I heard a talk-radio host this past week chastise one of his callers that, as someone who goes to church, he should be ashamed of himself for not supporting government-run health care reform...or is it health insurance reform now. The host suspected the caller was a Christian but was actually a Jew. The point was that he read and believed in the Bible, or at least some portion thereof.
I was left with the impression that the teachings of the Bible should guide policy-making, or our voice and vote, and more specifically justify government-run health care. Now, I thought we religious people were supposed to keep our faith out of the public square. (Maybe the biggest example is abortion. People in the pro-life movement abhor abortion because it takes an innocent human life which the government is supposed to protect at all levels of development, but that's Biblical.) When, if at all, should the Bible guide policy-making? Is it a violation of the ACLU's beloved "wall of separation", a phrase Thomas Jefferson coined in a personal letter to a church not a clause of the Consitution, to use the teachings of the Bible to justify public policy?
The host believed in taxation to support those in need; the caller believed, as do I, in individual charity, not in mandated charity, to support those in need. (Is it really charity if it's mandated? Give to those in need or go to prison. Well, let me think about it.) The caller also believed in individual responsibility and was then asked where in the Bible that was taught. He could not immediately cite a verse, but now that it's acceptable use the Bible to justify our positions in the policy-making, at least for this debate, here are just a few of the many exhortations to work and to give to those in need.
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 10:4
He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. Proverbs 10:5
He who works with his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment. Proverbs 12:11
Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slavery. Proverbs12:24
The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:4
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Epesians 4:28
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 14:31
He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done. Proverbs 19:17
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thess 4:11-12
So should the teachings of the Bible guide policy-making? Yes, in the sense that they should guide its adherents heart, voice and vote whether they be citizens or politicians and in the same way that the Koran would guide a Muslim citizen or politician.
As a Christian, I feel that it's the mandate of the individual, not the government, to support those in need whatever the need may be. Some of us may be discouraged by our lack of money to do so, but wouldn't we all have more of it if the government at all levels would not take so much. Even if money is tight, we have an even more valuable and personal resource...time.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
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I will attempt to be true to your logic concerning "charity"; and actually give you an example of what could come to pass under universal health care (where all people are incured).
ReplyDeleteFor the past 5 or 6 years our congregation has sponsored a dental van. This fully equiped van comes to our parking lot, where a dentist can see 10-12 people, in one day of volunteer time.
We have served over 250 individuals, and extended over $40,000.00 worth of care.
At present we receive an average of 5 calls a day from uninsured people. We have a growing list of over 200 stories of mouth pain, infection, and broken teeth, at any time. If universal health care becomes a reality, these calls will soon stop. The government will have forced us to shut down this ministry.
You may well say that "secular progressives" will have succeded in landing another blow against the body of Christ!
We, however, will actually celebrate the day that people no longer have to call our office in pain. We will consider their no longer having to waite up to a couple of months (for "charity" care) an answer to prayer. Because, our understanding is that Jesus' focus is on people find comfort from pain and suffering; more that on our being in a position to show charity,
we will certainly shift our time, energy and money to new way of serving the needs of our community. We will not consider universal health care an afront to the ministry of the Church.
There seems to be a disconnect between the willingness of some Christians to apply the LAW and GOSPEL to public life. A very simple example is the desire to hang the ten commandments in the public square. I have not seen or heard a similar movement to display the Beatitudes!
ReplyDeleteOf Course, the government is an institution of the law. It is not intended to be the voice of the Gospel (justification in through Jesus The Christ). But there are commands given through the prophets that are ment to extend God's love
to the least in society.
Isaiah spoke to the national character of both the northern and southern kingdoms. In particular he picked on Jerusalem when he wrote:
"How the faithful city has become a whore!
She that was full of justice,
righteousness lodged in her--
but now murderers!...Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts.
They do not defend the orphan, and widow's cause does not come before them." (Isaiah 1:21-23)
Kind of sounds like the way some are happey for Washington D.C. to work. You seem to say that the government should not be involved in facilitating / providing welfair for the "least of these". I suppose, the business of the government is to facilitate a Military complex,
and to defend capitolism. The result is support for the wealthy and the powerful.
In Verse 17 Isaiah is speaking to the nation as a whole when we read:
"learn to do good;
seek justice,
rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
plea for the widow"
I would direct your attention to the books of the Old Testament Law, where you can find that "Charity" was commanded. As a practice of the people of God (as a nation), their crops were not to be harvested without leaving a portion for the poor;("the alien, the orphan, the widow") Deut. 24:19. When Jesus later says "You will always have the poor among you." This is not only a statement of fact, but it is a judgement against the nation of Israel. The promise that "none would go hurgry" (Deut. 15:4)had not been (and never would be)a reality, because the will of God had not been followed!
The prophet Ezekiel gives a warnning that the future is not likely to be good for the social order that serves the wealthy and turns it's back on the poor."This was the guilt of your sister Sodom; she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy." (Exekiel 16:49)
Maybe the fact that any reference to Sodom in our present social conversation is a reference to "same-sex relationships" is a symptom of the problem. The willingness to apply the Law in some ways and not in others.
Again, the government is not a legal institution. It cannot and should not proclaim "salvation in Christ". But the Old Testament has commandments that express what will become a primary focus in the ministry of Jesus.
"If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community, in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be heard-harted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor..."(Deut. 15:6+7)
"WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOR?
Correction to second fron last paragraph: the government is a legal institution!
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