Walking the Talk

I first heard the name Cory Booker during the summer of 2011 as I attended The Global Leadership Summit put on by Willow Creek. His message, which I have listened to more than a dozen times since then, was funny, charming, honest, and inspiring. Everything we'd like to believe we can rely on with our politicians, but the things we rarely get.

I have followed him — in the news, on Facebook, and through Social Media — since that time. I love the quotes he puts up every day, the way he champions his beliefs, and the way he carries himself as a public figure.

Last week, I was fascinated as Booker under took the SNAP Challenge — in other words, he decided to see what it would be like to survive a week with only the food he could buy from government assistance. It was a rough week for Booker, but it was an incredible way to shine a light on the struggles of those living in poverty. And, let's be honest, that's a serious challenge we face in America, despite being the wealthiest country in the world.

I was fascinated to hear him talk about his experiences through online videos and an interview with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" Wednesday. Then I read an interesting blog piece about Booker, the SNAP Challenge, and the issue of poverty that got me thinking.

The piece, written by Liz Dwyer on the site Good.Is, went over some of the contrarian challenges Booker faced, including from one of his Twitter followers that said it isn't the government's job to care for citizens living in poverty. Dwyer, and Booker, argue it is. While I think these government problems help, I also agree it isn't incumbent upon the government to care for those in need — it's the job of the church. And we're failing.

Matthew 25:40 says, "The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"

There is a clear, Biblical mandate to care for those in need, to look out for the poor, and to do what we can to change the world in the name of Jesus Christ. That is how we show His love to the world. But there simply isn't enough being done to accomplish this.

So I'm glad there are people out there like Booker who are passionately advocating the support of government programs that help "the least of these." But I also wonder what more the church can do.