Health Care Reform
Last night the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to bring major reform to the American health care system. It remains to be seen what the results will be in the coming years.
Since this is not a political blog I won’t be commenting on whether I agree or disagree with the legislation passed. Since this is a theological blog, however, I would like to make this point:
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit take care of each other. In the Son’s incarnation as the man Jesus Christ, the Father, through his Spirit, takes care of humanity and the whole creation. When the Son became human like us he adopted us all into this Triune Life of mutual care and concern for each other. That life of care and concern was revealed in Jesus as he walked the roads of Galilee. He was a one-man free health care provider. His dispensing of free health care made the rich and the powerful angry, not because they opposed the dispensing of free health care but because they opposed its dispensation on the Sabbath. Although one has to wonder, given their judgmental attitude towards the poor, whether the Pharisees weren’t also angered to see someone “getting something for nothing.”
So, I would say that we as Christians may disagree about politics but we should all seek a society in which the poor, the sick, and the outcast are welcomed and cared for. We should all seek a society that reflects the mutual care and concern of the Trinity in whose image we are made.
Some think the government should a play a primary role in this, some think it should play a limited role, and some think it should play no role at all. I think there are probably as many different methodologies – governmental and otherwise – for creating a caring society as there are creative people to think them up. I would also say that the duty to create a caring society – in which the sick are helped – is an imperative of the Triune Life in which we live.
On that basis then, I would say this about the new legislation passed by the House: at least they are trying. Whether we think their method is good or bad, at least we can give credit to these members of Congress for attempting to use the power entrusted to them to try to create a more just, more caring society in which more people have access to health care. In other words, a society that looks a little more like the Life of the Father, Son, and Spirit.
~ Jonathan Stepp
Trinity and Humanity 
Thanks Jonathan
I believe we all are confronted and involved whether we know it or not and reach a decision of crises because Jesus, who is love, has taken all of humanity and freely given us all salvation in Himself. We see dimly the love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Got these thoughts which have cemented from a book by Thomas Torrance called “Atonement” jg
I think that’s well said, John, “we all are confronted and involved whether we know it or not”. I really need to read “Atonement”! Have you finished reading it? If so, maybe you could write a review of it for us that we could post here on the blog or in The Adopted Life.
I think you’ve made a fair description of the situation, Jonathan. In the U.S. healthcare debate, I haven’t heard any Christians arguing AGAINST caring for the poor and sick. It’s the question of how it’s to be done. At its extremes, the debate is about whether to idolize governments or individuals as The Solution to all problems. To idolize either is to demonize anyone who disagrees, which is what we’ve see in the U.S. ad infinitum over the past year.
As with any argument between the Many and the One, I believe the Trinity (perfectly many and perfectly one) is the clue that will provide us with the best answers.