Daily Devotional for Sunday August 18, 2013

The Biblical Truth about the Healthcare Debate

(James 5:14)

***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, Sometimes I wonder how you do it. You dish out an unpopular message to the world and you take abuse for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don't you ever get tempted to soften the message in hopes of getting less persecution? And fitting in to the world with a weak, comfy Christian message?

ANSWER: This is a question I get every day. The answer surprisingly is NO! No sane person enjoys being persecuted, or taking the slings and arrows. No sane person would want to have 8-10 death threats a month as I have for over 10 years now. However, there IS a price to serving the Lord. Part of that price is to be persecuted, mocked, laughed at, and scorned. However, that is a small price to pay considering that Jesus went to the cross to pay for my sins, your sins, and the sins of all mankind! Softening the message is NOT an option, since like each of us, I will die one day and stand before God. I want that to be a great experience, and my life is dedicated to hearing His words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant!"

The Biblical Truth about the healthcare debate. I have been asked almost daily, to comment on Obamacare. It is a complete mess and in the end will destroy the best healthcare system in the world. Of course the system wasn't perfect, but there is a reason people from all over the world came to the US for health issues.

While this is mostly a political issue, there is a spiritual component to this controversial topic that I would like to address today. What would Jesus do about the current healthcare debate? During the weeks leading up to the vote to pass Obamacare, President Obama said that Jesus would support his plan for the government to take over the healthcare industry, giving several Biblical quotes to support his claim.

I'm sure Jesus would be all for this plan that will also include using tax dollars to slaughter innocent babies!!! Even satan quoted scripture when he tempted Jesus. It is the height of audacity for this man who lives his life in complete rebellion to God and His Word on every spiritual issue of our day to quote Scripture in hopes of fulfilling his political goals!

The argument President Obama and many made was that Jesus would support their efforts to socialize the healthcare industry since the Lord would want every person to have medical insurance. I have never head a more tortured use of our Lord than those who are making this case. Of course, it falls right into line with the church of 2013 being dominated by the religious left that has embraced a liberal theology, fueled by the seeker/purpose-driven/ emerging church marketing strategies that don't seek to bring converts to the faith into the church, only warm bodies. To do that they must abandon the absolutes of the Bible and focus on issues like world huger, AIDS in Africa, and other social issues like HEALTHCARE!

Did you know that it was in 1890 when the first "sickness coverage" was offered in the United States? It wasn't until the 1920s that the health insurance business became mainstream and it has continued to evolve over the years. The fact is, until the last 60 years when the government and private business took an active role in providing social services, it was the CHURCH where people went in their time of need. The church fed the hungry. The church cared for widows and orphans. The church cared for the homeless and downtrodden. The church reached out to the alcoholic and those in bondage. THE CHURCH CARED FOR THE SICK!!!

While the church is still involved in these social issues today, it now plays a very minor role. Instead of investing in the lives and eternal souls of men and providing a shining light of Christ's love to the world, the church now invests in property and buildings and entertaining people for an hour a week. Missing from the church today is much of the love and compassion for others and the bold preaching of the Gospel. That has been replaced with the anonymity found in the mega churches of today and watered down, feel-good, motivational messages designed not to offend anyone.

I love you and care about you so much. I can assure you that Jesus would NOT have been part of the healthcare debate. He would pray for President Obama's salvation as I encourage everyone in the Liveprayer family to do each day. He would pray for the sick. But Jesus would not be entering into political debates between the government and private businesses over medical insurance.

While Jesus did minister to the practical needs of people and encouraged His followers to do the same, it was their eternal souls He cared most about. The fact is, we will ALL die one day. To have access to the best medical treatment possible during this brief journey is wonderful, but it is our soul that will live on for eternity while our physical body returns to the dust it came from.

Would it be nice if everyone had health insurance? Certainly. However, all you have to do is look at other countries who have socialized the healthcare industry and it becomes apparent that while it sounds good in theory, to cover everyone, it is simply not practical. To cover the small percentage of people who currently don't have health insurance would mean the vast majority who do have coverage would not enjoy all of the benefits they currently have.

It opens up the door to the government deciding who gets treatment, who doesn't, and ultimately who lives and who dies. While there may need to be some overhaul of the current system, having the government involved in the healthcare industry is clearly NOT the answer. Look at the mess Medicare and Medicaid are in today.

As followers of Christ we need to care about people. We need to pray for the sick and do all we can to help people in their time of need. However, to invoke the name of Jesus and try to make the case the Lord would support the government take-over of the healthcare industry is not only ridiculous, it is blasphemous.

While Jesus would not enter into the healthcare debate, I can assure you without any hesitation he would be lambasting this current President for his support of killing babies, helping to further the radical homosexual agenda, the perversion of God's Holy Institution of Marriage, and siding with the enemies of Israel.

Ready for one of my best lines ever? You can quote this. From Bill Keller: "This is a nation being led by the President in all-out rebellion to God and His Word. Instead of trying to force Jesus to follow him, President Obama should start following Jesus!"

In His love and service,

Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller