Echoes in Eternity

If the health care bill passes, every American will be required to buy health insurance or face jail time. If that comes as a surprise to you, time to WAKE UP! If it doesn't, what may surprise you is that there is a clause in the current bill to allow people (like the Amish) to opt out based on their religious conscience.

The Amish, as well as some other religious sects, are covered by a "religious conscience" exemption, which allows people with religious objections to insurance to opt out of the mandate. It is in both the House and Senate versions of the bill, making its appearance in the final version routine unless there are last-minute objections.

Although the Amish consist of several branches, some more conservative than others, they generally rely upon a community ethic that disdains government assistance. Families rely upon one another, and communities pitch in to help neighbors pay health care expenses.

It seems like the American Church is long overdue in following in the BIBLICAL footsteps of its Amish sister. All Christians should be helping each other pay for health care expenses rather than relying on the teat of state aid. If this bill passes, we should all grow a "religious conscience" and begin co-ops where the local church cares for each other's needs, as the early church did.