Earlier this month, the San Francisco Chronicle began reporting on California Governor Gavin Newsom's recent string of biblical references in speeches and public statements.
Yes, Gavin Newsom is using the Bible now:
At recent events, Newsom has quoted Jesus as well as Old Testament prophets in order to chastise political opponents over food assistance programs, framing - as progressives often do - government-run welfare as the central expression of Christian obedience.
Yes, feeding the hungry is absolutely central to the heart of God. Any sincere reader of Scripture hears its unmistakable refrain: God's people are to care for the poor. But what Newsom claims - and what many Christians subtly accept or are tempted to believe - is something fundamentally unbiblical.
Government programs do not fulfill the Christian obligation to "love our neighbor."
Newsom has also been keen to appeal to the authority of the pope as evidence of what is an "affront to God," and has been taking a verse in Isaiah out of context to argue for climate-change policies.
That verse, Isaiah 58:12, refers to rebuilding the broken walls and ruins of Israel.
But what caused the devastation was not mismanagement of natural resources, or failure to give trillions of tax dollars to the government to fight the weather. In the preceding verses and chapters, God tells Israel that they have become an affront to Him for a number of reasons, including sacrificing (aborting) their children to the god Moloch, sexual "liberty" that "burns with lust under every spreading tree," sacrifices to a plurality of false gods and religions, love of alcohol, oppression of the poor, and exploitation of labor.
In other words, Newsom might want to consider his state's own vast homeless encampments, massive Pride parades, extreme support of abortion, world-famous Hollywood hedonism, and labor exploitation (like awarding CDLs to illegal workers who keep causing roadway accidents).
But since Newsom's appeal to Scripture regarding government food assistance is bound to deceive more people, let me focus on reminding faithful believers what the Lord wants and expects of us in that area.
1. The Bible's Command Is Personal, Not Bureaucratic
When Jesus speaks of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or welcoming the stranger, He is speaking to people (His disciples and followers), not to imperial administrators.
The command is never, "Ensure Caesar expands the welfare state," but "You give them something to eat" (Matt. 14:16).
The Good Samaritan did not pass the injured man and declare, "There must be a tax-funded program to care for men like this." He cared, stopped, and paid from his own pocket. (Not to mention the deeper meaning of the parable is demonstrating Christ is the only true "Good Samaritan").
James does not say, "Religion that is pure is lobbying Rome for a better social safety net, and supporting politicians who agree." He says, "You visit widows and orphans in their distress" (James 1:27).
The biblical pattern is unmistakable: charity is a virtue of the redeemed heart, not a function of the state.
2. Government Assistance Is Not the Fruit of the Spirit
Supporting welfare programs is not biblical generosity. Campaigning for those who offer subsidies is not compassion. A tax withholding is not a tithe.
Christian, you are not redeemed by belonging to a nation that has SNAP, EBT, or any other social welfare program. We are redeemed by the blood of Christ alone, and that redemption produces something the government cannot manufacture. Namely, a transformed heart that wants to give sacrificially.
Paul did not praise the Macedonians because they had robust civic infrastructure. He praised them because, despite their poverty, "they gave themselves first to the Lord" and then gave "beyond their ability" (2 Cor. 8:1 - 5).
Their generosity came from hearts changed by grace, not from government command.
3. The Danger of Letting Caesar Define Compassion
When politicians retroactively redefine Scripture to bless state power, something subtle but dangerous can happen to us. We can begin subconsciously outsourcing obedience.
Why sacrifice personally when the government is taking care of the job? "After all, Jesus was talking to people whose society had no safety net. Ours does, so it's different now."
Why give joyfully when the IRS will compel giving anyway? "I would be generous if I had to be. But our government forces me to give anyway, so my bases are covered because they have to be!"
The problem with this attitude for us is that the New Testament doesn't call us to outsource compassion, but embody it. The love of Jesus moves through His Church (people), not through bureaucratic machinery.
4. The Church Must Not Forget Who We Are
Whether Newsom intends it or not, his framing implies that Christians who care about the poor should funnel their moral energy into supporting his agenda. But Scripture calls us to something far more demanding: personal, self-giving love.
The hungry person God places in your path is not fed by your political opinions.
The lonely neighbor is not comforted by your candidate's platform.
The struggling single mother is not discipled by government programs.
They are cared for by Christians who show up in loving relationship. That's why this way is, as God's ways always are, far more beautiful, and far more transforming than we even see coming. See, Caesar may be able to write checks to pay for a meal, but only Jesus can create cheerful givers.
I'm not criticizing Christians debating the role of government support systems, but no politician, no party, and no public program can obey Scripture for us.
When leaders quote the Bible to bolster their initiatives, they are not merely using Scripture selectively. They are subtly redefining Christian duty, replacing Spirit-driven generosity with state-driven distribution.
The Church must not take that bait.
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Not the Bee or any of its affiliates.
