HEALTHCARE FOR AMERICA – A BIBLICAL AND MORAL IMPERATIVE

The President recently had a telephone conference call with hundreds of leaders from the religious left to discuss the moral imperative of his healthcare reform proposal. So it’s only appropriate that we also look at this question, not from a politically biased point-of-view, but from a Biblical point-of-view.

The President was quick to use Biblical language like being our brother’s keeper, and referring to those with differing opinions as “bearing false witness” in his pitch to mobilize religious groups to take on his cause. (Whatever happened to separation of church and state here?) But nevertheless, let’s take a look at this issue without the political spin.

Jesus’ teachings called for “healing the sick,” caring for the “least of these,” caring for widows and orphans, and generally, caring for any disadvantaged persons who need help. This is the Biblical imperative. But there is a fundamental truth that cannot be overlooked without missing the whole point of Christ’s message: These instructions were addressed to free people, not to governing bodies. Jesus didn’t say, “Be faithful in your payment of taxes to Caesar so that Caesar can care for the sick.” He always addressed the people, because it was the responsibility of individuals to act out of genuine care and concern for others, not the responsibility of an impersonal government body.

The reason why we lead the world in healthcare is because our hospitals and healthcare institutions were founded, from the formation of our republic, by individuals and associations of free people –those who had willing hearts- who took Christ’s mandate personally to “minister” to the less fortunate. The minute a compulsory element is introduced into the equation the door opens for corruption and waste, and the very people we intend to help are, in the end, hurt by a corrupt and wasteful healthcare system. This is not theory. Just look around the world to the nations that are attempting this very thing.

Both right and left agree that healing the sick is a Biblical and moral imperative. We disagree, however, on the best way to administer the care. The left believes it should happen through a compulsory government controlled program, while the right believes it should be left to the private sector where individuals and free associations of individuals can come together to provide the care needed. In reality, the deficiencies of our present system reflect not a deficiency of government, but rather a deficiency in the community of faith, and to that end, I believe the government is justified in providing a safety net, but that safety net should be kept to a minimum, because of the waste and corruption inherent in a godless secular system.

The question is often asked, “What would Jesus do?”

I believe Jesus would encourage the private sector plan of administration because Jesus was always concerned mostly with the heart and motive of a people rather than their deeds. He would not be in support of a system that encourages people to pay taxes just to assuage their guilty consciences for not caring for their neighbor. He wants us to care for our neighbor from the heart.

We see this demonstrated even in our churches where individuals would rather contribute to missionary causes halfway around the world than go, personally, to a neighbor across the street who may be in need. Man looks upon the outward things, but God looks upon the heart.

So in the final analysis of examining this question, we see that it is the legitimate role of government to protect the people from unscrupulous business practices by insurance companies, but it is the role of free people, and free enterprise to care for one another. We cannot delegate this mandate that Christ has given to us. The responsibility is ours, not Caesar’s.

Brad Pitt, Pop Culture and America's Future

Brad Pitt recently announced on T.V. that he would consider running for office on the platform of “Gay Marriage, No Religion and Legalizing Marijuana.” The reason why I believe his comments even warrant a response is because this mindset is representative of many in contemporary pop culture today, a mindset based in ignorance of American history and ignorance of logic. Yet, if this world view becomes more prevalent it will undermine the very underpinnings of the foundation of a peaceful and prosperous society. America will change –not for the better.

When asked by Bill Maher about his issues with religion Brad Pitt said this,

"You know, I grew up in a religious family, in a religious community and it just doesn't make sense to me. It just doesn't work for me in the long run," Pitt said. "I never wanted to stop anyone else's religion and their beliefs until I started seeing it defining policy.... Like gay marriage. You have a group of people telling other people how to live their lives, and you can't do that. (Italics mine). In fact, I'm talking like there are actually Christians watching your show..."

Isn’t he telling Christians how to live their lives by that very statement, dictating what we can or cannot do? What he really means is that Christians must remain silent and allow the irreligious people to set public policy. His statement defies logic. You cannot tell someone they can’t tell someone what to do, without in that very statement telling them what to do. This shows ignorance of the basic principle of logic that truth must be consistent with itself.

His ignorance –and the ignorance in pop culture – of our American history is revealed by his apparent surprise that our religious views are influencing our public policy. Public policy has always, and in every country, is always a reflection of a religious world view. George Washington, the father of our country told us that it is “impossible to govern without God and the Bible.” And founding father of our country and our legal system James Wilson taught us that civil law must always be consistent with divine law.

My concern is that our young people are getting their information from uneducated or mis-educated personalities producing ignorant masses ready to follow any charismatic personality into bondage until we become like the other less exceptional nations of the world. Bill Bennett called it the “dumbing down of America.”

Can you imagine someone like Brad Pitt running for office and winning? I can. Didn’t Al Franken, a comedian get in? If this trend continues, it won’t be long until our national anthem is replaced with a new one that is already being played at major public events: “Imagine.” Did you ever read the words written by the Beatles?

"Imagine there's no heaven, It's easy if you try
No hell below us, Above us only sky
Imagine all the people Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too
Imagine all the people, Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us, And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger, A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us, And the world will live as one.

If you don’t see anything wrong with the words to this song as a national anthem, than you have already been brainwashed –or shall I say, “brain polluted” by an ideology that will radically change American culture for the worse. I’m reminded of President Reagan’s warning,

“If we ever cease to be one nation under God, we will be one nation gone under.”

It is up to the educated people of God to speak truth to power as well as to our neighbors, so that our children will know the same liberty, peace and prosperity our parents passed on to us. The clergy must lead the way, and the people of God must be as the Sons of Issachar who understand the times and know what Israel –or America- must do.

H.R. 3200: Camel's Nose in the Tent

After looking at the text of H.R. 3200, the House of Representative’s Health Care Bill, it becomes quite apparent that this is nothing more -and nothing less- than the proverbial camel getting his nose in the tent; the camel being nationalized, single payer, government run and controlled health care. When the President says, “If you like your present plan, you can keep it.” He is being technically correct, but deceptive in intent. Sure, you can keep it for awhile, but the conditions of keeping your private plan over time are so restrictive that sooner or later everyone will be absorbed into the government “option,” until the camel is fully in the tent. Eventually it will be all camel and no tent!

We Are Not Stupid...or Are We?

The total miscalculation of the “Cash for Clunkers” program is just one more glaring piece of evidence of the total incompetence of the present administration concerning our economy. Logic prevents us from putting any faith in the administration’s promises concerning national healthcare. What logic and recent history does tell us is that:
· The cost will be incalculably more than any numbers they publish.
· The administrative boondoggle will render any program totally ineffective.
· Free enterprise, as we know it, will become a thing of the past.

The only thing this present administration is sure about is concentrating power in Washington D.C.

Woodrow Wilson warned us that,

“The history of liberty is the history of the limitations of power, not the increase of it. When we resist, therefore, the concentration of power, we resist the powers of death, for the concentration of power always precedes the destruction of human liberties.”

We dare not be counted among the uneducated or “mis”-educated concerning the preservation of our liberties. This August recess is the time for “we the people” to be heard by our congressional representatives who are attempting to advance the concentration of power using a manufactured crisis to pull the wool over the eyes of the American public. We are not stupid! Let your voice be heard.

Educate yourself on the issue. (Log on to http://tinyurl.com/m2uswr for more information on the issue. Then call your local representative. Show up at town hall meetings. Write letters to the editor. Do it all. There is no earthly cause greater than fighting for our liberties. The next generation is counting on us.