Would JESUS Support ‘ObamaCare’?

By: Jim Moss

It appears that the U.S. Congress is on the verge of passing ‘historic’ health care & insurance reform legislation.
The year-long debate about health care reform has brought America to the brink of big CHANGE, Obama-style.   Now is the time for all good citizens to ask a simple, yet sobering question —

Would JESUS support ObamaCare?

Whenever the name of Jesus Christ is invoked for the purpose of making a political point, Jesus always wins.  In other words, IF it is obvious what Jesus would do — then, any public policy that is clearly contrary to the teachings of Jesus simply can not stand.
So, to be fair, it is important to probe the true meaning of ObamaCare, and to uncover what it will really do to America.
President Obama has embraced the health care legislation that has passed both houses of Congress. Although the U.S. House and Senate bills are somewhat different, they are similar enough to soon be reconciled into one piece of major legislation that Obama is eager to sign into law.  Therefore, the big policy components of health care reform detailed in the 2000+ pages of proposed legislation — on the verge of being reconciled by the House & Senate — can now be accurately described as ‘ObamaCare’.
In a 1-2-3 health care nutshell, here is what Obama wants to codify into law.
First — citizens and small businesses shall have the same choice of private health care insurance that members of Congress enjoy.   And, tax credits, based upon income will make certain that health insurance is affordable for all Americans.
Second — all citizens shall be protected from the worst practices of insurance companies. Policies can not be unjustly revoked, premiums can not be arbitrarily raised, and a pre-existing condition can not exclude any citizen from access to quality care.
Third — as a result of these reforms, Obama claims (and the Congressional Office of Management & Budget substantiates) that the U.S. economy will benefit by reducing the Federal deficit by as much as $1 trillion over the next two decades.  The current crisis of sky-rocketing, out-of-control health care costs, will begin to reverse course due to savings realized from comprehensive health care reform.
Now — let us reverently apply some brutal scrutiny to ‘ObamaCare’ through the eyes of JESUS.

Would JESUS support the kind of choice & tax credit assistance that Obama is advocating — that would actually permit all citizens to select a health insurance plan comparable to what their elected representatives enjoy?  Or, do you suppose that JESUS would align Himself philosophically with the brand of  capitalism that believes a free-enterprise system, unfettered by government interference is sacrosanct?  Is it possible that individual and corporate freedoms — including the right to profit from society’s health care misery index, would raise the ire of JESUS?

The Bible story about JESUS righteously upending the ‘money-changers’ doing profitable business in the synagogue paints a vivid picture of how JESUS might act in the executive suites of big health insurance companies.  Might JESUS be enraged at how the ‘high priests’ of the insurance industry are desecrating the ‘temple of God’ as represented in the bodies & souls of individual citizens trying to cope with a health care system driven by profit motive, and built upon a foundation of greed?
Might JESUS admonish, “Verily I say unto you, High Priests of health insurance, and your powerful & affluent defenders — you have the best health care money can buy.  Surely, you have not forgotten my counsel — that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.  Go, Ye therefore, share society’s wealth and minister to all those in need of a healthy, secure life.”
And, what would JESUS say about Obama’s plan to protect all American citizens from the cruel practices of health insurance companies?  Would JESUS dare to endorse a ban on the practice of unjustly revoking a health insurance policy, or an arbitrary premium hike, or an exclusion based upon a pre-existing condition?
It is hard to imagine that JESUS would flip-flop like a Washington politician, to cast aside the Good Samaritan for whom He pronounced praise & blessing. Might JESUS instead respond, “What you have done to the least of your Brethren, you have done unto me.”  Thus, when the humble, hardworking citizen is royally screwed by the insurance High Priests, that immoral treatment is also directed at JESUS, Himself.
Finally, would JESUS have the audacity to render an opinion about the effects of health insurance reform on the U.S. economy?  Would JESUS give a damn about debt, deficit, or bankruptcy?
This part of the debate is surely the most controversial.  This is where beliefs about BIG government, tax policy, fiscal discipline, and economic philosophy create fireworks in a diverse democracy.  But, did JESUS ever shrink from controversy?   Was not JESUS a provacateur — an ideological revolutionary — the Master of ‘Change We Can Believe In’?

“Render unto Ceasar, that which is Caesar’s…” leads one to recognize that JESUS was not anti-government. One of His disciples was a tax collector!  The Good News about personal salvation profoundly changed the world by offering each & every individual the hope and promise of eternal life. So, JESUS preached individual liberty within the context of a secular societal government structure. JESUS’ teachings, as exemplified by the Sermon On The Mount, breathes life into every cause of social justice for the past two thousand years.  And, think of the parables JESUS spoke that illustrate the importance of good works, high ethics, and personal responsibility.  This rich mosaic of JESUS reflects the beliefs, hopes, fears, and aspirations of individuals in America’s (largely) Judeo-Christian culture.

Given the seemingly impossible challenges surrounding America’s failed health care/insurance system — JESUS might be tempted to turn and quietly walk away.  But, of course, He would not.  Rather, would JESUS not empower individuals to demand that their democratically elected government get its act together, and put its fiscal house in order?   The Federal Government represents the sum of all 300+ million parts — personal responsibility translates into a collective responsibility.
A desperately broken health care delivery system is both irresponsible and immoral.  Would not JESUS expect those created in His image to solve the problem in a way that preserved individual liberty, yet also promoted the interests of society — collectively?  Freedom of choice… balanced with principles of social justice.

Would JESUS support ObamaCare?

Is America ready, finally,  for comprehensive health care/insurance reform? If American Citizens, through their elected representatives, walk away again — and fail to enact meaningful health care & insurance reform — would it not be appropriate for JESUS to lament once more,

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”