Universal Health Care
Both sides of the debate have authored cartoons...
So where do I stand on Universal Health Care?
#1 I do not believe in entitlement.
I think giving something to someone for free when they have chosen against it by their actions (i.e. a person who receives welfare or free health care when they choose not to work), encourages more people to not work.
#2 I believe in people.
I think we communicate this belief in people when we expect much out of them.
I think we expect much out of people when we refuse to give hand outs. This expectation can push people towards the greatness and capacity for which they were designed.
This post is about those who have received something undeserved. It’s meant to highlight the lack of “fairness” and justice exhibited when people receive something they’ve never worked for.
But this post is not just about them.
It’s more about me.
And it’s also about grace.
Grace freely given to me, when my actions and sinfulness did not warrant so precious a gift. When God made grace available to me, I wonder if the Angels were counseling Him not to.
“But Lord, if you give grace to him, anyone will be eligible, no matter how undeserving they are!”
Here’s an excerpt from my journal where I believe God was especially harsh (and insightful) on my pride.
Those who have made or built something in life by sacrificing (me), tend to see the general waste of other people and assume a level of indifference/arrogance in relationship to them. It is so much like the people who worked in the field all day getting paid the same as those who worked for an hour (Matthew 20)!
I have gone without, dang it, and you want my success without matching my blood, sweat and tears! No way!
While this is true in some degree, it can easily lead to ugly thoughts in my heart. Thoughts of control, thoughts of mastering another person, thoughts of turning them into myself instead of into Christ. It can also lead to some pretty damaging views about them. They’re not smart (like me), they’re not committed (like I was), they’re not capable (like I am).
I need to spend a little more time thinking about how entitlement has crept into my life in this regard…I saved when no one else was saving, therefore it’s mine. I was frugal when everyone else was partying, therefore, I should have control. I drank free water when everyone else was drinking $2 Cokes, therefore, I am more self-disciplined than they are.
This is sick.
Lord, help brew a spirit of generosity in me that is glad I was given the ability to sacrifice so that others could thrive; to be the one that is dependable so that others can depend; to have every act of restraint and frugality not be about myself and my self-righteousness before men, but so that every decision to not indulge myself would be a smiling act of love on those who might need my resources in the future.
Lord, teach me how to sacrifice for someone other than myself.
Ouch.
Okay. So maybe this post doesn’t tell you exactly where I stand on Universal Health Care, but I hope it does give you insight into how God is breaking down the pride that would normally influence my thoughts on this hotly debated topic.
Workers in the Vineyard
This entry was posted on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 2:05 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS Feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Wow Matt. This really spoke to me. I am anxious to talk with you in person about this. My spirit resonates with yours.
Great thoughts!!!!
Matt, you are wonderful. Thank you for this. It really hit home, it’s always a good thing to right size our thinking.
what a beautiful revelation you had about pride. i can completely see how it relates to the issue of healthcare and the general idealogy of the “haves” helping the “have nots”.
this is Jesus’ message! if you have abundance, give to those who do not. i’m not sure how this basic Christian principle has become “outrageous” to those who seem to most loudly proclaim the name of Christ (those politically right-leaning)….but pride is a likely explaination. pride and selfishness is inherent in all of us, but we must work against our nature to be close-fisted, as it will surely lead to close-heartedness.
i personally am so grateful and blessed to have good healthcare coverage through my job. my mother, on the other hand is self employed and cannot find anyone willing to give her health coverage because of pre-existing conditions! she has been trying for the past few years to no avail. she’s had to save up money to go to the doctor, and once even had to go to the emergency room because she could not get the tests she needed otherwise! i know plenty of other people with similar stories and this is why i believe in supporting people who are sick and getting sicker because insurance companies refuse to cover them. if we can give money for medical care for impovershed people in other countries, why can’t we sacrifice for those with medical needs in our own country?
Wonderful post, Matt!
I haven’t followed the debates regarding the health care bill much. Nevertheless, I am certainly with you on points #1 and #2.
One thing I often find libertarians and right-wing advocates (that I would often agree with on many points) miss is the great impact of circumstances on a person’s spirit.
Let me suggest one example. In my country one of the big issues is the problem with gypsies or the Roma people. They are probably a typical example of people living with a sense of entitlement. Many of them are not working at all, begging on the streets or engaged in criminal activities. Therefore it has been very easy for the rest of us to conclude that they are lazy and unwilling to better their own conditions of living. After all, why would they not send their children to school to get a better education and improve theirs and their families’ lot? However, that’s just one side of the problem. Because through the years I have realized that it is extremely hard to start making different choices in an environment that is generally against you. Once a gypsy man or woman decides to get an education, they become suspicious to their own people. Their own people feel they are now feeling superior due to their choice and as a result treat them as traitors. On the other hand, non-gypsy Bulgarians view them with suspicion because there haven’t been enough good examples of gypsies, who are serious and committed to their work or studies. The sad story is that the person who decides to work toward changing the status quo would be unacceptable to both sides. Could you imagine then how hard it would be for one to go against the system with support from no one? It’s not impossible and there have been a few (very few) good examples but the environment is still terribly hostile.
I wish more people in the U.S. would realize that the so called “protestant work ethic” is a great thing but it does not work the same wonders in every environment. Indeed, issues like the health care system or welfare are much more complex than popular arguments on both sides reveal.
Warm greetings, bro!
Melissa-I love your thoughts…while I am pretty sure Governmental oversight is not the answer, I do know that we need to combat greed and increase compassion.
Andy-very well said about the Gypsy community. It’s very easy for me to cast judgment without realizing how difficult it is to put myself in another’s shoes.
Tough subject, no perfect answers. I wonder if the Church has abdicated its responsibility on so many of these social issues? In Acts 2 the people sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each persons needs were met. And the Church grew daily. I wonder, since we pay our taxes we have turned much of the responsibility over to the government willingly and wash our hands of the needs? Listen, I know Christians and we Americans are the most giving people on the planet so I am not condemning us/myself, but should we be doing more? It’s not our money or possessions anyway is it? Their will always be those that take advantage of others/system. Good thoughts Matt, Congratulations on the upcoming wedding. P.S. i am not an entitlement person either and listen to your mom, she is always right.
I think you’re right Stu, but not the church on an organizational level, but the church on an individual level. Our organizations are only as strong as the people within them. This includes our government and what it means for American’s to be citizen’s of this great nation. The nation isn’t great because we have decided to be on a governmental level. Our nation will be great (or falter) based on how we respond as individuals to those around us in need.
I think the better question for me is, how am I helping someone in need around me.
Agreed. If you’re back in KC area please call us so we can have you over for dinner or meet up somewhere. Instead of a hotel you’re always welcome to stay at our house, we have plenty of room.