As the debate about healthcare rages, religious “leaders” are weighing in.  In a recent teleconference, pastors from around the country gathered to discuss the issue with the White House (and record it for later non-partisan use).  As I listened to the call, I had to fight to keep from hitting the stop button.  The call began with a prayer led by a female pastor from Georgia (one of several female ministers, deacons and church leaders in what was an obvious nod to feminists, and the theological and political left) then descended into sob stories about the need for universal healthcare (i.e., my friend got cancer and died... therefore we need socialized medicine), platitudes about “affordable healthcare for all,” social justice, and a smattering of children’s voices offering a tug at the heartstrings. 

Of course, the call was ‘ecumenical’ in nature gathering both churches, non-churches (those holding to heterodoxy), Jews, and Muslims.  The theme of the call was clear: the compassionate, ‘social justice’ seeking position is government intervention, and more specifically, uncritical acceptance of president Obama’s cause.  Make no mistake, this was a clear case of liberal, feminist, unbiblical, quasi-Christianity on display.  For a clearer picture of the theological underpinnings of this movement visit their website (www.faithforhealth.org).

President Obama makes an appearance at the end of the call (if you can stomach it that long) to “answer questions” (read: make a speech).  What he really does is take all of the problems with the bill and answer them with, “not true”.  He goes on to pervert the Bible with the use of “I am my brother’s keeper”  as a moral imperative to participate in socialized medicine (I’ll refrain from commenting on the abject poverty in which Obama allowed his  brother to live, or Biden’s $369 a year charitable giving record), and --in a stroke of unbelievable irony-- accused his opponents of “bearing false witness.”  His deft use of religious language was quite impressive.  In fact, he made more biblical references than many of the religious “leaders” on the phone.  He even made reference to the Ten Commandments!

Of course, the questions (directed at Melody Barnes) are softballs designed to push the president’s agenda.  Catchphrases like subsidy, right to healthcare (I still haven’t found that one in my copy of the constitution), compassion, fear, hatred, and misinformation (always applied to people who disagree with the hostile takeover of the healthcare system), and others are woven together to promote what is ultimately a sickening, left-wing, socialist agenda in the name of religion, complete with a plea from the president to get out there and spread the truth.  This is appalling! 

Lost in all of this was any meaningful discussion of what the Bible has to say about this issue.  Does the Bible teach that “all of God’s children” deserve health insurance?  Does the Bible teach that healthcare professionals have a moral obligation not to work for profit?  What about the principle of “counting the costs”?  This makes no economic sense.  The Obama/Pelosi plan is unaffordable.  Nevertheless, Melody Barnes assured listeners that the president’s plan would provide 1) lowers costs, 2) guaranteed healthcare for all (you know, that 47 million number that none can prove, and  few bother to challenge), 3) covers all pre-existing conditions, and 4) will not interfere with those who like the insurance they have.  Not one person on the call pushed back at this point with the obvious questions:  How do we pay for this?  How do we avoid rationing?  What about the free market?  Where do you derive the constitutional authority to do any of this?  How does one government insurance program make the market competitive when hundreds of insurers are already out there competing?  What about the end of life issues that even supporters recognize as immoral in this plan?

What’s next?  Do we have a ‘right’ to see a mechanic and have our car fixed at an ‘affordable’ rate?  Do I have a right to replace my transmission for a $10 copay?  and if we don’t, is it shameful that “the richest nation in the world cannot provide” automotive services to it’s citizens?  How about my air conditioner?  I live in Houston, TX where the summers are sweltering.   If my AC goes out, do I have a ‘right’ to have it fixed so my kids and I won’t be hot?  More importantly, does my neighbor have a right to have his AC fixed at my expense?  Should there be an AC “public option” to ensure competition?  Is my AC man immoral if he makes a profit on the job?  Why is healthcare different? 

What is the difference between a doctor who owns a practice and a mechanic who owns a body shop?  They are both small business owners who have a right to profit from their labor.  The market is allowed to determine the price for the mechanic’s services, and the market should be allowed to determine the price for the doctor’s services.  Thus, the only kind of ‘reform’ we should be seeking is freeing the market from the inflation created by current policies (including liability/tort reform, etc.).  In other words, we need less government involvement in healthcare, not more... But I digress.

My problem with this call is not so much the idea of socialized medicine (though that is a major problem).  My problem is the perversion of biblical Christianity.  The idea that “people of faith” in America always means liberal, feminist, ecumenical, social justice syncretism is just another hurdle for those of us pressing the Crown Rights of King Jesus have to overcome.  However, this is not new, nor should it be surprising.  Jude warned of these kinds of perversions long ago when he wrote:

“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 3-4 ESV) 

How, then should we respond?  I’m glad you asked:

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV)

These religious “leaders” think they have gained a ‘seat at the table,’ but all they have done is scratch Obama’s itching ears.  These leaders merely painted a picture of Christianity based on the same old social gospel liberalism of the past.  And in doing so they gave president Obama the religious cover he desires in order to cloak his unconstitutional, economically unsound healthcare takeover in the garb of religious rhetoric.  This from the guy who sat under the racist, heterodox teaching of Jeremiah Wright for two decades and claimed ignorance!  

If Obama really thinks this is a moral/religious issue, why wasn’t he talking to religious leaders about things like Samaritan Ministries (full disclosure... my family and I use Samaritan Ministries)?  If this is a religious issue, why weren’t these religious leaders asking the president to keep his hands off so they can do what they say they believe?  If this is a moral issue, why are theological liberals --who love to cry, “you can’t legislate morality-- working with the president to do just that? 

And while we’re asking questions; why are the Democrats, who have a substantial majority in the House, and a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, pussyfooting around?  Why didn’t they just ramrod the legislation and do the “moral” thing?   If health insurance is a “human right” being denied to 47 million Americans, what’s the holdup?  So many questions... so few answers.  But that’s alright, now we’ve got “religious leaders” on the case.  The moral high ground has been attained, and the army of healthcare evangelists are on the job.  Soon the guys who bankrupted Medicare and Medicaid will hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful public servant.  You have been wasteful and irresponsible with a little; we will set you over much.  Enter into the joy of your master.’

VB