I have used this blog on numerous occasions to talk about the way Scripture and culture intersect. I believe in comprehensive Christianity which means that the Bible was designed to be a blue print or handbook on how life (and nations) are supposed to be designed and ultimately work. Scripture tells us that nations will be blessed as they honor the Lord and His precepts. It also tells us that if foundations are destroyed, the nation will soon crumble as well. There are so many current cracks in our foundation that it is sometimes difficult to know where to start. I decided today to weigh into health care and the current debate that is happening in our Congress.

It sounds almost anti-Christian to suggest that you are against the government intervention into our health care system. Let me start by saying, I believe in compassion. I believe that people should have the ability to access health care in a compassionate and sensible way. I believe that I (and probably most of you) pay incredibly too much in regards to the health care we access. So, as an American citizen I have certain thoughts on how that might best come about in a sensible way. However, my Christianity trumps my citizenship and I must first synthesize what is going on through the lens of Scripture.

1. Jesus calls us to be compassionate but no where in the Bible does He give that mandate to Rome, Pilate, Herod, or for that matter the government of Israel. True, He tells the nation to be compassionate with the poor and the outcast, but this was never remotely designed to be a "forced" compliance through taxation policies. He gives that mandate to the church and to His people. The ethical exhortation was designed to be a heart mandate, not a legislative one. Having said that, I believe that as a nation we should have certain "safety nets" that can assist people when they are struggling, but what we currently have now in America is no where near the system that God had prescribed for the nation of Israel even in the Old Testament. Israel was told what they were to do as a civil nation and as a religious people. Perhaps in America we would have more money for compassionate things like health care if we weren't spending billions on bail outs and stupid ear marks on things that government has no business in. We currently can't even consider doing this because of all the other foolish decisions we have made as a nation with regards to our finances. God wanted Israel to demonstrate compassion, but in America we have pursued the concept of greed to the point we can no longer afford even having the discussion on this point.

2. Jesus never authorizes us to underwrite sin. Today in USA TODAY we are told that federally subsidized abortions are still within the current health care bill. That means you and I as taxpayers will be underwriting people's abortions. That also brings up the place of our tax dollars being used to bring health care to those people whose lifestyle choices have caused them to be more at risk because they chose detrimental and even sinful things throughout their life. Again, I want to demonstrate compassion to people, but if a person has chose to destroy their body through poor (even sinful) choices, am I required or forced to deal with it? If people choose to abort their babies, then am I required or forced as a believer to underwrite it? At what point does my conscience to God's laws and convictions trump what my nation tells me are it's laws and convictions?

Now we come to ACTS 5:29. Peter and John are told by the Sanhedrin that they can no longer preach or teach in the name of Jesus (Notice, they can teach...just not in the name of Jesus). They respond by saying the famous words, "We must obey God rather than men". They obviously were disobeying authority (which is something we are told not to do - Romans 13:1-6), but the question arises, when is it OK to do that? ANSWER - When you are asked to violate a precept of God's Word. I am very concerned on what will be a part of this health care discussion. I sense we may be heading into a season where we are going to have to decide what we can and cannot do before the Lord. My heart is to submit to authority in the earth that God has placed to keep peace and order. However, when that authority says I must disobey God, then that is the moment I must practice what I preach. Daniel was told to pray to the image and eat food that was defiling, but he chose to obey God instead and the Lord upheld him. I too, want to keep a submitted spirit and do everything I can to be a model citizen, however, my first allegiance is to my Lord.

Be praying with me as our nation's leaders will be debating and discussing these very things. We all should want to be good citizens and provide a good testimony to our friends and neighbors, but this should be done without compromise. I do not want to think about what I will do should my conscience be violated in this area. I want to believe that God will intervene and I won't have to cross that bridge. However, now is the time to set your face like flint and be resolute in your convictions of what it means to serve the Lord. We will believe for the best, but I am praying that God will give us strength if indeed the worst is to come. Either way...to God be the Glory!

PLANTING A CROSS

Pastor