Universal Healthcare

As we begin to wrap up "Jesus-Care" we needed to address the issue of national healthcare. The message strives to provide biblical perspectives to consider that are outside and above partisan politics. Feel free to download the audio or read the text. I hope you are challenged to think about the issue deeper as a result of the discussion.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/djfznkdzffn/Universal Healthcare.mp3

“Universal Healthcare”
Brimfield Faith UMC
March 21, 2010

Matthew 25:31-46

INTRO
At the beginning of the sermon series, “Jesus-Care,” I referenced Obama-Care and the national healthcare debate. I foolishly thought we might have a new healthcare bill passed before the sermon series was finished. Unfortunately, healthcare is still front page news, especially in northeast Ohio. In fact, Obama made a personal appearance on Monday in Strongsville championing his healthcare plan. Part of me wants this debate to just go away. I am tired of hearing the bickering, politicking, and arguing. I have to be honest, I really hate politics. Nonetheless, a series on health and healing wouldn’t be complete without addressing the state of national healthcare. So we are going to wade into the muddied political waters in hopes to discover an edifying biblical perspective on the issue. As we begin, I want to present a couple of thoughts to help frame our discussion about healthcare this morning.

Thought #1: The Church is more than just a spiritual organization.
Over the past five weeks, we have discovered God’s heart for health, wholeness, and healing. We have learned that God wants all people to be whole and healthy, and that he uses a variety of means to facilitate that healing process. We explored the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. We talked how God works in the ‘ordinary ways’ of the immune system and doctors. We have prayed for God to supernaturally strengthen immune systems and guide doctors. We have even experienced supernatural healing. Ashley Leius shared two weeks ago how God healed her of pregnancy complications. Last week, we began to laugh our way to healing. We have seen how God’s healing reaches far beyond the spiritual realm into all facets of our existence.
God is the God of the entire earth and he desires to bring healing to all aspects of it. John Wesley was famous for saying, “The world is our parish.” The church, as God’s physical presence on the earth, is called to be active in the entire world. We cannot afford to simply focus on ‘spiritual issues.’ There really is no issue or topic that the Church shouldn’t weigh in on. We are called to be salt and light for the world. God cares about all aspects of it and so should we.
In German in the 1920’s and 30’s, the Christian Church decided that it withdraw from society and focus solely on spiritual issues. Although the church wasn’t solely to blame, it contributed to creating an environment that allowed the Nazis and Hitler to gain power. We know how that story ends. While our constitution affirms a separation between church and state and many well-intentioned Christians steer clear of politics, there is an appropriate time and place for the church to voice an opinion in the public and political arena. The church is more than just a spiritual organization.

Thought #2: The church is neither red nor blue.
Many conservative Christians in America think to be Christian is to vote Republican. Other Christians will argue that to be Christian is to vote Democrat. We need to recognize that no political party is able to faithfully represent the views of Jesus. Now I am not telling you what political party to join or to join one at all. Instead, we need to recognize that the values of the Scriptures do not always align with political ideology. Jesus’ teachings are frequently offensive to the ideals of America.
We encountered this in our Connect Team meeting this week as we read this out of Acts 2:44-45: “All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” After we finished someone asked, “Is the Bible telling me I should be a socialist?” It’s a good question, many people would say, yes. Does that mean America should be socialist? Not necessarily. While the Bible definitely has some socialist concepts within its pages, the issue is more complicated than that. This is partly why the church should avoid aligning with the Democrats, Republicans, or Socialists. In short, the church is neither red nor blue.

SCRIPTURAL HEALTHCARE
Having set forth the framework that the Church is called to have a public/ political role, and the Church is called to rise above political parties, let’s return to the issue of healthcare. I would propose that Scripture calls the church to play important role in the healthcare debates.
In Matthew 25:34-40 Jesus teaches that when we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the prisoner, we are ministering to God. Verse 40 says, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” God demonstrates through the parable the importance of taking care of people who are in need. It even suggests that our eternal destination is somehow affected by our response to put our faith into action.
James helps to explain it: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” He goes on to articulate it succinctly, “Faith without works is dead.” Therefore, it is the role of the church to speak out for those without a voice: the orphans, widows, the poor, the sick. We need to be a prophetic voice in the culture: to expose the shortcomings and shortfalls of the current systems. We need to cry out for peace and justice in the world. We have a responsibility to call people into right relationship with God, with others, with themselves. In relation to healthcare, I see two major areas of concern.

Concern #1: Unhealthy Americans
According to Healthy Ohio Community Profiles, listen to the summary of health in Portage County. [SLIDE]
• 23% of adults smoke
• 5% drink heavily
• 78% don’t eat the enough fruits and vegetables
• 22% are physically inactive
• 36% are overweight
• 25% are obese
These statistics don’t paint the picture of a healthy community, do they? The reality is that Americans are unhealthy. Our children are getting bigger and bigger, more and more unhealthy. Seemingly the government and corporate America are doing nothing to effectively address these issues. In the movie Wall-E, we see a depiction of a fictionalized, but possible future of our society. [CLIP]
I would like to believe that the Church has the opportunity to play a role in encouraging healthy habits. Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?” I think the church can potentially be effective where others have failed. We can cry out prophetically and expose the shortfalls of our unhealthy ways. We can do this by speaking about health issues in church, small groups, and special events. We can also provide healthy alternatives to the inactive, unhealthy lifestyles of the world.
Perhaps we host activity/ exercise groups in the summer: a cycling group, a play group for the kids at the park, a softball team. Perhaps we distribute information about proper eating habits at the local Walmart or the food cupboard. Perhaps we encourage healthy choices at potlucks. What other ways can you put your faith into action when it comes to encourage healthy life styles?

Concern #2: Uninsured Americans
While our current healthcare system is one of the best in the world, it has its shortcomings. Privatized healthcare is not a biblical model for healthcare. It is expensive and is not available to everyone. While anyone can walk into an E.R. and get emergency care, long term treatment is not always. According to the 2007 Census, 47 million Americans lack health insurance. In Portage County, 17% of adults do not have health insurance. If you don’t think that’s a lot… [17 people stand up].
While that number is debated in Congress, my thought is that these are real people. These are my friends and family that cannot afford to get antibiotics when they are sick. Even if the number is as low as 1%, I think those people still qualify as “the least” among us. And if they are the least of these, then Jesus is calling us to minister to them.
Does this mean that we should all support Obama’s healthcare proposal? I don’t know. Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn’t. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, it should deeply disturb you that people aren’t being cared for in the time of sickness and need. Healthcare isn’t a red or blue issue it is an issue of human life and faithful obedience to Jesus Christ.
Again, the church needs to play a role in providing quality healthcare to people. In our denomination, the bishop’s initiative is called “Churches, Classrooms, and Clinics.” We understand the importance of caring for the sick. While we do support those ministries abroad, I wonder how we might promote better healthcare for people. Perhaps you volunteer at a free clinic like Townhall 2 in Kent. Perhaps you write a letter to your congressman. Perhaps you work with our township trustees to create better healthcare opportunities in Brimfield and Portage County.

CONCLUSION
Whether we choose to weigh in directly in the national healthcare debate, there are ample opportunities to positively engage in promoting health and wholeness in our community and our lifes. I hope that this series has opened your eyes to God’s desire for you to be healthy and whole. As Christ followers, we need to actively pursue a healthy mind, body, and spirit for ourselves and encourage others to do the same.
Each of you is called to be agents of God’s healing power. Each of you is called to minister to the least of those among us. Don’t wait for the church to organize some group or for me to give you permission to do something. Don’t come to me and say you have a really great idea and expect me to do it for you. Go out and do it. I am giving you permission. [Turn to your neighbor and tell them… you can make a difference.] I am commissioning you be God’s agents of healing and love in the world.