6 Reasons Why Christians Should Care About Healthcare

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The debate over how America handles its healthcare has taken center stage lately, both in the news, and in our lives. We stand at a crossroads between public and private healthcare, and the decisions we make as voters over the next few years will have long-lasting effects on how we handle our sick and dying

On one side of the debate, we have the idea that a person’s medical care shouldn’t depend on their financial resources. This is public healthcare, which is funded by the collective contributions of the whole population, usually in the form of extra taxes. Countries like Canada, Australia, France, Japan, and Germany embrace publically funded medicine.

On the other, there is the assertion that America should continue as it has been, with private healthcare. Under the private model, the sick pay their own way, whether that’s through insurance, or by directly paying for care.

Millions are conflicted over this choice. But for Christians, the scripturally mandated path is clear. Public healthcare, where all of us shoulder the burdens of the less fortunate, is the Christ-like choice. Under this form of care, we all pay a little, but those in need gain a lot.

To make this happen, Christians need to get into the game and vote on this important issue. To find out why, let’s look at 6 reasons why Christians should care about healthcare.

Jesus Commanded His Disciples to Cure the Sick

In Luke 9:1, Jesus calls the twelve Disciples together, giving them the authority to “heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness,” and sending them out to do so as they spread His teachings throughout the land. A similar command was also given to the seventy ordinary disciples He sent out as well.

This healing—whether it was natural or supernatural—demonstrated the character of God, showing everyone who came into contact with the Disciples His love and power.

The same holds true today. This command to heal flowed through those disciples, to the newly established Christian Church, and into our modern-day lives, where it is still in effect.

Christians should care about healthcare because Christ, Himself, cared about healthcare. He cared about the sick, healing many during His ministry, and sending out others to do the same.

When Christians invest themselves in the healthcare debate and make choices which bring healing to greater numbers of people, they are not only being Christ-like, but they are showing that the Christian Church is a good and loving organization that worships a good and loving God.

Christianity and Healthcare Have a Long History

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Did you know that hospitals, historically speaking, did not begin as secular organizations? The entire modern system of hospitals, in fact, owes its existence to Christianity.

Because the ministry of Jesus was so focused on healing the sick, early Christians became leaders in medicine and hospital-building, championing the cause of good health and shaping its system of ethics.

These early Christians were proponents of using rational medicine alongside the power of prayer, and the tools and techniques they used served as a counter to other, more superstition-based methods of healing.

These early hospitals, which began to appear in America in the 1800s, were nearly all religious, charitable organizations—most of our most storied hospitals can trace their origins to Christianity.

The Christian Church has always been, until recently, intrinsically linked to healing people—both spiritually and physically. Why not reconnected with both tradition and scripture by getting involved in the debate over healthcare?

Caring For Others is the Greatest Commandment

In Matthew 22: 36-40, Jesus was asked what God’s greatest commandment is.

Here’s what He said.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like unto it is this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets.”

Notice the second part of Christ’s message here—He says that one of the greatest commandments is to “love thy neighbor,” and even states that to love one another is “like unto” loving God.

That’s powerful.

But what, then, is love? Corinthians 13: 4-8 gives us God’s definition, saying that love is patient, kind, and humble, but not rude or self-seeking. It’s not easily angered, doesn’t hold a grudge, and rejoices in the truth while not delighting in evil. It protects, trusts, hopes, and always perseveres.

And so loving our neighbors means getting involved in their care in whatever ways we can—including deciding the future of the healthcare they may be receiving.

Christian Choices Represent God to the World

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In 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Paul teaches that Christians are “ambassadors for Christ,” entrusted with bringing the true image and message of God to the rest of the world.

But if we’re not paying attention to the health of our neighbors, what, exactly, are we teaching people about God? What kind of ambassadors are we?

This question should be at the heart of all you do. Whether you know it or not, when people know that you’re a person of faith, they watch you. They look for signs of hypocrisy. And if you give them these signs, they often see Christianity, itself, as a hypocritical faith.

When it comes to the healthcare debate, get involved—and get involved the right way. Show the world who God is, and how much He cares about them.

Be an ambassador for Christ, who spent much of His ministry healing the sick. It will make a difference, not only in the lives of the sick, but in the minds of the watching world.

Giving is the Path to Spiritual Perfection

In Matthew 19:21, Jesus says something unusual—He tells us what we are to do if we “want to be perfect.”

So how can we do this? In Christ’s words, you can “go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Jesus said this in response to a young, wealthy man who asked how to obtain eternal life. Christ’s answer was too much for him, and he walked away in sorrow afterward.

Many feel that the idea of increased taxes to be too much, as well, when it comes to public healthcare. But think on this: do you want to be like the wealthy man who walked away from Christ? Or do you want to live out the spirit of Christ’s words and give to those who do not have the same means that you do?

This may feel difficult, or even impossible, but remember Christ’s words just a few verses later, when the Disciples expressed shock at the difficulty of obtaining eternal life.

“With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”

Christians are to Love Through Action

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In 1 John: 18, Christ teaches that we are to “love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.”

Christianity has recently developed a reputation for just the opposite—too often, we talk about the word “love,” yet we fail to act on it.

That has to change.

Christians should care enough about the healthcare of others to go from speech to action, making intentional choices that result in the good of their fellows. After all, as Jesus said, “If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?”

This is why it’s just as bad to simply stand by and do nothing as it is to actively work against the good of your neighbor. When it comes time to make decisions that will change the course of healthcare in America—or to uphold those changes later—we must translate love into action.

According to Christ, Himself, nothing less will do.