…that matters for those hoping to affect change in the Church:
“Is this aimed at bringing as many new people to Jesus as possible?”
If that’s your goal, then you should be a part of the conversation. If it isn’t, then you can’t. If we’re not always asking and answering that question, then we’re not a church.
Jesus gave us that kind of singular, unmistakable focus to help keep us on track.
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Mark 2.17, NLT)
Below is an adaption from a couple of emails on a small discussion regarding universal health care.I’d like to post this and see what kind of discussion it’ll generate.
Two Ground Rules:
1.Write nicely; don’t be mean.
2.I’m a pastor and therefore solely concerned (at least here, in this discussion) with debating this issue on moral grounds.Stay away from other related issues (i.e.: funding, “flaws” in the system, abuse, etc.)
Is Health Care a Right or a Privilege? -and-
IF Health Care is a right, is government-managed universal health care the moral mandate?
I recently read an extremely one-sided article discussing the (perceived) church’s stance on universal health care. I’ll concede the factual side of the article in a moment and spare you all the hateful ramblings.But, I would like us to consider the ramblings because I believe they highlight an area of biblical omission for some believers. The omission: Christians who oppose universal health care solely because of what it costs are in error and simply adopt the slices of Jesus they find most convenient.I write on this topic primarily out of concern for those who adopt every stance of any political party without first considering the biblical perspective.
I agree with the Left when they charge the Right of occasionally misappropriating Jesus; however, I find it dually hypocritical when they refuse to acknowledge the areas in which they do the same thing.
Republican Christians can no more ignore the poor-loving and compassionate Jesus than can democratic Christians ignore the Bible's clear stance on other social issues (sanctity of life, homosexuality, etc.). We stray from God's intent for our lives when we check our faith at the political door as if it were designed to be one of many factors influencing our decision-making as opposed to the all-encompassing filter through which we see reality.How much it costs or what it will do to my tax rebate is of much lesser (if any at all) consequence. If it is the Right thing to do, do it. For Christians, Right is defined by God--not society or the price tag.
My problem with the mixing of faith and politics is this incessant urge by both sides to drag Jesus into the argument as if He would be marching in a picket line if He were on earth today. Sure, He has a stance: it's plain, clear, and undeniable if we simply get our nose in the Bible. But, the blanket devotion to the party line by people claiming to be followers of Christ is morally irresponsible.
The Bible would much rather someone deny a Christian affiliation than claim that Jesus would deny any welfare or health care to the needy OR that the Bible tolerates a homosexual lifestyle, abortion, etc.
I’ll give Christ the last word:
Matthew 25:34–40 (NLT)
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Almost a decade ago, I gave up about 6 months of my life to earn some titles and macho bragging rights that I assumed (hoped, actually) would define me for the rest of my life. To say that the pursuit dominated my existence would generate the understatement of, well, the decade. Still now, they're cool I guess. But, the coolness drastically diminishes as I move from one phase of life to the next.
Caught up in the here-and-now, I never considered how quickly those times would become the then-and-there. So, now what? How many exorbitant attachments to the here-and-nows do we have to trade for then-and-theres? Maybe that's all there is to life: one endless string of here-and-nows that will eventually succumb to entropy and leave us hoping that everyone else remembers our then-and-theres.
Maybe.
But, what if it isn't? If this Guy really did decide to die on a Tree, are we responding to That accordingly? Was the whole Point of his Friday afternoon green mile to give us one more badge, tab, title, or club to join? If so, great. Sign me up. I've got some time to kill before my next here-and-now.
Be sure to tell me how to wear the badge though: I don't want to look silly.
If that wasn't the Point, then what? What do we do with the titles we've worked so hard to earn? Where do I put my membership card? My nifty uniform?
If His Intent wasn't to boost my ego, to give me something to do on the weekends, to keep me from cussing, or to tell me how I should vote in next year's election, I'd prefer to know now. Up front. I'd really rather not invest my time in another here-and-now if something better is going to come along. Besides, I already know who I'm voting for.
But, if last decade's cocky pursuit of bragging rights left me with anything of real value, it's probably the realization that I am capable of being radical when I really want to.
So, if His Intent was to give me one last Pursuit, then He's got my attention. But, it better be a good one. I can handle one more here-and-now, but not another then-and-there. This is it. Present me with an all-or-nothing scenario.
I've got time for a Pursuit that retrieves my long-lost inner radical. I've always preferred being surrounded by a bunch of insurgents anyway.
