Join the John 10:10 Challenge
As Christians and as United Methodists we have a moral obligation to be involved in the struggle for universal health care for the people of the United States. This is a way for the UMC to show its true Wesleyan spirit. John Wesley believed that God is concerned for the souls and the bodies of all people. Salvation is for the whole person. Sanctification is a process of spiritual and physical healing restoring each person, society, and creation to wholeness; to become fully the people and world that God created us to be.
To that end Wesley published his Primitive Physic to provide the poor with simple, home remedies for common ailments. He also established free medical clinics for the poor. Wesley believed that all people should have access to health care. Health care ought not be a commodity that is bought and sold, available only to those who have the ability to pay.
I invite you to join the John 10:10 challenge. Jesus said, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." Let's bring good news to the poor who are uninsured and under-insured.
posted by Steven Manskar at 9:33 AM
7 Comments:
Good for you Steve! It was always a characteristic of John Wesley to care for the whole person. That is why he visited the sick and those in prison. Not only is John 10:10 correct, but it virtually echos through the scripture that wholeness is God's shalom to us and the earth.
Mary Ellen and Larry Nielssen
4:25 PM
I am totally opposed to this intervention between church and state which is against the U.S. Constitution. I do not believe everyone is entitled to health insurance and Jesus never said "go to your government for a handout!" When I read this statement about 1010, I hear Democratic talking points so it is obvious liberals are involved here. Shame on you Conference! Shame on you for getting involved!
Cheryl Hilliard, Ohio
4:26 PM
Why does the government need to trash our current system in order to insure a few million people who do not have insurance and want it? It is like saying "My car needs an oil change and new brakes! Oh, I'd better just buy a new car!" Ooops, how will I pay for it?
Why not just change the limits for Medicaid and Medicare to insure those who truly can't afford it. I pay for my own insurance and pay a lot. I rent an apartment and have an old car. I have friends who would rather have a nice car and a big mortgage on their house so they don't have insurance!
Whatever happened to having the church help provide for those in need? Why trust the government to do something about it when Medicare and Medicaid are already broke?
4:04 PM
it is sad that liberals complain about having the Cross on public ground or moraal teaching in schools yet use church leaders, like yourself to support their one sided, no debate, behind closed door plans. If this was such a great thing for America why is it not being debated in public?
we do not need the government to decide all things for us, especially our healthcare, their record of being responsible with tax dollars is miserable.
10:07 AM
If you feel so strongly about the current health care reform legislation and the vigorous public debate that is taking place today, then why don't you at least attach your name to your posts?
The reality is the USA is the only wealthy, developed nation on earth that does not provide a comprehensive, universal health care system for its citizens. We are the only developed nation that continues to treat health and health care as a commodity and allow insurance corporations to profit on the suffering of others.
As Christians, the followers of the Great Physician Jesus Christ, I believe we have an obligation to see that our neighbors have unfettered access to quality health care. Jesus commands us to "love your neighbor as yourself" and "love one another as I have loved you." How can Christians say they love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength and then stand idly by, or, much worse, actively obstruct development of a universal health care system, while their poor, unemployed, and uninsured neighbors suffer and die for lack of access to adequate health care?
This is why I support John 10:10 and encourage my sisters and brothers in Christ to do the same.
Call your Senators today and tell him or her to vote in favor of health care reform today!
10:24 AM
Well, up front, so you don't discount my comments out of hand as you have the anonymous comments, my name is Thomas Reimler and I live in Minneapolis, MN. I echo the anonymous comments questioning your take on this. I generally vote Democratic, but I don't support the bill. This is a ridiculous misuse of John 10:10. Jesus was not talking about how we should vote for the Democrats universal health care bill! If you take the verse in context, it's clearly about God calling his sheep to Him, to be saved by His atoning death, and to thereby live an abundant life. 10:10 does not endorse the "health and wealth gospel" nor does it advocate for universal health care. It's insulting that you claim you don't see how a Christian can oppose the universal health care bill. I'm a Christian who opposes the bill because it's fiscally irresponsible and I believe that the public funding of abortions would increase the number of lives lost in the womb, and I don't support what would increase the loss of innocent lives. Why should I support a health care bill which is likely to increase deaths, not save lives, in other words. I don't like it when Republicans imply that God is on their side; I don't like it when Democrats imply that God is on their side; I don't like it when you imply that God is on your side. You have every right to lobby for your position on this issue, but to imply that those on the other side are somehow non-Christian is insulting and wrong-headed.
7:13 PM
The alleged 30 million people who do not have healthcare is not a reasonable platform to force the entire nation of 300 million to be forced into a government raised, run, and ruled programme. The United States has an estimated 27 million illegal immigrants from various countries; however, they are mostly from Mexico who are currently breaking the laws of this land by their physical presence. Does anyone believe these illegals will ever kindly waltz up centre stage and opt into this national healthcare programme and pay their fair share? I think not. These are the very people I have arriving at my hospital who I cannot just turn away. I must treat them and not get paid for my labour. Am I expected run a business and work for free? They know it and I know they are here in the United States from Mexico illegally. They have no legal identification and formal papers in which to reside in this country legally. That leaves only 3 million out of 300 million of really needful people who may need a healthcare programme plan of some kind. This is so manageable and our focus can be on a state by state emphasis. We are allowing this renegade spend-happy congress of bleeding hearts for one percent of the populous to shove a ‘brother’s keeper’ mentality down my throat. Cain asked God, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ notice God’s response to this question. God was silent, hence it wasn’t important to God and neither is it important to me. Love can not be coerced if it is to remain love and friendship can never be forced.
8:43 PM
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