I’ve kept it out of my blog for the most part but this is a fundamental part of the continuing health-care debate that baffles me: where are the so-called “Christians” in this debate? One of the reasons I’ve tried to distance myself from the religious (and maybe a bit self-righteous) right in this country is that they consistently remain silent on certain lessons and bits of wisdom Jesus Christ imparted upon us while being vocal to the point of near belligerence on other issues. (For instance ever notice how homosexuals, abortionists, and other “godless” heathen’s get so much attention?)
While there are too many practical reasons why I support health-care to list in this post, the moral reason I support health-care is precisely becauseI’m a Christian. When Jesus walked the earth, he fed the hungry, clothed the poor, and healed the sick. While I think Christian’s rank right up there in the top in providing these services in a charitable fashion, why so silent on a government option that would provide critical health services to those who need it most and are overlooked and sometimes taken advantage of by the insurance companies? Honestly, it’s an outrage and I commend President Obama in advance for taking time out of his schedule next week to talk to key Christian leaders next Wednesday, although for the sake of his health-care bill it might be too late (more that in my next post.)
While I try to avoid backing up my opinions with those of the talk show big wigs, even those from my “beloved” MSNBC, Ed Shultz put it best today on his show which was almost entirely devoted to the subject.
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You’ll note that Bishop Harry Jackson doesn’t agree with Obama’s plan, but he does agree that something needs to be done. The Christians of this country have the opportunity to affect this debate in a positive manner, they just need to take the stance that Jesus would, and in my opinion it would be to provide health services to those who need it but can’t afford it. (Jesus would give those services for free, but let’s face it, when is free health-care ever going to happen?)
I’ll finish this post off with a Bible passage out of Matthew, a parable told by Jesus, that supports my opinion as to why we need to pursue a federal health-care option.
31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”