Is this really a Christian response?

The Christian community’s response to affordable health care in the U.S. has been one of selfishness and anger and condemnation. It is amazing to me that a community which is devoted to the teachings of Jesus Christ would denounce programs which help those in need, the elderly, workers without health care insurance and neighbors who have gained a little advantage in life: teachers and union members.

George Kocan, in his Feb. 11 letter directs us to the source of salvation. It appears to be based upon doctrine and theology and I might add — rules. I would suggest to him that he read the four gospels. He will find that Jesus Christ spends a third of his time healing the sick and caring for the poor. Salvation comes, Jesus says, from giving to the poor, so that you will have treasure in heaven. (Matt 19:21). Jesus further says in Matt 24: 34-35, “you are blessed by my Father, for I was hungry and you gave me, and the least of these, something to eat.”

How is it that the Christian community of this country has wrapped itself in the conservative Republican coat of hatred of government social programs and blessing of the unregulated marketplace and praise for the philosophy of individualism over against petitioning the government to follow the commands of Jesus Christ to care for the sick and poor?

Community leaders petition the government to have selected religious rules enforced and endorse candidates that would call for the end of Medicare and social security. Why not petition the government to have love for your neighbor enforced?

Given our salvation depends upon caring for the sick and poor of all ages, I would suggest that we use every institution available to us — banks, churches, unions, government, corporations, wall street, schools, foundations and government — to secure it.

Tom Teune

Wheaton