House passes the “One Big Beautiful Bill”

The US House of Representatives has passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the GOP’s domestic policy legislation, by a vote of 218–214. It now goes to President Trump’s desk ahead of his July 4 deadline for his signature.

Earlier today, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered the longest floor speech in modern House history in opposition. During his eight-hour-plus denunciation of the bill, he called it an “abomination” and said, “Shame on this institution if this bill passes.”

His response is by no means unprecedented. Four years ago, for example, Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy spoke for eight hours and thirty-two minutes before President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” bill was passed.

“The bill is far from perfect”

Democratic reaction to the bill has been vociferous:

• Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo) said, “In all my time in Congress, this is one of the worst bills I’ve ever seen.”
• Massachusetts Rep. Lori Trahan claimed, “It takes from working families, seniors, kids with disabilities so the ultra-wealthy can get a tax cut.”
• Democrats predict that the bill will lead to huge losses by Republicans in the mid-term elections, claiming that “Republicans will lose the majority in 2026 and the Big, Ugly Bill will be the reason why.”

Republicans, by contrast, reject such accusations and note that the bill extends the 2017 tax cuts. In their view, if these reductions were allowed to expire, this would cost the average American taxpayer a 22 percent increase in their tax burden.

Wall Street Journal reporter Kim Strassel offers a moderating position. In her view, “the bill is far from perfect.” However:

• It will save at least $500 billion over the next ten years.
• Rather than being a boon to the rich, it “largely extends existing tax policy. To the extent it makes modifications, many of these are boons to lower- and middle-income families.” 
• She explains that the bill does not cut Medicaid or food stamps but merely slows these programs’ unsustainable rate of growth.

At this point, you might ask: How can intelligent, well-informed people disagree so vehemently about the same legislation?

To which I’ll add a second question: What does the first question have to do with our practical lives and eternal souls today?

Why Sen. Murkowski voted for the bill

The biblical scholar Rudolf Bultmann observed that there is no such thing as a “presuppositionless hermeneutic.” Said less academically, he meant that we all bring personal biases into our study of the Bible and every other dimension of life.

We obviously see this with political parties in America today. It’s hard to believe, for example, that apart from partisan affiliations, the “Big Beautiful Bill” is so horrific that not a single Democrat would support it or so beneficial that nearly every Republican would. We saw the same in reverse in 2010 with the Affordable Care Act, which received not a single Republican vote in the House or the Senate.

Personal agendas are obviously at work here as well. When Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski cast the deciding vote on the legislation, for example, she “tried to take care of Alaska’s interests.” One provision, for example, would allow certain Alaskan whaling captains to deduct more of their expenses.

The two motives can reinforce each other as well. It is to a politician’s good to have the support of their party in advancing legislation and gaining reelection. And parties often coalesce around the agendas and beliefs of their members, whether the issue is abortion, taxes, or a host of other issues.

“Then shall your light break forth like the dawn”

What is true of American politics is equally true of Americans.

Let’s apply this fact to the “Big Beautiful Bill:” How do you feel about its passage? Have you studied the legislation in detail, or is your position aligned with your typical partisan beliefs?

We can apply our discussion to our religious worldview as well. For example, I was reading Isaiah 58 today, where the Lord tells his people,

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and to bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn (vv. 6–8).

Such passages impassion Christians and denominations who focus especially on social issues. By contrast, Jesus’ statement, “You must be born again” (John 3:8) motivates evangelicals who emphasize the need for personal salvation decisions.

Of course, the Bible wants us to focus on both. Unfortunately, our denominational traditions often affect how we balance them.

Three practical responses

You and I cannot do much about the partisan biases that dominate our political environment. But we can do something about our personal biases and the way they influence our thinking and practical lives. Let’s take three steps together today.

One: Ask the Spirit to expose our biases.

They would not be biases if they were fully known to us. But God knows “the purposes of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5) and can help us know ourselves by the illumination of his Spirit.

Two: Judge our beliefs by Scripture, rather than the other way around.

The Berean church has always been my favorite congregation in the Book of Acts for this reason: When Paul and Silas began preaching there, “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). As a result, “Many of them believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men” (v. 12).

Three: Treat the beliefs of others with truthful humility.

We are to declare biblical truth wherever and however we can (2 Timothy 4:2) and to defend its truth whenever necessary (1 Peter 3:15–16), but “speaking the truth in love” is to be our mantra and strategy (Ephesians 4:15). Only the Spirit can convict others (and ourselves) of sin (John 16:8) and defeat the deceptions of the Enemy (2 Corinthians 4:4). Only he can use our words to convey God’s word in ways that change lives for God’s glory.

“Doubting Thomas” and the blessing of faith

Today is the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle in Catholic tradition.

We know him as “doubting Thomas” because of his honest questions regarding the resurrection (John 20:24–25), but Jesus did not treat him in this way. To the contrary, he welcomed his questions and responded to them with the evidence of his risen body (vv. 26–27). With the result that Thomas called him “my Lord and my God!” (v. 28) and, by tradition, died a martyr in India.

After receiving his worship, the risen Lord said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (v. 29). “Believed” translates the Greek word meaning to “place faith and full confidence, entrust with our lives.”

Will you be “blessed” today?