As we continue to dig into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, one provision stands out for those of us who hold fast to family, faith, and the future of this great nation: the expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC).

Under this section, the credit rises from $2,000 to $2,500 per child for tax years 2025 through 2028. After that, it returns to $2,000, but with built-in adjustments for inflation to help keep pace with the cost of living. To be eligible, both the child and the parents or guardians must have valid Social Security numbers.

So, what does this mean for the average American family trying to raise their children right in a culture that seems more confused and chaotic by the day? Let’s unpack it.

The Good: Supporting Biblical Family Values

Affirming the Biblical Role of Parents

Scripture is crystal clear on the value of children and the sacred duty of parenting. As Psalm 127:3 proclaims, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”

In a culture that often treats children as burdens or lifestyle accessories, the Bible reminds us they are blessings, rewards from God Himself. Raising them isn’t just a lifestyle choice or a private matter, it’s a God-given assignment, a holy stewardship that demands sacrifice, intention, and a whole lot of grace.

The temporary increase in the Child Tax Credit is more than just a financial tweak. It’s a rare instance where public policy echoes eternal truth. By easing the burden on families, especially married, working parents, this provision affirms the biblical role of mothers and fathers as providers, protectors, and primary disciplers of their children. It recognizes that parenting is hard work—sacred work—and that strong, godly homes are the bedrock of a thriving society.

This move also sends a cultural message we desperately need to hear: that building a family is not a liability; it’s an investment in the future of the nation. And when the government backs that up with tangible support, it’s not just good economics; it’s righteous policy.

If we want to rebuild a moral nation, we start at the kitchen table with parents raising up the next generation in the fear and admonition of the Lord. And when policy lines up with Scripture? That’s a win worth celebrating.

Easing the Burden in Difficult Times

Raising a family today feels like running a marathon with a backpack full of bricks. Inflation’s chewing through paychecks, housing prices are climbing faster than a squirrel up a tree, and the grocery bill? Well, let’s just say it’s not exactly manna from heaven.

In this economic climate, every dollar counts. That extra $500 per child under the expanded Child Tax Credit may not buy a yacht, but it could mean the difference between sending your kid to summer camp or telling them, “Maybe next year.” It could cover a doctor’s visit, a few tanks of gas for the family van, or keep the lights on during a tough month. These aren’t luxuries, they’re basics. Essentials for keeping a household running and raising children in dignity.

This provision is a rare moment when Washington acknowledges a hard truth: raising children isn’t just a private venture, it’s a public good. And a costly one at that. Moms and dads doing their best to provide, train, and love their kids shouldn’t be penalized by a system that too often rewards irresponsibility while neglecting the faithful.

The Child Tax Credit increase doesn’t solve every problem, but it offers real, tangible relief to families who are doing what society so desperately needs: raising the next generation with love, discipline, and purpose. It’s a small nod of gratitude from the government to the quiet heroes who are making sacrifices every day to raise honest, hardworking citizens. And in times like these, even a little bit of relief goes a long way.

Fiscal Responsibility with Moral Intent

One of the commendable features of this provision is its measured approach: the Child Tax Credit increase to $2,500 is set to run from 2025 through 2028, after which it reverts to $2,000 with adjustments for inflation. In other words, it’s not a blank check, it’s a targeted boost with a built-in fiscal governor.

Now, is it perfect? No. But it’s practical. And in the messy world of politics and policy, sometimes pragmatism rooted in principle is the best you can ask for.

As Christians, we’re called to care for others, but also to be wise and careful stewards of the resources God entrusts to us. That goes for personal budgets and national ones, too. Proverbs 21:5 hits the nail on the head: “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.”

This verse isn’t just about saving for a rainy day, it’s about planning with purpose, making decisions that bless future generations rather than burden them.

By limiting the increase to a four-year window and then tying the credit to inflation, the bill threads the needle: it provides real, immediate support to families without opening the floodgates of long-term debt. It’s a responsible approach that honors both the immediate needs of parents and the long-term stability of our nation.

At the end of the day, generosity and responsibility are not enemies, they’re partners. And this provision, while not flawless, shows that Washington still remembers how to walk and chew gum at the same time, at least when it comes to helping families without mortgaging our children’s future.

The Not-So-Good: Missed Opportunities for Real Reform

Leaves Out the Poorest Among Us

Here’s the sticking point, maybe even the splinter in the finger of this whole provision: while the Child Tax Credit itself goes up, the refundable portion stays flat. That means families who owe little to no federal income tax—the working poor, single parents, and those living paycheck to paycheck—won’t see much benefit from this increase, if any at all.

It’s a bit like building a lifeboat but only handing out oars to the folks already wearing life jackets.

Middle-income families will likely see a real difference, and that’s good. But for those on the bottom rung—the ones who need help the most—it’s crumbs off the table. And from a Christian conservative point of view, that’s not just a policy gap; it’s a moral blind spot.

James 1:27 doesn’t leave any room for ambiguity: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Scripture repeatedly emphasizes God’s heart for the vulnerable: the widow, the orphan, the poor laborer. And if our tax policy claims to support families but forgets those who are barely hanging on, then it’s missed the mark.

That doesn’t mean we need to swing open the door to unlimited government handouts. But it does mean we ought to ensure that the support we do offer is structured in a way that lifts—not leaves behind—those who are trying to climb out of hardship. Helping working families includes making sure the reward isn’t just for the well-positioned, but for the faithful struggler too.

If we’re serious about rebuilding a culture of life, responsibility, and dignity, we must start by refusing to ignore the very people Christ so often championed in His ministry. A policy that helps families should help all families, especially the ones fighting hardest to stay afloat.

Excludes Some U.S.-Born Children Due to Immigration Status

At first glance, the requirement that both parent and child must have valid Social Security numbers to qualify for the Child Tax Credit seems reasonable, even necessary. It’s meant to prevent abuse of the system and ensure that taxpayer dollars are going to legal residents. That’s a fair goal, and as conservatives, we believe strongly in the rule of law and the need for secure borders.

But dig a little deeper, and there’s an unintended consequence worth pausing over: some U.S.-born children—citizens by birth—may be denied the credit simply because their parents are undocumented. These are American children, often being raised in struggling households, through no fault of their own. And yet, they’re effectively excluded from the same support available to their peers.

That’s a hard pill to swallow.

I’m not suggesting we ignore the law. Romans 13 tells us plainly that civil order matters. But we also know from Scripture that justice isn’t blind to mercy. Over and over, God’s heart breaks for the innocent and the oppressed. Deuteronomy 10:18 says of the Lord: “He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.”

This doesn’t mean open borders or blanket amnesty, it means crafting policies that distinguish between enforcing the law and punishing children for circumstances beyond their control. There is a moral difference between excusing lawbreaking and showing compassion to a child caught in the crossfire.

As Christian conservatives, we should pursue a path that upholds both truth and grace. The government can—and should—explore ways to ensure that U.S.-born children are not deprived of basic support simply because of their parents’ legal status. It’s not about compromise; it’s about clarity, compassion, and common sense.

Uncertainty about the Long Haul

Families don’t budget their futures in election cycles. They plan in decades. Decisions like buying a home, growing their family, or saving for their children’s education aren’t made on the whim of Washington politics—they’re built on trust, consistency, and long-term stability.

That’s where the temporary nature of this Child Tax Credit increase starts to feel more like a bandage than a cure. Sure, an extra $500 per child for four years helps, but what happens in 2029 when the benefit drops back down? That looming change injects uncertainty right where families need reliability the most.

The world is already unstable. We’ve got cultural upheaval, economic volatility, and a public education system that feels more like a battleground than a blessing. The last thing families need is one more question mark hanging over their heads.

Financial consistency is more than just an economic issue, it’s a moral one. The Bible teaches us to build wisely and prepare for the future. Proverbs 24:27 says: “Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.”

In other words, plan carefully, act responsibly, and then build something lasting. That’s exactly what families across America are trying to do, but it’s hard to lay foundations when the rules keep changing.

If we want to truly support the family structure, we need policies that offer more than temporary relief. We need long-term, dependable tools that empower parents to build strong homes and raise children with confidence. A permanent or more predictable credit would give families the stability they need to thrive—not just survive—in today’s world.

A Step in the Right Direction, But Keep Going

This provision is a welcome move, an encouraging sign that policy can still reflect biblical values and common sense. It recognizes the God-ordained role of the family, offers meaningful financial relief to hardworking parents, and nudges the nation back toward a moral compass that has spun wildly off course in recent decades.

But let’s not kid ourselves, it’s not the full picture.

This provision is a start, not a destination. It falls short of a full-throated vision for honoring the family and lifting up the vulnerable. In a country where nearly 40% of children are born into broken homes or raised in poverty, we can’t afford to pat ourselves on the back just yet.

If we’re serious about strengthening the family—the first institution God created—then we need policy that does more than trim around the edges. We need bold, unapologetic support for both the traditional family and those doing their best to hold one together under pressure. Here’s where we can do better:

1. Increase Refundability for Low-Income Families
Let’s not forget the families who need help the most. If we say we’re pro-life—and we should—we must also be pro-family after birth. Ensuring that the poorest among us can access the full credit is not just fiscally wise, it’s morally necessary. Helping a working single mom or a struggling couple isn’t welfare, it’s investment in the next generation.

2. Revisit SSN Requirements with Compassion and Common Sense
U.S.-born children should not be penalized for their parents’ immigration status. We can uphold the law and extend mercy. It’s possible to honor the legal framework of this country while remembering that every child is made in the image of God and deserving of basic dignity. A narrowly tailored exemption for citizen children isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom.

3. Consider Making the $2,500 Credit Permanent
Parents need predictability. They’re not planning just for next year, they’re building for college, for careers, for grandkids. A permanent increase would give families the confidence to grow, save, and invest in their children’s future. If anything deserves stable support from Washington, it’s the American family.

If we want to rebuild the moral foundation of this nation, we won’t do it through bureaucracy, social media rants, or top-down mandates. We’ll do it around the dinner table, one faithful mom and dad at a time, raising the next generation with discipline, joy, and the fear of the Lord.

And every dollar that helps them do that? Every tax credit that makes it a little easier to choose life, raise children, and build a godly home? That’s not just good policy, it’s righteous.

As Psalm 127:4 so beautifully reminds us: “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.”

Let’s aim those arrows well, sharp, steady, and ready to soar.