I have been a conservative, evangelical pastor and church leader for more than 45 years. During that time, I have carefully guarded myself against speaking publicly on most political issues and have refused to take public partisan positions in reference to political parties. I am a preacher of the gospel not a political advocate.
So careful have I been, that I have refused offers from national political leaders to speak in our church. The one time I crossed the line (at least in the minds of some) was when Vice President Dan Quayle wrote a letter addressed to me and our congregation commending us for a series we were doing on Family Values. When I read the letter to the congregation (It was addressed to them.) two families walked out because they were Democrats and the Vice President was a Republican.
During a meeting with the board of the church after the events of 9/11, there was public debate about going to war with Iraq, I raised some concerns and questions about the wisdom of going to war with Iraq. I was immediately shot down. I stood alone. It was not appropriate to question a Republican president in those circles!
THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE MAKES ME SICK
I must admit that during the last six months, however, something has been building inside me and I can’t hold it in any longer. Since I am no longer a pastor, I feel I have a freedom to speak out.
To my readers around the world, what I say here is an American issue. Please excuse me!
I certainly do not have the answer to where we should go to reform the health care system in America. I am still trying to understand the options and possibilities. I have not made up my mind as to what should happen.
Sickness, disease and death did not exist in the Garden of Eden and they will not exist in heaven when we get there. I can’t believe that God wants sickness and disease for here and now. But in our fallen world, death and sickness are things we must deal with.
MY CONCERNS:
First, what concerns me is the total lack of civility in the discussion. My wife walks out of the room if the topic of health care reform is on the news. The childishness of the debate is a disgrace.
Second, the money being spent to influence the outcome of the debate troubles me. Are you aware that there are six registered health care lobbyists for each of the 535 members of Congress? That means there are 3,300 lobbyists (twice the number that’s working on defense issues) trying to influence the debate. These lobbyists have spent $263 million on lobbying to get their way in just the first six months of this year. Drug makers have spent $134 million lobbying politicians in the first six months of 2009. This money is not being spent on healing the sick!
Members of both parties have received huge sums of money. And we can be sure that what they are saying publicly is influenced by what has been stuffed in their pockets. For example, Senator Max Baucus (D) got $3 million from health and insurance companies from 2003 to 2008. Senator Chuck Grassley (R) received more than $2 million in the same time. Similar figures are known for most other officials.
Third, what irritates me the most is the blind gullibility of so many of my Christian brothers and sisters. As Brian McLaren has written, “It’s been disturbing to see how many Christians have begun to follow and trust leaders who live more by political/media/ideological codes than by moral/spiritual/biblical ones.”
He went on to say, “I sometimes think that Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, Glen Beck, and Fox News may influence many conservative evangelicals … more than Billy Graham, Rick Warren, T.D. Jakes, Pope Benedict and even the four gospels.”
Again I repeat. I do not know the answer to the health care dilemma. This is a free country and we are welcome to our opinions and have the freedom to express them.
But before we are citizens of any country on earth, we must remember that we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom. And when we speak, we speak as representatives of that heavenly kingdom. It is imperative that we harmonize our speech and attitudes with the teachings, values and spirit of Jesus.
SOCIALISM AND CAPITALISM END UP THE SAME
All human political ideologies are flawed. Socialism and capitalism are both flawed. Both are rooted in materialism, which runs counter to the teachings of Jesus. The only difference between socialism and capitalism is the way people become materialistic. It is time for Christians to look again at the issues of life through the lens of Scripture rather than the lens of neo-conservatism.
Some would say we have become more concerned with being politically conservative than biblically zealous, Christ-like, believers in Jesus. The tragedy is that the difference between being a political conservative and a Christ-follower living in our world has been lost.
It is time for Christians to be seekers of truth, not purveyors of the latest half-truths of talk-radio. My personal definition of talk-radio is “the arrogant talking to the ignorant.” Sadly, too many Christians take the talk-radio propaganda at face value and then pass it on as gospel truth.
WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY?
What would Jesus say about this health care debate? He would talk about moral principles, not about political parties.
I think he would speak about the hypocrisy and greed of some political leaders and the blindness of some Christian ideologues.
I think he would tell the political commentators to speak the truth in love. He would tell them that our health care is not just about money, it is a moral issue and that it’s about the value of every person, regardless of class or financial means.
I believe he would warn his followers to act Christ-like as they work through this debate. I think he would tell them to stop and think before believing every rumor that comes their way. Gullibility is not a fruit of the Spirit
I think he would tell his followers to remember the poor and the needy. I doubt if the 40+ million without health care insurance in America would escape his notice. I don’t think the fact that 18,000 people die unnecessarily in our nation each year because of a lack of affordable health care would escape his attention.
I think he would remind us that there is no one God-ordained system of health care or health insurance. No matter how much you study the Bible, you will not find an endorsement for any type of program. As one theologian said, “Luke may have been a physician, but he never commented on whether computerizing medical records should be a national priority.”
THE FUTURE
I am not in favor of blindly instituting an expensive health care program without adequate debate that would honestly deal with the facts.
I am no more confident of leaving my health care decisions in the hands of a mega health insurance corporation than in the hands of government bureaucracy. I have lived in several countries around the world and received excellent treatment under all kinds of programs.
I am praying that in the days ahead there will be a resolution that is in the interest us all. And especially me, since I am in Medicare!
A complete directory of articles can be found at http://calsinsights.com/
You can receive this material regularly by email – just fill in your email address at the bottom left side of the home page under subscription options and you will receive a copy of each new article as it is posted.
To forward the material to someone else, press the “share this” button and fill in an email address.
I appreciate all your comments and suggestions.