Most of us are probably conservatives. And that typically means we are against universal health care or Obama Care, etc.Let me ask a sincere question (one which I ask myself):Is our objection to universal healthcare or single-payer healthcare based on our politics, our economic concerns, or our Christianity? Certainly, we cannot do all we would like to do for people, but all things being equal, WHY are you against universal healthcare, say?As best I can tell, it is not only not contrary to Christianity, but it may actually be required by Christianity, per the Golden Rule.
I am for universal health care if we can afford it. I think Christianity requires it.Some here don’t want to touch your question
Jesus always put the obligation on individuals, never gov’t.
We don’t live in a theocracy so there is that.
[quote=caseyleejones]We don’t live in a theocracy so there is that. Jesus always pointed towards the kingdom, not once towards government.[/quote]
If We Can Afford It?????
I do not believe early Christians could have interpreted Jesus’ words to mean that they should use their political power to force the Roman government to redistribute wealth or take care of sick people. Of course, the Roman government was pagan, and the equivalent of some of their charity and social like organizations were organized in the name of false gods, fire departments, food distribution activities, etc. The government may have been involved in those somewhat.I heard an interview with a researcher who had studied giving of liberals versus conservatives. Conservatives gave a much higher percentage of their income on average, especially those that go to church. Conservatives even gave a higher percentage of their income to environmental charities than liberals.I have occasionally heard or read comments from liberals that Republicans or conservatives do not care about the poor or are unloving.What seems to be the case is that some of the liberals think they are moral for supporting politicians that want to tax high income people, while conservatives give to causes they believe in. I do not see where the Bible addresses these issues directly. The law did require certain social programs. One was to support Levites and priests and the tabernacle/temple system. Every third year, an extra 10% of crops were collected to distribute among Levite, widow, fatherless, and foreigner. Several of those groups would not have owned land, the means of production. One could walk into a farmer’s field and gather grain or harvest fruit from a tree and eat it there without it being considered stealing. In addition to that, the Law commanded the people to love one another, to led without interest, etc. I suspect some Christians fall far short in realize what our moral obligation is toward others who are in need. In Job 31, Job defends how he treated the poor:16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail