by Rev. Dr. Charles Nestor, Senior Fellow for Public Policy, National Clergy Council

What the Bible Says on Health Care Reform

Charles B. Nestor, M.Th., D.D.

In 1964 as a High School junior I was a member of the debate team, participating in the Washington, D.C. citywide forensic tournament, held at the George Washington University. My role was to present the pro position of the national debate topic. For that year the proposition was, “Resolved: That Social Security benefits should be extended to include complete medical care.” That was 46 years ago and as Yogi Berra once said, we are experiencing “deja vous allover again.” Instead of High School students debating the topic it’s the congress and the president of the United States.

There are few that would argue against citizens of the wealthiest country in history receiving the medical care that they need. The issue is whether it is a right of every person to be guaranteed healthcare and should the government provide it? Further, should every person be required to buy medical insurance and, if they do not, should the government fine them?

Jesus said that sick people need a physician. The Apostle Paul’s missionary companion was Luke the beloved physician. The Scriptures present medical care in a very positive perspective. God’s ancient people, Israel, were given in the law very specific hygiene and medical instruction. The concern of God for the health of His people is clear in the Bible. Jesus himself is none other than the Great Physician, whose ministry was punctuated by healing.

Throughout the twentieth century the extension of government-subsidized benefits is a matter of record. Public education, Social Security, and welfare programs are examples. There has been an incremental advancement toward a European style social democracy in this country. Socialized medicine would be yet another giant step in that direction. Is there a better way?

Employer based health insurance, Medicaid, and other programs provide a substantial percentage of the population with coverage and polls indicate an overwhelming high satisfaction among people who have these plans. The number of uncovered individuals is debatable, but any reform should focus on those persons, who do not have coverage of any kind. Universal government provided socialized medicine is a prescription for bankrupting the U.S. Cost estimates over time soar into the trillions of dollars. This would be disastrous stewardship of the available resources of the nation. The question for Christians is what moral obligation does a society have?

Our society has given attention to healthcare in many ways. Employee insurance, military veteran coverage, public clinics, Medicaid, fraternal insurance pools, and Medicare are all examples. Any extension of government subsidy should focus on the uncovered who have no means of providing for themselves. Many young people have chosen not to buy coverage and some prefer a pay-as-you-go approach to avoid the high cost of some insurance. The government should not assume the responsibility for those who by choice have opted not to provide for themselves.

The chronically ill who cannot afford the exorbitant cost of private healthcare or who are uninsurable can be covered without government taking over the entire industry which represents up to one sixth of the American economy. Compassionate Christians can support this without fear of being complicit in a political solution that lacks wisdom and brings financial servitude upon generations to come.

The Christian faith provides a positive solution. First, adopting a lifestyle which produces wellness, and which includes eating with moderation, the benefits of exercise which does profit a little, prayer with faith for the sick, the use of physicians, when necessary and assuming responsibility for ones own life, are things a believer should do.

Much sickness and many health issues spring from lifestyle choices. Christians can lead the way in fighting the obesity problem, avoiding choices that lead to additive behavior, eating healthy foods, exercising instead of becoming sedentary, and caring for family and friends when called upon out of a loving commitment.

Compassion and love are called for in this debate. Solutions are available and wise counsel can come from responsible moral perspective. The answer is not government bureaucratic institutions with high cost, red tape, and poor outcomes. The answer is personal responsibility for health and healthcare, conduct that promotes health, trust in a powerful God who says, “I am the Lord who heals you,” education by the Church, and responding with public assistance as a stopgap to provide for those who have no other means of care.

There is no reason for Christians to curse the darkness. We have considerable resources and a loving God. With these things in place health can be achieved without bankrupting a nation or living in despair.

The Reverend Dr. Charles Nestor is senior fellow for public policy at the National Clergy Council. Until his semi-retirement due to multiple sclerosis, Dr. Nestor was the pastor of one of the leading churches in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. He is a native of the District of Columbia and holds degrees in history, theology and divinity.