Wednesday, July 19th, 2017

After months, even years, of brainstorming, planning, negotiating, and campaigning, the Republican health care plan collapsed from lack of support in the Senate, sending the entire party back to the drawing board. Predictably, those on the Left were quick to mock the GOP and some even to gloat over the GOP’s failure. The Right was quick to deflect, defend, and spin the failure in a positive light. As the Americans who actually rely on our nation’s health care, are we to celebrate? Are we to be dejected? Health care is one of the biggest and most important issues our country has faced this century – how to allocate it, how to price it, how to control it, how to make it “fair.” Both parties, when they have had their turn at the plate, have resorted to backroom dealings, think-tank policy writing, and dubious concessions to lobbyists and interest groups. By focusing more on the politics of policy than its functionality, our leaders have relegated our nation to political turmoil and left its citizens struggling to afford coverage. Many have railed against these practices, for good reason! Regarding the most complex matters of our society, the best solutions often are the simplest. When we as Christians face impossible circumstances, what do we do? We open our Bibles. Every good idea has its root in Scripture. Just as we turn to God’s word during our most difficult trials, so our elected leaders should in our country’s. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul offers a unique perspective on how our relationship to God and each other works in relation to creating societal order. He says, “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” As described here, we are called to do our part in the service of God’s kingdom and to work in tandem to do so. However, all our work is meaningless toil without God, who makes things grow. Pray today for all our leaders, of both parties, to lay down their earthly toils and work together to create a health care system that God can then grow.

"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” – 1 Corinthians 3: 5-9