The Need of the Nation

I was watching the congressman conducting a “town hall” meeting. The subject was the health care bill that had passed the United States House of Representatives. The people speaking seemed almost unanimously opposed to it – and their reasons were many. Not only did they present arguments against the measure, but did so passionately. The congressman responded by saying something along the lines of this plan is “the need of the nation.”

Thirty years ago I studied Francis Schaeffer’s series entitled How Should We Then Live? The present controversy regarding government-sponsored health care is eerie. Could this be the playing out of the warnings delivered by Schaeffer?

Senior adults are living longer. The government programs designed to assist this segment of the population, Social Security and Medicare, are unbelievably strained. The insurance industry is dictating to physicians what they may and may not do if they want payment. It is likely that the government sponsored health plan will have its people doing the same thing. It should come as no surprise that the legislation which passed the House has a provision that every five years Medicare recipients (seniors) will be getting a rap on the door from government representatives. These representatives will be “sharing options” with senior citizens. No one knows what these government trained persons will be reporting back to the authorities, but everyone knows reports will be filed. Perhaps they will, in time, decide who receives additional medical procedures and who does not. This will be only one small step from their deciding then who lives and who should be put to death. Forced euthanasia could easily become reality. This was Schaeffer’s ominous warning to a society that had abandoned God – turned its back on the Bible and its standards. Schaeffer had predicted that a “culture of death” would then arise.

Does this seem impossible? If so, keep three thoughts in mind. First, the forced elimination of people groups has happened in other countries, even well-educated and civilized countries (post-World War I Germany); secondly, the costs of the social programs aforementioned are unsustainable at present rates; thirdly, President Obama has begun talking about “termination of life” issues (July 2009– as reported in the August 21, 2009 The Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, TN, page 5). Not “end of life” issues, mind you, but “termination of life”. If this phrase does not send a chill up your spine, you must not have a spine!

As Francis Schaeffer shared over thirty years ago: it is a very small philosophical step from abortion to euthanasia. Both the unborn and the elderly are helpless to stop the strong and empowered from killing them. The elderly, particularly those with dementia, are expensive to society. Furthermore, caring for them is inconvenient. A great deal of tax money can be saved and used elsewhere, so some may be thinking, if only these inconvenient, no longer productive persons would die.

From there, it will be another small philosophical step to eliminate other undesirable persons: those with debilitating diseases, prisoners, Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists – whoever is empowered and strong will make those decisions.

The Christian must always be mindful and remind others of this: God has created life. He is closely associated with life. Throughout the pages of the Bible God is described as the Source of Life. He calls us to life, eternal life, through Jesus Christ. He provides meaning to life in the present world. He and He alone, should determine when physical life as we know it ends for a person.

Support life. Respect life. Return to the Bible and its standards. Return to God.

This is the need of the nation.