Health Care Reform Bill

Like many of us I have strong political, social, and religious opinions.  These rise from how I think, how I feel, and what I have learned in my life, and hopefully opinions that reflect my faith as a Christian and pastor.  I would, of course, have strong opinions about the health care reform bill recently passed and the process that led to it being signed into law.

Now let me first offer a quote from Paul Brown, a Duke University Graduate school student:
“Sisters and brothers, our unity is grounded in Christ—not in the details of health care reform,  as a Church that includes both Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush as members, we are free to disagree on various social issues, but remain united in one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.”

What Connects the Church is our relationship with Jesus Christ and our commitment to serve Him, uniquely at first Methodist; “Making disciples of Jesus Christ, who will love God, love others, and serve the world!”   Which ever side of this recent process each of us may light on, and the few that might wander somewhere in the middle, nothing changes when it comes to the mission of the Church and nothing changes when it comes to our responsibility to love God, live His way, and serve Him in the world.  I pray that we always reflect Jesus Christ in grace, understanding, and even forgiveness (both receiving and giving).

• Personally, I think that people who can take care of themselves should.  Self-respect and personal responsibility is a Christian virtue.  A person, family, and even a nation are strengthened when this virtue is highlighted and celebrated.
• Secondly, I think a Christian society should somehow care for the poor and the disadvantaged, the elderly and the children. A society that neglects the least, the last, and the lost in their midst, especially in a time of affluence has abandoned a Christian virtue that is as core as Jesus’ basic teaching.
• Thirdly, I don’t believe that political process are the way the Church has been challenged by biblical faith to change the world.  We change the world by making courageous, compassionate, faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

I also think, because of the Christian underpinnings of America, that these virtues are core to what America is about, even to what it is to be an American, values that have set this nation apart since its inception, and even in our most difficult times won out, such as overcoming the depression without chaos unlike many other nations, and addressing Civil Rights clearly and decisively even though belatedly. Programs of Social Security and Medicare have long provided help for the elderly during the seasons many could no longer care for themselves.  When we add, as I think, that the United Methodist Church is the most American of churches, this idea of caring for the least, the last, and the lost, and yet also living in courage, self-respect, and personal responsibly (called personal holiness) define who we are.

The United Methodist Church itself has taken no denominational stand on this particular health bill. Only General Conference can speak for the denomination. Our last conference was held before even the beginnings of this Bill.

But one of our Boards, The Board of Church and Society (we have boards for everything) has spoken for the Bill.  This board can operate independently as many of our local Churches do, which it has done in this case.

The United Methodist Church did go on record through our General Conference in Fort Worth, (a body of representatives from every Conference and State who meet every 4 years) as saying, “We believe it is a governmental responsibility to provide all citizens with health care!”  But there is no detailed description of what this might look like though reasons that all Americans should have access to affordable health care are given in abundance.  This Methodist representative body votes in a similar fashion as does the Nations representative body.  I sometimes agree and sometimes I don’t.

To give an illustration about differing opinions of Methodist Christians:  there are 44 Methodists in the House of Representatives, 18, all Democrats, voted for the Bill; 26, Democrats and Republicans voted against the Bill.  My guess is that this proportion represents the nation’s division and probably the members of most national Church bodies.

Mike Ross, a United Methodist congressman  who voted against the bill said, “There are parts of the bill that are good, including much needed health insurance reforms and making health insurance affordable for the uninsured, on the other hand, many parts of the bill cause me great concern, like telling people they must buy health insurance or be fined, cutting Medicare by more than a half-trillion dollars, increasing taxes and forcing businesses to provide health insurance to their employees.”

Laura Richardson a  United Methodist Congresswoman from California voted for the legislation saying, “While this legislation does not include an comprehensive full public option, as the House of Representatives preferred, it is a giant step forward in beginning the reform of our nations current neglectful health system.”

Rep. Marion Berry from Arkansas said, “health care reform must be deficit—neutral and must be fully paid for by squeezing out more savings from the pharmaceutical manufacturers and private insurance industry instead of cramming down hospitals and other providers and taxing Americans!”

Some of my thoughts:
I am glad we are talking about Health Care Reform.  I have been a part of the journey of many families with health care needs in our Church who found themselves in dire straights when it came to health emergencies, sometimes with no place to turn, and often in that situation through no fault of their own. Something had to eventually give in the spiraling cost of health care and insurance and access. In our own Central Texas Conference clergy are aware we have an impending crisis ahead because of the rising cost of health insurance.

I think the US health care system is amazing, again having journeyed with other families and my own, our Physicians, hospitals, and medical staffs are compassionate, competent, and second to none. We live in a country that cares about the hurts of others and our medical people and providers are representative of that.

I am unhappy about the abortion language, or lack of abortion language in the Bill.  The bill was passed without this being processed through a legislative body absolutely clarifying that Federal Money, our money, will not be used for abortions.

I, like many, are disappointed (whoever is to blame) that this bill was not bipartisan, has become divisive, and polarized the American people as well as our Government representatives. Anger and mistrust has ensued that can only scuttle the very care for the least, the last, and the lost that everyone on both sides wants.  It is the only major bill of its kind in history, including Medicare, social security, and the civil rights bill that was not bipartisan.
I am disappointed in the speed this bill was pushed through the system.  I am chair of a task force that is redesigning thee simple structure of our Central Texas Methodist Conference.  This will take at least two years.  Our Church just completed simple strategic planning that took 3 years.  How can a health care bill of this Nation Changing and people impacting magnitude be put together, examined, approved, and put into play in what is absolutely an unreasonable amount of time. No one seems to be sure how it is going to impact all of us.
There has not been sufficient study of the economic ramifications of this bill, ramifications on the health care industry, physicians and medical providers, businesses, Churches, families, the tax payer, the nation itself, and the future of the next generation.  This seismic shift in health care is too important to have myriads of uncertainties that may have unintended consequences.

I am disappointed with the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.  There was no effort put into representing the diverse views of all United Methodist Churches, Methodist pastors, and members of the Methodist family.  If the Board has supported the idea of access to health care for the least, the last, and the lost , that is to be lauded, but to support this particular bill from beginning to end without understanding the ramifications, this is unacceptable to me, as has been expressed by many Methodist Pastors, congressmen, and Methodists.

Final Thoughts:
In America we have the privilege of opinion, to speak our thoughts, to vote for those who represent us, to change our minds, to struggle together for the good of our country, the good of our neighbor, the good of our family, and the hurting of our world. We are a democracy. Thank you God!

In the Church we have the privilege of “Making disciples of Jesus Christ, who will love God, love others, and serve the world!”  This Health Care Bill at its very worst might raise our taxes and leave many of us entering a changed health care world that leaves us less choices and a country where Government has intruded into unprecedented areas, but at its very best might provide excellent health care for a child with a single mother, a person disabled through the onset of a debilitating disease, a family with an unemployed father, or anyone who has been limited from the best health care system in the world through no fault of their own.

The Travesty of the cross;  at least this is what Lee Strobel calls it is the main focus of all Christians.  Why did Jesus die on the cross?  Why do 2 billion Christians celebrate it as a symbol of God’s love and people even beyond the Christian sphere often mark it as a special symbol of hope and blessings.  I think the cross tells us two things.  First it reminds us of God’s love,  For God so loved the world.  This is the easy one, it is not hard to understand that God loves us enough to die for us.  But the real travesty is it proclaims that  God is a “Holy” God, a God who is so righteous, perfect, awesome, and without sin, that the demands of  his Holiness and Grace called for the death of His only sinless son to provide atonement,  the forgiveness of sins.  The cross tells me how Holy God is and that the greatest travesty is not that piece of wood, but my own sin.  It tells me who I am and calls me to my knees to ask and receive this Amazing grace God offers in such a complete, unquestionable, and unarguable way,  “while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly” the Bible states.