For years, the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, helped feed millions of struggling Americans. Its loss is more than an economic or political problem; it’s a spiritual one.
The simple truth is that the Church once cared for the poor, the hungry, the widowed, and the sick. That was our calling from the beginning. But over time, we handed those ministries over to the government. Now that the government is failing, the Church is not ready to fill the void that we willingly created.
The Biblical Mandate
From the earliest days of Scripture, God’s people were called to care for those in need. The Law of Moses made provisions for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner living among Israel. Jesus reaffirmed and deepened that calling.
In Matthew 25, He identifies Himself with the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned:
“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home… I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:35, 40 NLT)
The book of Acts paints a vivid picture of what this looked like in practice.
“All the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.” (Acts 2:44–45 NLT)
When complaints arose that some widows were being neglected in the daily food distribution, the apostles appointed deacons to ensure that every person was cared for (Acts 6:1–6). Caring for the poor was not optional. It was central to the Church’s identity.
James calls this the very definition of authentic faith:
“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress.” (James 1:27 NLT)
From Jerusalem to Antioch to Rome, early Christians were known for radical generosity. They adopted abandoned infants, cared for the sick during plagues, and shared food with pagan neighbors. The Church didn’t wait for the government to get its act together; it acted out of conviction that every person bears the image of God.
The Cost of Abdication
So what happened? How did a Church known for its compassion become one that depends on the state to feed the hungry?
In the early centuries, the Church was the welfare system of the ancient world. Bishops and deacons managed funds and distributed bread, clothing, and shelter to the needy. During the Middle Ages, monasteries and parishes fed the poor, treated the sick, and educated children. Charity was personal, local, and rooted in faith.
But as society changed, so did the Church. In post-Reformation Europe, social care became increasingly handled by the state. The Industrial Revolution and the growth of urban poverty prompted governments to establish laws and relief programs for the poor. Churches, fragmented by denominational divisions and theological disputes, gradually allowed civil authorities to take over what had once been their mission.
By the twentieth century, especially in America, Christian responsibility had been outsourced to government agencies. Welfare programs replaced local charity. Hospitals and orphanages founded by Christians became secular institutions. Many churches, relieved to focus on worship services and internal programs, quietly accepted this shift.
The result was that Caesar became the new provider, and the Church became a spectator.
When the Church handed off its calling, something deeper was lost than just charity work. We lost credibility. The early Church gained moral authority because it embodied Christ’s compassion. Pagan emperors complained that Christians cared for everyone—including non-Christians—better than Rome did. That hasn’t been the case for a very long time.
Compassion became impersonal. SNAP benefits and welfare checks can provide food, but they cannot offer community, dignity, or hope. The state can distribute bread, but it cannot sit with the lonely, pray with the suffering, or love the forgotten.
Many churches have simply become too comfortable. Budgets ballooned for buildings, programs, and technology, while benevolence funds shrank. We preach about being the hands and feet of Jesus, yet too often our hands are stuffed in our own pockets and our feet stay planted underneath the pews.
Now that government systems are strained, we find ourselves spiritually unprepared. Can our congregations step up and ensure that every family among us is fed? Can we care for our neighbors, whether Christian or non-Christian, in the same way the early Church once did?
The honest answer for most is no.
When the State Fails, the Church Must Rise
The failure of government welfare is not an invitation to complain about politics. Caring for the poor is not a liberal or conservative issue. It’s a Christian issue. The Lord did not say, “I was hungry, and the government fed me.” He said, “You fed me.”
This is a call for the Church to repent and recover her mission. If we depend on government systems to do what Christ commanded us to do, we should not be surprised when both compassion and faith grow cold.
