When Up Is Down And Down Is Up – Merry Christmas and Goodbye Health Insurance
It’s been one of those weeks. One friend posted of an experience of when reading aloud in church Jesus Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), having a parishioner storm out citing “liberal propaganda”.
In addition I also watched a national gathering of religious folks cheer as it was announced that thousands of Americans, poor and otherwise will loose access to health care in the coming year. Sharon and I will be among this displaced group.
So is it just me or does it seem that up has become down and down is up?
Three things I ponder today.
Has our quest for American exceptionalism and economic prosperity so tampered with our moral compass that the teachings of Jesus — to give to the needy, to love our enemies, to be meek, to be merciful, to be peacemakers, etc… been marginalized?
Have the values of Jesus been forgotten in a ruse of returning to some pseudo brand of Judeo-Christianity that more aligns with our politics and propensity than the holy words of old?
Have we been caught up in a political ideology of greatness and abandoned a practical lifestyle of goodness.
True confession. I of all people need to spend more time learning and living the ways of Jesus. Perhaps if I did, I would be less caught up on saying Merry Christmas and more immersed on being Jesus year round, in both word and deed.
Jesus timely words, then and now conclude by saying, “…when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29 ESV
My hope is to follow the teachings of Jesus. Will you join me?
Jim
I agree that being like Jesus is the goal, and he rose above all political entanglements. For the record, there is another side to the healthcare debate that never gets reported. Some of us are trying to disentangle ourselves from reliance on government systems such as this, and are hoping we can actually afford health insurance again. We haven’t had it for three years because the premiums rose to nearly one half of my husband’s paycheck, as a result of the ACA. There is no way a family could absorb the costs that were passed on and put food on the table. The fine for not buying into the system is more affordable, although a bit hard to take. Being fined for not doing something you don’t believe in. Sounds a bit like persecution.
I will join you!