Published February 3, 2025
Christian ethics often appear paradoxical at first glance. We are called to love indiscriminately yet also to prioritize certain relationships. We are commanded to show mercy to strangers yet also to provide for our own households first. These tensions are not contradictions but rather a framework for rightly ordered love—one that reflects the very heart of God.
Recently, Vice President J.D. Vance’s comments on prioritizing care for those closest to us have sparked discussion, particularly regarding how they align with Biblical teachings. Some critics argue that such an approach narrows the scope of Christian love, making it exclusive rather than expansive. However, a proper understanding of Scripture reveals that prioritizing one’s own household does not negate universal mercy. Rather, it structures it in a way that mirrors God’s design for human relationships.
Two passages seem to stand in tension that explain the debate concerning Vance’s remarks: Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29–37) and Paul’s instruction in 1 Timothy 5:8 that “anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
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EPPC Fellow Andrew T. Walker, Ph.D., researches and writes about the intersection of Christian ethics, public theology, and the moral principles that support civil society and sound government. A sought-after speaker and cultural commentator, Dr. Walker’s academic research interests and areas of expertise include natural law, human dignity, family stability, social conservatism, and church-state studies. The author or editor of more than ten books, he is passionate about helping Christians understand the moral demands of the gospel and their contributions to human flourishing and the common good. His most recent book, out in May 2021 from Brazos Press, is titled Liberty for All: Defending Everyone’s Religious Freedom in a Secular Age.