A Big, Beautiful Bill?
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“Any religion that professes to be concerned about the souls of men and is not concerned about the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them and the social conditions that cripple them is a spiritually moribund religion awaiting burial.” — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The administration is calling it the “Big Beautiful Bill.” But beneath the branding lies a proposal that is anything but beautiful.
The legislation being pushed through Congress would dramatically slash taxes for the wealthy, direct even more money toward the military and immigration enforcement, and pay for it—at least in part—by gutting programs that provide basic care for the most vulnerable. The bill proposes deep cuts to health care, nutrition, education, and clean energy initiatives. It would undo significant parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, rolling back clean energy tax credits that are crucial for climate resilience. And it would severely scale back the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which currently helps 42 million low-income Americans buy food.1
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the legislation would cause 8.6 million more people to lose health coverage over the next decade. At the same time, the bill would increase the national debt limit by $4 trillion—revealing that the issue isn’t financial capacity. The issue is moral priority.
As economist Paul Krugman recently put it, “The cruelty is the point.”2 These policies aren’t about hard tradeoffs or economic necessity. They’re about ideology—one that finds satisfaction in punishing the poor, limiting support for the vulnerable, and rewarding wealth and power at the expense of those already pushed to the margins.
As I say repeatedly in these meditations: This is not a partisan issue. This is a theological issue.
From the opening chapters of Scripture to the teachings of the prophets, from the parables of Jesus to the wisdom of mystics and liberation theologians, the care of the poor and vulnerable is not a suggestion—it is a central measure of the spiritual life. When a society shrinks its safety nets and expands its weaponry, when it chooses to feed the stock market instead of hungry children, we are not just failing as a nation—we are failing in our discipleship.
Jesus said, “Whatever you did to the least of these, you did to me.” That is not metaphor. That is mirror. If we withhold food, health care, and shelter from our neighbors, we are withholding it from the Christ in our midst.
This moment demands clarity and courage—not just political engagement, but spiritual resistance.
We must ask ourselves: What kind of people are we becoming? And what kind of people do we want to be?
We must remember that the health of a nation is not measured by GDP or defense spending. It is measured by whether the children are fed, the sick are cared for, and the poor are not punished for their poverty.
Now is the time to speak. To organize. To bear witness. And to remember that justice is not an afterthought of faith—it is its heartbeat.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
What emotions arise as you reflect on the proposed legislation and its impact on the poor and vulnerable?
How do your spiritual values guide your engagement with economic and political issues?
What is one action you can take this week to stand with those who will be harmed by this legislation?
A Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for a People of Compassion and Courage
God of the Oppressed,
You do not dwell in palaces of greed,
but in food pantries and waiting rooms,
in empty refrigerators and quiet cries for help.
You ask us not how high we build walls,
but how wide we open our tables.
Not how much we saved,
but how many we served.
Forgive us when we grow numb to suffering,
when cruelty is camouflaged in policy,
when our silence becomes complicity.
Stir in us a holy discontent.
Disrupt our comfort.
Sharpen our conscience.
And give us courage to speak, to act, and to protect those whom your heart has always held close.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Walk With the Bill
Print out or write down a brief summary of what the “Big Beautiful Bill” proposes—especially its impacts on healthcare, food access, clean energy, and children. Fold it and put it in your pocket.3
Then, go for a walk in your neighborhood—slowly, intentionally. As you walk, pay attention to who you see. Think of the people in your community who would be most affected by these cuts: the parent at the bus stop, the elderly neighbor on fixed income, the child in the playground, the local clinic staff, the person living unhoused.
With each step, let your awareness grow. This is not abstract. These are the people in the story.
When you return, unfold the paper. Read it again—not as policy, but as spiritual provocation.
Then, do one thing: Leave the paper somewhere visible—on your desk, your altar, your fridge—and write on it: Who is this hurting? What is mine to do?
Keep it with you as a living question. Let it work on you throughout the week—not from guilt, but from love.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
NEW!!! On June 4, 2025, from 7-8pm ET, join Brian McLaren, Matthew Fox, and me for an exploration of “In the Midst of Doom: Facing Our Moment and Finding Our Way” inspired by Brian’s latest book. In an age of climate crisis, political unraveling, and societal collapse, many are asking: What now? What’s worth doing when the systems around us are failing? How do we find meaning beyond hope as we’ve known it? Join us and we will explore together. Register here.
June 4, 2025, 12pm ET - Jeff Chu has written a new book on a topic close to my heart: Soil! The title is “Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand.” I am so pleased to be interviewing him. Together, we’ll explore what it means to cultivate “good soil” in our lives, our communities, and our spiritual practices. I hope you will register. Your registration includes a copy of his new book.
July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more.
August 11, 2025, 2pm ET - Dr. Andrew Root and I will be hosting a 6 part series on Spirituality in the Secular Age based on his research. The dates are August 11, 18, September 8, 15, and October 6, 13. Mark your calendars! More on this soon.
September 4, 4:30pm ET - I will be collaborating with the Anderson Forum for Progressive Theology to host a conversation with Thomas Jay Oord on Open and Relational theology. It’s a FREE event. Register here.
October 15-18, 2025 - Converging 2025: Sing Truth Conference (all musicians invited!) at Northwest Christian Church in Columbus, OH. Register here!
I drafted a Strategic Framework for Congregations as we move into the coming years of increased authoritarianism around the world. If interested, you can download it here.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/house-gop-tax-bill-trump.html
https://www.congress.gov/
For this Bill to have gotten this far shows the depravity of the men and women, not just within the Republicans but, the whole of the American society. This Bill will lead to an unprecedented revolution. If passed, blood will flow before year end. The poor will have nothing else to lose….
GOD HELP US ALL!!!
We know who it's hurting, the 'What is mine to do?' reflection is harder. Get by on much less? Share what I have with those whom I know? but what of the unknown, hurting even more?