"Do unto others what you would have them do to you.”
The government shutdown is causing a lot of anxiety and stress around our country. Many of my peers who work full-time in the Army received their pay in mid-October. Now, as the shutdown continues, there are no guarantees that paychecks will continue to be funded. Other federal employees haven’t been paid at all while they continue to work.
On Monday, Chaplain Barry Black prayed that our legislators would be moved by Matthew 7:12 and “do unto others what you would have them do to you.”
In a memorable line from his prayer, Black said, “no gold medals are given for breaking shutdown records, but a crown of righteousness is given to those who take care of the lost.”
What looms on November 1st for our community is the significant loss of resources for our neighbors who supplement their groceries with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. According to a report from KSTP News, more than 440,000 Minnesotans, roughly 8% of the state's population, rely on SNAP to support budgets already strained.
Black’s prayer is a reminder that our calls and emails to legislators are important, but the end of the shutdown is out of our control. What we can control is how to respond during this crisis.
At my weekly men’s Bible study, a member worried that the greater church is silent on how to mobilize. He said, “The church will be put to the test on November 1st when all these neighbors of ours will [lose their benefits.]”
Two men of differing political persuasions who rarely agree on social issues were shocked to hear their agreement on this topic. They agree: now is the time for the church to respond.
One of the guys asked, “What should we do as a society and individuals? What if each of us helped another member of our community? There wouldn’t be any hunger or shortage!”
The other guy responded, “I can’t believe it, I actually agree with you! It’s time for the church to help fill the food banks.”
The food banks in our community already exist, and they are bracing to respond. We as churches and citizens of Forest Lake and the surrounding communities, can support Community Helping Hand and Family Pathways.
We can donate food to our churches to feed our neighbors. Our congregation just delivered a shipment of snack items collected throughout the month to our local schools to provide a needed resource. Our food shelf cart will continue to remain out for donations during the shutdown. If someone is hungry, they’ll be offered food or directed to assistance.
If you belong to a church or community organization, add a few items to your grocery cart and drop them off the next time you’re able to. The food banks can also apply financial gifts to buy more items in bulk. You can send contributions directly to them and know that any gift you provide is appreciated and helps reduce food insecurity.
My hunch is that you can help. Please be considerate and caring. Our neighbors need us right now.
I’m grateful to serve in a community that looks out for each other. I love that my men’s Bible study didn’t see this as a political argument but a theological challenge. We can do the right thing because this is what our faith asks of us. Love others. Feed the hungry. Do unto others what we would want done to us. It’s that simple.
Pastor John Klawiter is the senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Forest Lake. For more information, email him at
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