A Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget | FBC AUSTIN

By Stephen Reeves

Good morning church family. It is good to be with you and great to be home after a long week in Washington. 

 I'm so glad that Griff was there and appreciate the opportunity to share this morning.  It was an honor to wear this stole you all signed with prayers and fun to share its meaning with the many who asked. We felt your prayers and support. Thank you. 

Fellowship Southwest and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship were two of over 40 National Faith-Based organizations sponsoring "A Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget." It was so good to be among such a diverse, like-hearted crowd from across the country. 

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What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 

- James 2:14-17

 This verse was shared by Sen Corey Booker on the steps of the Capitol to the hundreds of us gathered to raise a collective voice against policies that would harm the most vulnerable among us. 

 It was just one of the many verses lifted up on Tuesday.  

No, I don't believe we should legislate straight from the Bible. As the late great James Dunn said the problem with Theocracy is that everyone wants to be Theo. 

 However, you can respect the separation of church and state and still bring your faith to the public square and work for policies that align with the values that Jesus proclaimed. In Matthew 25 he spoke to the nations reminding us that the way we treat the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned, is how we treat him. 

 There has long been an ideological and political debate about how best to help the most vulnerable in society. There are reasonable disagreements about the government's role. However, the legislation now under consideration, the "Big Beautiful" reconciliation bill, and many actions of this administration, are far outside the typical disagreements. 

 What used to be bipartisan commitments to programs that promote humane treatment of the vulnerable - the poor, the sick, the hungry, the disabled and the elderly are on the chopping block. 

 Many elected officials across the political spectrum through fear, intimidation and bullying now find themselves pressured to cut or end programs they've long supported. 

 On Tuesday afternoon after the rally, march & prayer vigil Griff met with Sen. Cornyn's office.  

 On Wednesday,  I joined another group of about 500 Christians for Bread for the World's advocacy summit.  Together we made constituent visits to over 200 offices on Capitol Hill urging restoration to vital social service programs that feed the hungry.  

 Friends, if you believe your faith should inform your political convictions and you want your country to be a beacon of hope for the persecuted and vulnerable, now is the time to speak out. I think our appeals are working. 

 I know there are principalities and powers aligned against such commitments. It's not easy, and victory may not come in the short term, but I urge you to join the struggle and follow the call of the prophet Isiah - to learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

 Many of you joined the protests here yesterday. Thank you for finding ways to put action to your convictions. Keep calling, keep praying, keep serving your neighbors and don't give up hope. 

The spirit was moving in Washington this week as hundreds of people of faith gained strength from one another, and put feet to our prayers for justice. 

 For more details about the cuts being proposed, their impact, and how you can advocate,  I urge you to follow the work of Fellowship Southwest and Bread for the World and sign up to receive email updates. 

 Thank you again for all your support, prayers and advocacy. I'm so proud to be part of this church. 

 May the spirit of justice and mercy move across our entire country in the days and months ahead.