Please Stop Bringing Jesus Into The Debate

Ever since the Republican party co-opted religion and fashioned themselves into the party of God it seems the Democrats have also stooped to using the religion card in their attempt to make Jesus into something of liberal thinker. This isn't only wrong-headed, it just isn't the truth.

I was enjoying a thoughtful response in the form of a letter-to-editor in one of my local newspapers concerning the recent Medicare "reform" vote.

That letter contained this beautiful observation (go here and scroll down to Americans can take of elderly for the entire letter):

The travesty is that Medicare is solvent for several years. As Americans we can do anything. We can fix anything. Do not tell Americans that France, Canada and 23 other countries can have programs like Medicare and Americans cannot.

Good point. And I have often stated my disgust that the United States is so weak and inferior to other modern nations when it comes to a social safety net. Our nation's devotion to greed and unrestrained capitalism has left us lagging behind other modern industrial nations in such things, especially the matter of a national healthcare program.

But the letter-writer goes on to ruin his good point and make this into a religious dispute when he ends his missive with:

Ask our Republican leaders one question: “What would Jesus do?”

Wrong, wrong, wrong! This isn't about Jesus, religion, or the Bible. Our constitution is a godless one that recognizes our government as being of, for, and by the people. It just doesn't matter what Jesus would do. The question is: What should we do?

For the record, Jesus would not be the least bit interested in the affairs of Caesar. His message was one of the impending end of the age and ushering in of God's righteous kingdom on earth. And to that end should everyone's attention be focused, not on earthly affairs:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:25-34, NIV).

Personally, I don't like that solution any better than I do Republican solutions to problems like health care, Medicare, Social Security, etc.