the Senate, and even the Supreme Court? It’s all on one person – the Republican President – self-proclaimed Christian.
And even if you convince not only a bunch of other people, and yourself, God will not be convinced. There’s no hiding from Him.
Let’s see the world from a Biblical point of view now. Not just to observe, but to see that there are two possible outcomes: Future Glory or continuous and eternal groaning.
Future Glory – or All Creation Groans?
Let’s take a look at the entire passage and see which it is. That is – will we have future glory or continued groaning?
Ro 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Ro 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Ro 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
So, that’s the whole thing. Let’s go through and check it out a little at a time.
our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us
Of course, we all think that’s us. Our future glory will be revealed. It’ll be revealed for all to see how great we really are. Uh – I kinda doubt it on that last part. It doesn’t sound all that humble, and that’s likely a problem.
creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed
creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Do you realize what that line says? Since all creation is waiting for the true sons of God to be revealed, then it can’t possibly be all of us. Oops. But it gets worse.
creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God
Uh oh. So, the glory isn’t for all of us – it’s only for the true sons of God. If we’re all thinking future glory is for everyone, disappointment and a total lack of glory are coming for some. Actually, given the narrow and wide gates with their respective destinations, I guess the disappointment is more for most than for some.
Who hopes for what he already has?
More bad news. This one means that if we like our lives the way they are, and we think our lives are what Heaven’s going to be like – that’s more disappointment. You may remember, there’s this concept of transformation. Born again Christian is a beginning – not a destination.
the Spirit helps us in our weakness
The Holy Spirit will try to help us. Help with prayer – like what to pray and remind us of the things we pray for but shouldn’t. Help us with softening our hard hearts into ones that want to do what Jesus commanded us to do, including a whole bunch of people too many would rather forget.
However, the Holy Spirit will not force us to do anything. It’s gentle nudges, subtle reminders, a “gentle breeze”. Things we can easily ignore.
He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit
Ah yes – God does know what we’re thinking. Even the things we wish He wouldn’t be aware of. We can use His knowledge to improve. Or, it can help us to declare ourselves as not true sons of God. It’s all our own choice.
In other words, we can have future glory – or we can have continued groanings. And that’s for eternity. Our choice.
Now that we’ve seen SNAP, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Great Commission, let’s ask: what does Jesus say about how we treat those in need — and what does He mean by ‘prison’?
Does this SNAP thing really matter that much?
So, after all that, am I blowing things up too big? Does this SNAP thing really matter that much? Well, let’s look at one more passage.
It’s got a message direct from Jesus to each one of us. Do you think that might matter?
The Sheep And The Goats
It’s a bit long, but stay with it. The passage follows what you just read, maybe too much for some, but it really does matter.
Mt 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Mt 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Mt 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
Mt 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Mt 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
Mt 25:44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
Mt 25:45 “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Mt 25:46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Just check this out:
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
So, what are you thinking now? Clothing has nothing to do with SNAP. And prison? Prison’s got nothing to do with anything we looked at so far!
This isn’t a game show. Certainly not a game. It’s very real. But if this was a game show, the buzzer would sound and the host would say, “Thank for playing, but you played so badly you will receive the home version – a brand-new study Bible with some commentary books to go with it.”
HUH? What just happened?
Guess what? Prison in the English translations isn’t what Jesus was talking about at all. Let’s take a look and see what Jesus actually said.
— last commentary text —
If a prison isn’t a prison, what did Jesus mean?
I always kind of knew this had to be more than just a literal prison like the institutions we have today. It’s so much more. It could even be someone’s own home.
AI Summary: Commentary on “I was in prison” – from The Sheep And The Goats
The phrase “I was in prison” appears multiple times in biblical contexts, most notably in Matthew 25:36, where it is part of Jesus’ parable about compassion and judgment. In this passage, Jesus speaks about being in prison and suggests that those who visit prisoners are showing mercy and care for those who are suffering [1]. The biblical references to imprisonment span various scenarios, including the imprisonment of John the Baptist by Herod, which ultimately led to John’s beheading in prison [1][2].
The concept of imprisonment is not just a literal physical state in biblical narrative, but also carries spiritual and metaphorical significance. References to imprisonment appear in various biblical books, including mentions of Paul’s experiences of being imprisoned, and even a prophetic reference in Revelation about the devil casting some into prison [1].
Interestingly, one personal account provides a modern perspective on imprisonment, illustrating how one individual came to understand his imprisonment as a consequence of his actions, and how God was present even in that challenging environment. Despite initial feelings of not belonging, the person recognized the reality of his situation and found that God continued his spiritual growth through therapy, education, and unexpected spiritual encounters, such as a Christian guard who witnessed to him [3]. During his time in custody, he used the opportunity for personal reflection, creating an amends list and even completing educational degrees [3].
[1] Gilbrant, T. (1991). φυλακή. In The New Testament Greek-English Dictionary. WORDsearch.
[2] Thomas, R. L., The Lockman Foundation. (1998). New American Standard exhaustive concordance of the Bible: updated edition. Foundation Publications, Inc.
[3] McCarthy, K. J. P. D. (2013). Surviving the justice experience: an essential christian resource for families of offenders. Ambassador International.
As much as we might like to make this about literal prison buildings with guards and criminals, what then do we make of the reality that the recorded Hebrew word meant so much more?
And if we can convince ourselves, in spite of what we just read, how can we take everything Jesus said and think that in this one instance He narrowed it down to criminals in a prison building?
Who is The Least of These?
If we do manage to convince ourselves that the “in prison” part really meant in a prison building and therefore SNAP has nothing to do with the discussion, what about “the least of these”?
I was shocked, and very disappointed, although not surprised, when I read the AI summary below.
AI Summary: Commentary on “the least of these” – from The Sheep And The Goats
The phrase “least of these” originates from Matthew 25 and refers to individuals in various needy situations, including the hungry, thirsty, impoverished, sick, and imprisoned.[1] However, there is significant scholarly debate about the precise interpretation of this term. Scholars have proposed multiple interpretations, ranging from everyone (particularly the needy), to all Christians, to Christian missionaries, or specifically Jewish Christians.[2]
Many scholars argue that “the least of these” actually refers to other Christians in need, specifically suggesting it means fellow believers rather than all of suffering humanity. The interpretation emphasizes that whatever is done for fellow Christians in need is essentially done for Christ himself.[3]
The most compelling evidence suggests the phrase refers to brothers and sisters in the Christian community. Matthew consistently uses this terminology to describe disciples, with “least” being closely related to his use of “little ones” to generally refer to disciples.[2] This interpretation is supported by the passages’ strong themes of blessing or judgment based on how one treats “these brothers of Mine,” ultimately concluding that “the least of these brothers of mine” in the Gospel of Matthew refers to the followers of Jesus.[4]
[1] Got Questions Ministries. (2002–2013). Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Logos Bible Software.
[2] Hagner, D. A. (1995). Matthew 14–28 (Vol. 33B, pp. 744–745). Word, Incorporated.
[3] DeYoung, K., & Gilbert, G. (2011). What is the mission of the church? making sense of social justice, shalom, and the great commission (pp. 162–163). Crossway.
[4] Dalrymple, R. (2015). These brothers of mine: a biblical theology of land and family and a response to christian zionism. Wipf and Stock.
Our capacity to find escape clauses, ways out of responsibility, apparently knows no bounds.
This is the same person, Jesus, who said we should love our enemies. Did He have an about-face and now tell us that there are exclusions on who we need to dare for?
Jesus also gave us the parable of the Good Samaritan. Did He do another about-face and tell us that rather than care for the class of person we hate the most – we can now ignore them and it’s OK with Him?
If God is love, and we should want to at least try to be like God, where’s the love in doing things like cutting off food aid for 40+ million people who need help?
Conclusion – SNAP, Shutdowns, and the Spiritual Cost of Withholding Help
If SNAP is about feeding the hungry, then what about the ‘prison’ Jesus mentions? It’s tempting to think He meant literal incarceration only. But the biblical word — φυλακή — carries broader meaning: confinement, isolation, even spiritual captivity. That means ‘prison’ could just as easily describe a mother trapped in poverty, a child locked out of opportunity, or a family bound by systemic neglect. If we withhold help from them, we’re not just ignoring policy. We’re ignoring Christ.
So yes — the concept of prison in Jesus’ parable does line up with SNAP. Because SNAP isn’t just about food. It’s about liberation. And if we refuse to visit those in this kind of prison — economic, emotional, spiritual — we’re refusing to visit Jesus.
So now that the groundwork is laid — now that we’ve seen what SNAP means, what Jesus said about bread, about prison, about the least of these — maybe it’s time to pause. Not to argue, not to justify, but to reflect. What do we believe about compassion, justice, and obedience? And how does that belief show up in the way we live, vote, speak, and serve? If there’s a gap between the two — between what we claim and what we do — then maybe this is the moment to close it. Not with guilt, but with grace. Not with shame, but with resolve. Because if Jesus really meant what He said, then the hungry, the hurting, and the imprisoned are not just policy issues. They’re invitations. Invitations to meet Him, serve Him, and maybe even become more like Him.
Footnotes:
- 1https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program
- 2https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-issues-death-wish-warning-to-americans-ahead-of-gubernatorial-elections/ar-AA1PLhNl
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