Health Care and the Faith Community

I want to share Star Parker's column this morning about Obamacare. But first, I want to address those in the Christian community who incorrectly contend that Jesus would have approved of universal health care. I think he would have approved of all of us helping the less fortunate. No doubt about that. It is our duty as Christians.

However, it is also our individual choice the less fortunate -- and individual damnation if we do not. We were put on this Earth with free will.

The problem is that government provided health care is all about taking way free will. It is about forcing Citizen A to pay for Citizen B's health care. Where is the Godliness in that?

Now on to excerpts from Star Parker's column:

President Obama took his case for what he now calls "health insurance reform" to the faith community. He made his pitch in a phone call, also broadcast over the Internet, to clergy who called in and logged on from around the nation.

In his remarks, the President ticked off points of contention that dissenters have with his proposals -- "government takeover of healthcare...government funding of abortion...death panels" -- and dismissed these concerns as "fabrications." In one swipe, Mr. Obama reduced his opposition to liars.

And why, according to the President, are dissenters supposedly making all this stuff up? Because, he told his audience, they want to "discourage people from meeting...a core ethical and moral obligation...that we look out for one another...that I am my brother's keeper..."

So those whose fight for individual freedom are immoral and our moral champions are those who want to extend the heavy hand of government.

Forgive me if sermons about morality are a little hard to swallow from a man who supports partial birth abortion, who just announced his intent to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

And who really wants to obstruct moral behavior?

About 100,000 Americans participate in private, voluntary Christian communities that take care of their own healthcare independently of government and insurance companies. They are called health sharing ministries.

These communities assess members "shares", based on family size, which are paid monthly, in addition to annual dues.

Those in the community who need care submit their claims to a central office, which sends members monthly bulletins informing them whose care their monthly payment will be covering.

No government. No insurance companies. It's health care with a true human face, operating in freedom, where those paying know who they are paying for and for what.

In addition to sending funds to cover costs, they send notes and pray for the sick person whose costs they are covering.

You wouldn't think that communities that embody the very essence of personal responsibility and Christian love would need lobbyists for their protection. But they do.

If Barack Obama has his way, they'll be out of business.