Medical Coverage, the disabled and the Church

[pixie]

Heard from others regarding socialized medicine and how the Church should be the ones stepping in and not the government. I really do believe this would be how the LORD would have us to take care of matters. Yet how will this happen when most of the LORD"S people don't even tithe? We need obedient servants. Obedience produces fruit ie.love in action.I have a pastor that preaches the LORD's word unabashed, never sugar coats and is unwwavering. He is a trustworthy man of God. I am proud to be in this small local church because of him. Yet the only people to drive me to appointments or offer help is his family. Until people can give people rides to life sustaining medical appt.'s,etc. I have very little hope that the local church will be providing thousands of dollars in medical costs. Yet Praise the LORD my hope isn't in the local church but in Him alone!! My question to you is how are you showing love(remember its action) to your local church brothers and sisters in Christ? Just something I hope you'll really think and pray about. :sad

[deafnva77]

If you have so much gov't taxes, you can't even tithe. The money is not simply there.

There is an insurance for christians to help one another, I don't mind getting on to that one. I just don't know if it not a scam as I have been scammed before.

[John81]

One of the problems is the lack of preaching on the aspect of believers being family that should be caring for one another in these matters. Add to that the fact there is little expectation of this anymore and therefore no one is holding anyone accountable to be obeying the Word of God in this area.

American Christians think of themselves as individuals and their families as individual units. In the political sense that's not so bad, but when it comes to Christians we are to esteem one another better than ourselves, we are to consider others needs ahead of our wants, we should be actively looking for ways to show our love for the brethren whether that be simply sharing an encouraging word with them, praying for them, helping them with their yard or house work, providing them with transportation, helping with bill, etc.

As long as most Christians continue to have selfish hearts in these areas and pastors don't preach against this sin and tell their congregations how they should be living, we won't see much change in this area.

[SoulReaver]

One of the problems is the lack of preaching on the aspect of believers being family that should be caring for one another in these matters. Add to that the fact there is little expectation of this anymore and therefore no one is holding anyone accountable to be obeying the Word of God in this area.

American Christians think of themselves as individuals and their families as individual units. In the political sense that's not so bad, but when it comes to Christians we are to esteem one another better than ourselves, we are to consider others needs ahead of our wants, we should be actively looking for ways to show our love for the brethren whether that be simply sharing an encouraging word with them, praying for them, helping them with their yard or house work, providing them with transportation, helping with bill, etc.

As long as most Christians continue to have selfish hearts in these areas and pastors don't preach against this sin and tell their congregations how they should be living, we won't see much change in this area.

:amen:

[Anon]

Our church takes up special offerings for those in need. We just recently put 100 gallons of oil in the tank of a family who has been coming to our church (not members) and the wife was recovering from surgery and they had no oil to keep their house warm. We are a small church and having financial problems right now, but God always provides and he blesses us for helping others.

There are ways to get health care, really....there are so many systems in place where you can get it. Churches should help when they can....but if everybody would do what THEY could to help THEMSELVES there would possibly be more money available for the ones truly in need, and the churches could help.

[Guest Guest]

If you have so much gov't taxes, you can't even tithe. The money is not simply there.

There is an insurance for christians to help one another, I don't mind getting on to that one. I just don't know if it not a scam as I have been scammed before.

If you are talking about the "Christian Brotherhood" it is not a scam.

[JerryNumbers]

Wonder why it is, most of us who call our self Christians, we think, what it ours is ours, its to be spent on self and family except for that part we chose to share with God, and everyone has to take care of their self, if they happen to be poor, or have much medical expenses, that's their problem, I'm not going to sacrifice for them, I'm not going to ask my wife or children to go without their WANTS, nor am I going to go without my WANTS for their sake.

And in many of the churches in America, one Sunday morning for some, its about who can dress the best, and within the churches there are all these different groups, usually divided by worldly possession and positions.

Wonder if we could take a lesson from the Amish, Mennonite? No one dresses above no one else, no one really lives higher than anyone else. If one of them gets sick, all of them take care of that one, that one does not have to worry about huge hospital of medical bills, for they truly take care of one another. Where and when did we stop that? I know it was before I was a little boy. Their elderly, they also take care of them, and if some family is taking care of their elderly father or mother, others help them, plus they will come watch and take care of the elderly one to give that son or daughter a break. No nursing homes for them.

At least around here, the Mennonites, don't spend their money on entertainment centers for adults nor children, singers and comedians coming to their churches., neither do they spend money on real fancy buildings, Their church and school is modest, no big youth centers, gym's. They also do not pay a big staff, they have one pastor of which they take care of, them they have deacons who help the pastor and picks up any time that he can't cover everything, and he does no have to ask them, they do it on their own. Their men don't belonged to the country club, I sure there are many things women do, that you will not find the Mennonite women taking part it.

No doubt, they truly practice helping and taking care of their brothers and sisters. How many of us really do that? We probably tell them, I'm praying for you and walk on off forgetting it and never having a guilty conscience for not doing more after they are out of our sight.

And yes, they pay taxes too, they get no benefits from taxes they pay, but they don't ask for nor expect benefits from taxes paid.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Romans 12:15 (KJV)

How many of us really practice that?

What would Jesus truly say to all of about this if we were in our churches with us this coming Sunday?

That is some thoughts I have had since Pixie posted and them all the replies that have been posted on the topics of Medical Coverage, the disabled and the Church & Socialized medicine. I see Socialized medicine got locked down.

Oh, I think this is my 1st post today. I've been thinking about a reply to one of my post along with this subject, and I still am

[John81]

Along these lines it should be noted that when taking care of widows is discussed by Paul in his letter to Timothy, he (inspired by the Holy Ghost) points out that if a widow doesn't have sons then her nephews should care for her if she has any.

Wow! Likely as not even the idea of such would shock many professing Christians into near heart attacks today. So many children are willing, some even eager, to send their parents off to nursing homes today, can anyone imagine American Christians abiding by the idea of such a "distant" relative as a nephew caring for his widowed aunt?

Most American Christians and most American churches fall very far short of how the Bible says we are to be caring for our own extended families and our church families.

[Anon]

Our church does not fit what you described up there as far as the negative things....

[Anon]

Along these lines it should be noted that when taking care of widows is discussed by Paul in his letter to Timothy, he (inspired by the Holy Ghost) points out that if a widow doesn't have sons then her nephews should care for her if she has any.

Wow! Likely as not even the idea of such would shock many professing Christians into near heart attacks today. So many children are willing, some even eager, to send their parents off to nursing homes today, can anyone imagine American Christians abiding by the idea of such a "distant" relative as a nephew caring for his widowed aunt?

Most American Christians and most American churches fall very far short of how the Bible says we are to be caring for our own extended families and our church families.

Also, widows taken care of by the church are to have good testimonies...not gossips or bitter. And true they are to have absolutely no family to take care of them.

[John81]

[quote="Kitagrl"][quote="John81"]Along these lines it should be noted that when taking care of widows is discussed by Paul in his letter to Timothy, he (inspired by the Holy Ghost) points out that if a widow doesn't have sons then her nephews should care for her if she has any.

Wow! Likely as not even the idea of such would shock many professing Christians into near heart attacks today. So many children are willing, some even eager, to send their parents off to nursing homes today, can anyone imagine American Christians abiding by the idea of such a "distant" relative as a nephew caring for his widowed aunt?

Most American Christians and most American churches fall very far short of how the Bible says we are to be caring for our own extended families and our church families.[/quote]

Also, widows taken care of by the church are to have good testimonies...not gossips or bitter. And true they are to have absolutely no family to take care of them.[/quote]

Yes, good to point that out. The church isn't expected to care for worldly widows.

[Anon]

Sometimes the church runs into a problem to where it has widows who do have family...yet their testimony with their family has left the family not wanting to care for them. (I believe a sweet godly testimony will have relatives loving in return and wanting to care for the person.) So then the widow expects the church to care for her and I am sure a good church will....yet where to draw the line can be difficult.

Also how much help...I believe the Bible is talking financial. I do not believe a church is required to do everything for a widow...of course the more help the better.....but sometimes a nursing home or assisted living is a necessary thing.

[John81]

Sometimes the church runs into a problem to where it has widows who do have family...yet their testimony with their family has left the family not wanting to care for them. (I believe a sweet godly testimony will have relatives loving in return and wanting to care for the person.) So then the widow expects the church to care for her and I am sure a good church will....yet where to draw the line can be difficult.

Also how much help...I believe the Bible is talking financial. I do not believe a church is required to do everything for a widow...of course the more help the better.....but sometimes a nursing home or assisted living is a necessary thing.

True, there are times when nursing homes are the best thing. I think in dealing with such things it matters a great deal as to what the family or church is capable of doing. As we know, some families and churches are far more financially able to do a great deal than others. I believe both are biblically expected to do their true best.

[Anon]

I know of a lady who is financially okay....but she is somewhat difficult to deal with so her daughter and any other relatives are somewhat hesitant to spend alot of time around her. She refuses to go to assisted living. So she ends up getting hurt at home every few months, and then needing medical care, and then needing meals, and begging ladies to come stay with her (nobody does, no time and not enough guts haha) rather than hire a home health nurse (which she could afford) and then getting mad at her church when they don't do everything she wants.

That is not the type of widow, I do not think, that the church is required to care for....though of course a loving church will make meals and do what they can anyway.

[John81]

I agree Suzy. Such a woman isn't displaying a Christian attitude nor the fruits of the Spirit.