Health Care Reform: What Would Jesus Do
By Region 8 Webmaster John Davis
One of the more popular slogans from the last few years is “What Would Jesus Do?” This slogan actually had its beginnings in the 1890s, but was renewed during the 1990s. After all, whether or not a person is a Christian stopping to ask themselves to think of what Jesus Christ would do in a given situation is not a bad idea. If we ask ourselves that question, then we should usually pick the idea that is morally correct.
With that in mind, I often wonder if the conservative media in this country have asked themselves “What would Jesus do?” in terms of health care reform? Most conservative media claim basic Christian principles, even though their actions usually don’t follow those demonstrated by Christ. The basic argument against health care reform is based on “the government interfering with business” and the “fear that it will increase taxes.” For a moment let’s take both of those arguments and look at what Jesus would do in the same  situation.
While the Bible doesn’t state that Jesus was a doctor, there are numerous accounts of him healing those who were sick. There were physicians at the time so I feel we can assume that Jesus didn’t worry about interfering with “the market.” His only concern was healing those who were sick.
In Matthew 4:23 it states “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Of course this is just one of the many examples of Jesus healing in the Bible. So If Jesus believed in healing the sick, do you really think he would want health care denied to those who need it?
There are currently 47 million Americans – or 20% of the population – without health care. From 2000 to 2007, and an additional 3.4 million children lost health care coverage by the elimination of health care benefits through their parents employer. Plus, the disparity between those at the top of the income chain and those at the bottom with employer provided health care is staggering. In 2007, of workers in the top 20% of wage earners, 86.4% were covered by employer covered health care. During the same period, only 21.9% of workers in the lowest 20% of wage earners were covered. In 2000, 68.3% of all workers under the age of 65 were covered by employer provided health care. By 2007, that number had fallen to 62.9%.
The debate continues over whether health care is a right or a privilege. Is it so easy to turn our back on the 20% that have no health care and say “so what?” Again I ask, “What would Jesus do?” Would he be afraid that the wealthiest 1% making over $300,000 couldn’t afford to pay another $500 a year in taxes to help cover this? This same group saw a tax cut of almost $7,000 a year with the tax cuts enacted by former President Bush. According to Business Week (November 1, 2004 Edition) the wealthiest 1% owned more household wealth than the lowest 90% combined. The Bible says to give as you have prospered but those in the conservative media tend to disagree.
In Luke Chapter 16, Jesus told the story of a poor man covered with sores named Lazarus who lay at the gate of a rich man. In the story the beggar wished simply to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Of the rich man Jesus states he was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. Lazarus died and was carried to the bosom of Abraham and the rich man died and was buried. The rich man was tormented in hell and looked up and saw Abraham with Lazarus and asked him to send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and come and touch it to the tip of his tongue to ease his torment. In the story Abraham denies the request and the rich man then asks if Abraham could send Lazarus to the house of his brothers to warn them. Again Abraham denies the request and tells him if they would not listen to Moses and the prophets then they would not listen to Lazarus.
Moses and the prophets all encouraged men to care for others and to make certain their actions were always fair. In a nutshell, the current bill passed by the House prevents insurance companies from denying coverage for preexisting conditions, requires large employers to offer health care plans to their employees and offers a government run health care option. This is where the greatest resistance to the plan has come. Opponents say it is unfair for the government to compete with private business. That may be true if government was dabbling in something that is optional. But, health care is not something that should be optional.
The American Journal of Public Health released the findings of a study by Harvard University this September that found 45,000 Americans die every year due to lack of health care. This equates to one every twelve minutes. "We're losing more Americans every day because of inaction ... than drunk driving and homicide combined," Dr. David Himmelstein, a co-author of the study and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard, said in an interview with Reuters.
Conservative media is only interested in protecting the wealthiest one percent and to make certain the President has a loss on his record. In the time it has taken to read this another American has died as a result of lack of health care. In Matthew 25, Jesus discusses the judgment when man will be separated between those who have and haven’t followed his commandments. It states “For 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, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "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.”
This verse answers beyond the shadow of a doubt what Jesus would do when it comes to health care.
This piece only represents the thoughts and the opinions of the author. |
