ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 16, 2026
A politician who will go unnamed (that is not the point of what I’m writing) recently was talking about the good old days when those who were poor and in need of food assistance had to go to a food bank to pick up their groceries, and how there was a little bit of shame and embarrassment involved. This politician went on to say, “Maybe we should go back to a little bit of that instead of just making it so easy.” The assumption was that those in need of assistance might be motivated to get off public assistance if they were made to feel a bit more ashamed. I’m not going to pretend that a moment of embarrassment hasn’t served as a motivator in my own life, but in most circumstances, shame and embarrassment only intensify the despondency and hopelessness that is felt. It is not a little jolt of positive inspiration, but most often an additional weight that only makes life more difficult. In the United States, it is estimated that over 70% of those who require food assistance for their families are already working full time, and more than half of them are working a second or even third job. In almost all situations, it is not about pulling oneself up by the bootstraps because, in reality, their bootstraps are already stretched beyond their capacity. Even more so, as followers of Jesus, we need to take direction from how Jesus approached similar situations. When dealing with those who were struggling, being crushed under a system that devalued them, and continually scapegoated as the source of society’s problems, Jesus acknowledged the dignity and value of every person he encountered. He provided people an opportunity to speak their own truth. He made sure there was a space at the table for everyone, no matter the status or title that society might have attached to them. When Jesus fed more than 5000 people with just a few loaves and fish, he divided up the people, but not based on whether they were desperate for the meal or simply enjoying the opportunity to snag a free lunch. They all got their fill, and even then, there were leftovers for those who might have been late to the party. How do we help those who have been drained of their dignity to rediscover how God values them beyond measure? I’m pretty sure shaming them is not the best approach.
Give us a new perspective, Good and Gracious God. So often, we do not see the humanity and unique struggles in the lives of others. Allow us to see as you see. Amen.
