Perspective

Healthcare. Oh, how the debate saturates our media these days. Were it not such an important issue, I would certainly steer clear of writing about it, considering the extent to which it has consumed our national attention. And I rarely venture into commenting on politics publicly, given the volatility of the subject and its relationship to the church. But the church lives in the world and in this nation, and God would have us be good, informed, active citizens.

I won’t pretend to know what the U.S. should do. I don’t have the answer to this complex problem. I would hope that millions of other Americans might feel similarly. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have our own opinions or have something to add to the conversation. Be we Republican or Democrat, we do have constructive insights and concerns to offer.

Yet it would seem that a vocal number of Americans feel strongly enough as to raise their voice and their rhetoric above productive discourse. We saw it in town hall meetings last month. And I saw it at a busy commercial intersection on Saturday. While driving home from lunch, my family passed a crowd of people holding signs expressing their political opinion on healthcare. Even though my blood pressure rose, I recognize that they have a right to do so.

What bothered me most was not their opinion, but it was their reasoning, their perspective. I saw posters that began with the word “I” and expressed personal beliefs or status. As a person of faith in Christ, “I” is not a very good place to start. “We” is better. Still more Christ-like is to start with “the least of these.”

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). You and I might have access to good healthcare; we may have health insurance. But we might not, along with too many others in this country. Whether big government or small government is our answer and our future, let us all keep the needs of the other central in our mind.