Crumbs

Crumbs come from a slice of bread or a cookie, but no one is truly satisfied by eating crumbs. Only a starving person would be tempted to eat crumbs.

I’ve been thinking a lot about crumbs lately, not because I am hungry, but because I am witnessing how desperate many Christians are to have their faith affirmed by our government. So desperate that mere crumbs of anything symbolizing faith will satisfy them.

Politicians have long known that their religious words and symbolic religious actions can keep many Christians loyal to them because they’re easily satisfied. When President Trump is prayed for in the Oval Office or asks for a cabinet meeting to open in prayer, many fawn over the spiritual significance of these acts. But they’re mere crumbs in the overall scheme of things.

What’s more important is how a president and their administration conducts its business. Any politician can toss crumbs (I’m for fewer abortions; I’m for prayer in school; etc.) attempting to satisfy his constituents, but the true test is the quality of the whole loaf or batch. Is it in line with biblical teaching and practice? If so, great and Hallelujah! If not, then we can’t be satisfied with the mere crumbs offered us. Instead, we need to call our politicians to account when they act in unjust and unbiblical ways in how they govern. Remember, we are not on Team Red or Team Blue. We are on Team Jesus. Our loyalty is to be fully with him.

Too often Christians are looking at their faith through political lenses rather than the eyes of Jesus. Our faith is too often impacted by our political leanings rather than the other way around. As a result, we are more willing to accept spiritual crumbs from the politicians we support because, to be blunt, we are looking for reasons to support and continue to support those we favor. And often they gain our favor by periodically tossing us crumbs of spirituality.

Crumbs are the leftovers and too insignificant to be consumed by anyone unless they are starving. Don’t be satisfied with the few spiritual crumbs tossed your way. They are not significant unless they are truly a part of a greater spiritual reality. We shouldn’t let any politician get our support on the mere crumbs they offer.

© Jim Musser 2025