Hello Government, Goodbye Church

A common thing we have all heard is that people don't like to talk about politics and religion.

Well I'm going to talk about both.

As we are getting closer to election time, there are, of course, countless debate topics going around. Everything from gay marriage to our military involvement overseas to corporate crime and evil do-ers. Lots of hot button topics to a lot of people.

One thing that our current President is facing as a major swing point (meaning some love it, some hate it) is what has come to be known as "Obamacare."

Here is an overview of what the new health care system is trying to accomplish:

- Brings healthcare to 32 million
- Over 10 years, reduces the national debt by $143 billion
- Over 20 years, reduces the national debt by $1.2 trillion

Doesn't seem that bad when it's phrased like that, does it? In it of itself, that does seem like a wonderful plan. The thing is, we have to look at what the effects of putting something like this into place in our lives will do.

Looking at it strictly from a financial point of few, it starts to seem less appealing, after all, this thing has to be paid for somehow. And where does the government get it's money? It's people. That's us.

If you are interested in seeing how this is all spread out, and how it is planned to be paid for, check this link out:
http://www.talkingaboutpolitics.com/CommentDiscussionForum/tabid/74/aft/159/Default.aspx

The question then becomes, for me at least, how do I as a Christian man go about processing Obamacare and it's effects on our culture?

I'd like to first site Acts 2, where we have a groubp of believers who come together, and have just listened to Peter's teachings, and proceed to give away EVERYTHING that they have in order to help those in need.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%202&version=NIV

This helps me process on a few levels.

They didn't have the government go out and help people. They saw a need in their community, they saw people who were hungry and poor, and they themselves went out and did something about it. There were taxes then, and although the government may not have directly been involved with healthcare, they were hugely involved in providing work for people (if you think the Romans didn't have corporations, think again), which in turn provided the ability to gather wages, and then pay for necessary items.When I read Acts 2, I see a group of people convicted by the love of God to go out and help, to be the change they want to see, not to just "dump in the pot" and hope it works out.

Also, I look at Mathew 25:37-40, where Jesus tells His followers that anything we do for the people who are struggling in the world, the lowest of the low, we do for Him. That makes me feel like we wants us to be out there doing His work, and that He loves it when we do, and He doesn't want us to just be so preoccupied with our own agenda that we would rather let someone handle it.

The other thing that makes me hesitate on the growth and involvement of the government in our personal lives is, what then, is the need for the church?

As Christians, we are called to go out and be fishers of men (Matthew 4:18-20), and as stated before, we are supposed to be out there helping the least of the least. I believe that any reference to how Christians should act in the Bible should also set the precedence for how the church should act, and that being said, if we not only accept but endorse a plan that will minimize the need for churches in our culture, how can we not immediately notice that it is not the right choice?

The church should be something that is viewed in our society as a place where people who are hurting or struggling can go for help, and place where people are sent out to engage in the communities they live in. I've always loved the phrase "hospitals aren't for healthy people," meaning that church is a place where people who are in need should go, but if everyone is "healthy," or for that matter have found a different way to get healthy, then why go to the hospital?

If we continue to give into this "reality" that we can be passive and just pay into systems and everything will work out, we will fail, and the consequences will be huge. When I look at Christ, I see someone who was engaged, committed, risk taking, and don't forget, someone who gave everything up. He died for you, and more shockingly, He died for me, too. We as a group of people who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, who say that we want Him to live in us and through us, need to be doing everything we can to continue the work He did while He was here, and equally, what He commanded us to do.

I just would like to challenge my readers to be in prayer as the election season approaches, to be seeking truth through the Lord, and to be willing to be bold, risk taking lovers of Christ.