You may have noticed the “Community Comment” on the editorial page of Thursday’s Courier and Press.  There were actually 26 signers, mostly pastors and some spiritual leaders from other religious communities, but somehow the second page of the article got lost and so the 14 names on it did not make the paper.  I chose to sign as Rev. Joseph N. Easley, because I wanted it to be clear that I was signing as an individual and not representing the congregation, which had not seen the statement. 

I also recognize not all Central members might agree on this issue.  It is not required that we all agree nor that members automatically agree with their pastor.  What is important as “the Body of Christ” is that we respect each other as “members one of another” and that we seek to “grow into Christ, who is the head of the Body.”  We all seek to be taught and guided by God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our belief and practice, including in our participation on the public arena.  This is an issue on which I felt my understanding of faith compelled me to speak out.

Let me briefly say why I believe “Health care is a moral imperative.”  God created us ”from the dust of the earth” and consistently shows a concern for our physical bodies.  Jesus had compassion on those who were ill, whether the illness was physical, mental,  emotional, relational or spiritual.  For this reason he healed many.  He was followed in this by his first century followers as seen in Acts and many of the letters of the New Testament.  The view of the Church in the second and third centuries was often surprising positive–even with the suspicion and sometimes active persecution Christians experienced–because it had a reputation for compassion toward all people.  In ancient and medieval times healing was often sought and experienced in Christian holy persons and holy sites.  In the 19th and 20th centuries, the tradition of concern for healing was revived as many churches founded hospitals.  Even today it is often churches that provide the only medical centers in many areas of poverty, here and especially in the third world.  Healing is deeply rooted in scripture and tradition.  Mercy and compassion are virtues that prevade the Bible and are embodied in Jesus. 

Likewise, key in the biblical story, including the ministry of Jesus, is justice.  By definition justice is an equal regard for all people.  Scripture shows God with a abiding concern for upholding the basic rights of all, especially of those least able to contend for their own rights–the poor, those without power or influence, and others who may be marginalized by society.  These values lead me to say it is faithful and important to work and speak for adequate health care for all people.  

I think that one of the things that has gotten lost in the current discussion about healthcare is the essential moral issue with which we should begin.  Indeed there are many different ways to provide the care, and it is quite appropriate to debate which is the best–however we may define “best”–way to provide this.  However, unless we begin with the compelling reason to address this–values rooted deeply in Christians faith, as well as in the other great faith traditions and in the American ideals–we will tend to lapse into policitcal rhetoric, partisan power plays and protection of the self-interest of the various stakeholders in the present system.  Indeed, this is where we seem to be.  I would like to help refocus the national debate on the “moral imperative” for at least some basic level of decent, affordable, effective and efficient health care for all Americans.  From a common affirmation that our nation has a moral obligation to see that such care is available to all, we could begin to discuss and debate the way to provide it, the level of care to guarantee and the way to finance such care.  The specificis of these issues will remain challenging, but we can at least keep our eye on the goal and the moral and faith basis for it.

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