Matthew 10:8 (New International Version)
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
I think the health care debate is as much a moral one, as an economic one. There is no way that a decent society rations out who gets health care by whether one is employed, or insured. In the end the right to health care comes from the bonds of shared humanity. We either are all in this together, or we are reduced to the level of the animal kingdom where the strongest survive, and the herd leaves the weak to die alone in the tall grass to be devoured by scavengers.
As we rant and rave about the cost and politics of the health care plan might it not be best to get back to the basics of what our guiding moral principles should be regarding the health treatment of our fellow citizens?
CAFFEINATED POLITICS 
Christians should not be debating if everyone has a right to healthcare – doesn’t the parable of the Good Samaritan answer this question? The question is if this idea should be administered through the government, and the answer is a resounding “NO.” Our Founding fathers understood that governments are about money and power – they never “help” without a strong dose of “control” heaped into the mix. Christians have a responsibility to their neighbors – but not through government intervention.
“Thou shall not kill” – Exodus 20:13
Can you tell me with 100% certainty that the Government Healthcare bill floating around Congress right now has not taken out the little thing called “Government Funded Abortion”. Has this been truly set aside or is it a Government “zinger” for later?
In God We Trust – all others we must ask questions and that includes government.
This program is Socialism; Government in FULL charge of a section equal to 1/6 of our total economy is Socialism pure, clean and simple. Socialism and Communism are based on humanism – the belief that man is his own god through is own goodness. The progressives and the socialists are demonizing those who believe in God and His Holy word. The Obama Administration is judging Christians as racists and hate mongers because of our love for Christ. This is a classic struggle between good and evil.
Finally, Government Healthcare could very well send the US into bankruptcy. What is the good in picking up the tab on the supposed 47 million people presently without healthcare if we are all out on the street without any healthcare whatsoever after bankruptcy? Isn’t it moral and ethical to be fiscally responsible as well?
“You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” – Matthew 5:13.
This healthcare bill is immoral. And we have a mission to stand for righteousness and morality.
The Bible can make God sound loving and the Bible can make God sound like a tyrannical prick. Usually, the follower who reads it tends to see God the way they see things themselves. If they are loving, so is their idae of God. If they are a dick, so is their idea of God.
Deke, you have a good head on your shoulders and a good heart from reading your blog. So you see God in the way I do. But so many of our fellow citizens see God more harsh, as they are themselves.
Interesting post, and interesting comments, but especially to Ferrell Gummitt, who I admire for multiple repetition of consonant pairs, I’d like to point out that Jesus was a walking Public Option. I wrote a poem about it today. Feel free to respond in verse. www. poeticgrin.com
I think that the Bible is rather clear on weather or not Christians should help the sick or injured. It is quite clear that we should help those in need, the problem is whether or not it is a right to all people should be offered, and if the government should have a hand in the process. The second question is a political and economic question, but the first one may very well change how a Christian thinks about health care. It is important for a Christian to be compassionate, but also to not be foolish with money. I believe that all people deserve to have such a level of health care that they do not have to face terrible diseases or die needlessly because of sickness when health care could be provided. A Christian should be willing to pay for or take the time to help someone that is truly in need, but this has little correlation to paying for another person’s abortion, or forcing the government to pay for check-up visits.
The government lioke any other entity, is out to make money. With that said, this health care bill almost seems like it is going to prosper in the short term. Eventually, if there aren’t any specific stipulations on it, the government will go bankrupt.
The Bible does state that we are to take care of the poor, and ethically it does seem right to help those in need, but in that we are dealing with falling man…lazy falling man. Some “freely receive” and are forever wanting more. That is the dilemna here, irresponsiblity. Also Jesus did say that the poor will always be in our midst.
(Matt 26.11; Mark 14.7; I know that the context of the verses do not line with the discussion, but I believe that they make impacting statements.) There are two things that hang in the balance for this bill: 1) does giving to the poor mean that it should be government run or enforced, or 2) should giving aid to the less fortunate be more personal and on a individual basis. (With the failing economy this option would have to be dubbed a miracle.)
The other things involved are the levels of wealth in America. If this bill were to be passed how should the taxes be dispersed? Some may have lost millions, but they still have millions. These all are very difficult issues. It’s a battle between ethics and economics, but the Bible can support both.
The Bible does say that it is our job to take care of the sick and the poor. As a Christian I feel as though there is nothing wrong with that, the problem comes in by us as Christians using the Government’s health care plan to do this. Matthew 25: 31-46 is the story of how God will sepereate the sheep from the goat. One of the things that is talked about is caring for the sick as a person taking our time to take care of them not using the government.
This health care plan will either help or cripple certain people. It will help the people that do not take advantage of it and those who truly listen. The problem comes in with Christians using this is a way to take of the sick. The people who are lazy and just using the gov’t are the ones who don’t need it. There are also certain parts of health care that we as Christians should not support like abortions or things that are more extreme then that. I personally think the people who need help should get it but not those who are lazy and just do not feel like workin hard.
I believe that God does call on us to help the sick and needy. But in a way we have to help ourselves first so we can be able to help others deal with their problems. I believe that everybody should be eligible for healthcare because we each deserve to be healthy and not sick. But its the people’s choice to accept it or deny it. I really wish that the national wide healthcare plan would come to a stand still so that we all could have the ability to choose are own.
As a Christian, I believe that Matthew lays it out clearly that Christians should care for the sick and poor. However, I believe that only to an extent. There are cases where the sick and poor are partly in control of their current state. Some people become inactive towards life, and just cease to continue trying. Other people are doing all they can to succeed but it just doesn’t work out for them. Those are the type of people I believe should be helped out with Healthcare. Not the lazy people who could be attempting to get back on their feet in life.
My question for this proposed healthcare plan is this: How are the taxes going to be given out? Are they going to be given out to everyone? Are they going to be more to wealthier people and less to the less unfortunate?
i think that this health care plan “Sounds” like it is a good idea for the short term. But if you really take the time to think about it it could very well make America end up completely bankrupt. The Bible does say that we need to care for those who are sick and those who are truly in need, Matthew 25: 31-46. Yet this needs to be done in moderation so that the government is not throwing its money around, the little that it has, to people who are just lazy and wont work for there own health care. Also this gives license to free abortions. this is a defiant moral issue because if abortions all of a sudden become free then why would the world not get as sexually immoral as possible? This bill on health care may sound good but inevitably it could bring the downfall of this nation closer then it has been before.
Ryan,
Facts are vital, which is very important to keep in mind, so as not to mislead people. There are NO free abortions in the bill. In fact, in the House version Democrats voted for a more strict view of abortion rights.
The Bible also insists we feed the hungry–as individuals. Many liberals want to believe that ordering others to do charity absolves them of some moral responsibility. It does not.
Further, if we follow the left’s false morality further, we could ask ourselves if everyone deserves government food. Imagine a government takeover of the grocery market in the same way they are trying to sieze control of healthcare. The left could and would make all the same arguments–Big Food, unequal access to food, the cost of food, and all those people falling into bankruptcy because of the cost of food. What about fuel? Employment? Where does it stop? While government might provide these things it could noy also provide freedom.
How are you relating food to the issue at hand, healthcare?