Jesus and Healthcare

Jesus and Healthcare
by, Charles W. Christian

Like many Americans, I have been reading and listening to seemingly endless analyses regarding the recent Supreme Court healthcare decision.  This decision upheld so called “Obamacare”, or mandated universal healthcare, as constitutional, mainly because its enforcement instrument (its “penalty” for not being covered as of 2014) was officially viewed as a “tax.”  Therefore, in the words of Chief Justice John Roberts – a Conservative appointee of former President George W. Bush – the enforcement of universal healthcare for individuals ( the “individual mandate”) was constitutional because Congress has the power of taxation. 

Of course, both the political Left and Right have strong opinions regarding this ruling.  Some are saying it is a step toward – or maybe even full-blown – Socialism.  Others say that it is simply a preventative act that will help fix a broken healthcare system and assist millions of Americans in receiving preventative and emergency help they would not have had under the current system.  While it is certain that both sides will continue to make their points rather loudly and consistently during this election season, I have become more interested in what Christians are saying.

Would Jesus Have Voted “Yes” on Obamacare?

As expected, there are elements of Christianity that are solidly behind their favorite political parties no matter what.  This seems to remain true of the Supreme Court itself (except for Roberts, every one of them voted along party lines).  It is probably true of many Americans, so that the court is simply a reflection of the strong partisan divide in our nation.  However, like the Court, there are some surprises.  Some mainline denominational leaders, who these days tend to be more identified with the political left in American politics, are publicly saying that the individual mandate and the tax penalty that can be assessed for failure to comply are a case where we “substituting Caesar for God” (noting Jesus’ admonition to “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar and unto God that which is God’s”).  According to CNN’s religion blog from last week, a prominent Lutheran minister has declared that this mandate goes too far by blurring the lines between what the Church is called to do and what the government is called to do: it is simply writing a check that does not deal with the deeper issue of health needs in our nation. 
On the other hand, there are Evangelical leaders (who these days tend toward the political right in American politics) who are saying that this approach to healthcare does not conflict with Jesus’ approach.  Jesus Himself, they point out, practiced universal healthcare (he went around healing people).  Also, since the American system of government, unlike the government of Rome in Jesus’ time, is representative, then government has a role in “doing good” on behalf of the people it represents.  In other words, they argue, when the government does this kind of “good” (i.e., providing greater access to healthcare), it is an extension of “We the People” doing good, and this “good” that government has been declared by the Supreme Court as having the right to do is in line with the kind of “good” that Jesus did. 

The Messy Part

The messy part of this whole exchange comes from the fact that there are always people on the fringes.  There will be people who will benefit from this legislation – perhaps over 30 million, including millions of children.  As a Christian, I believe we are to celebrate this kind of benefit, even if we believe that there are better ways to achieve this goal.  However, there will be those who are not impoverished, yet are not able to afford healthcare and will pay the tax penalties, probably adding to their already heavy economic burden.  It is those people on these fringes that Christians should give special attention to, as well, since overlooked voices seem to be of special interest to Jesus in his earthly ministry.  There is also the temptation of charitable people, even charitable Christian people, to sort of check off their list of things to do the health needs of their neighbors and community.  After all, if the government is “handling it,” why should the church?  Hopefully in regard to this question, we will be reminded of the many ways that we as the Church are still sorely needed in avenues like job placement/training, orphan care, food distribution, and disaster relief.  All of these have benefitted greatly from Christians reaching out in love, even though there are also government agencies that provide these same services.  Healthcare will be no different in that regard, despite the positives that may well be derived from this new law. 

As Jesus reminded, “The poor will always be with you.”  He did not say this as a way of being cynical or of giving up (as people have often interpreted this passage).  Rather, Jesus said this as a way of reminding all of us that it takes more than good intentions on behalf of the Church and new programs on behalf of the State to reach out and be instruments of healing to those in need.  I believe there is indeed a place for the Church and the State to work together in helping people in need, especially in a system such as the one we have in America.  There is plenty of room to disagree, as we will continue to do, about just how these entities should work together, but it seems clear that they both have a role to play in the days ahead.  As the Church, we are not to neglect those in need, even if an entity outside the Church (like the government) believes they “have a plan.”  Our work continues regardless.  The Left and the Right, Christians and non-Christians, would do well to keep this part in mind.