Justice

This week's colorfully named Bible reflection (WTF?!) is very present in today's sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.  
"Justice" podcast.

Affordable, Biblical Healthcare -- with a horrific catch

I can't believe it. I got a flier in the mail today from medi-share Christian care. They're a group of Christians who share medical bills by all paying into one fund and then paying for medical expenses out of that fund. (That sounds like an insurance plan -- which the American Evangelistic Association say it is not. I think the biggest reason it is not is that the plan is not guaranteed.)
Pooling resources and meeting everyone's needs sounds a whole lot like the early church described in Acts. I guess that's were medi-share gets the 'biblical' part from. (Their website says that Galatians 5:2 -- "Share each other's burdens" is the basis)
But what's this? Inside the flier I found "Good News . . . for Christians only!"
Come again?
You have to be a Christian to qualify. Because, of course, Christians make the most healthy decisions. (A disclaimer on the site puts it this way: )

"Our Medi-Share members and their healthcare dollars do not subsidize abortions, drug addictions, or any other unbiblical lifestyles that inevitably lead to the premature destruction of the body, mind, and spirit."

Further research reveals:

"Examples of behavior that can lead to non-sharing include, but are not limited to, the use of tobacco in any form, the abuse of drugs including legal drugs such as alcohol, excessive weight gain (weight that exceeds the Medi-Share height/weight standards), and participation in activities with willful disregard for personal safety."

Here's some other things that aren't eligible:

• Routine mammograms
• Routine pap smears
• Routine screening tests and procedures without medical reasons (e.g., colonoscopy without specific symptoms)
• Sterilization or reversals (vasectomy and tubal ligation)
• Surgery (elective) during the first three months of membership
• Veteran Administration care and treatment
• Weight control and management
• Well patient care, for example, annual physicals, routine lab studies, mammography, pap smears and well-baby check ups

and

• AIDS treatment -- unless it came through transfusions, verifiable rape reported to law enforcement authorities, or contracted in the practice of a health care profession

So these Christians have made a healthcare club where only Christians are allowed, basic healthcare needs are ignored and then they had the gall to call it "biblical."

That makes me ill.

Update:

I've discovered that there are a few more organizations that have similar requirements and disclaimers -- though they're not as selfish sounding as the flier I got. In any case -- if you're not a Christian -- you're not allowed. Still completely contrary to the Gospel, eh?

• Samaritan Ministries
• Christian Brotherhood Newsletter Ministry

11 days later

After sleep out Saturday, I posted here about the whole eye-opening, miserable, humiliating and life-changing experience. Bridge Communities has reposted my thoughts on the Sleep Out Saturday 2006 page. Take a look at the reactions from others too -

End homelessness

Last night I participated in Bridge Community's "Sleep Out Saturday" event. Around 1500 people in the DuPage county area got a taste of what is like to be homeless by sleeping out in tents, cardboard boxes and cars. The organizers hoped to raise $100,000 to help end homelessness.
I know that a night of "camping out" in the cold doesn't equal homelessness. I also know that it was not a pleasant experience. It was cold, damp and uncomfortable. Each of us woke up several times during the night and nobody got a good night's sleep. There was even a sense of humiliation as some people came by and laughed at our "boxes and tents" sleeping area. All the people who slept out at St. Matthew UCC in Wheaton went away from the event with an appreciation for having a home, a dislike for sleeping out in the cold, and, I hope, a desire to do something to end homelessness in DuPage County, in Illinois, in the United States and in all the world.
I have come away from the experience saying, "Nobody should be in a situation where they have no place to live. I know that we -- as a nation and as it's residents -- have the resources to end homelessness."
I'd love for the best minds on how to end homelessness to get together and come up with a plan. Until then, I hope anyone who reads this helps move toward the goal of ending homelessness by supporting organizations like DuPage PADS and Bridge Communities.
Nobody should be in a situation where they have no place to live.

*** This article has been reposted on Bridge Community's Sleep Out Saturday 2006 page.

Sleep Out Saturday

I'll be participating in Bridge Community's "Sleep Out Saturday" on November 4th. Today I found the blog for the event and found a quote by . . . me! (Sharing about last year's experience.) I still feel the same way.

Transplant

Senselessness
Tragedy
Anger
Anguish
Hope

Thank you to Ismail Khatib and his family as they offered a reason for hope in the midst of senselessness, tragedy, anger and anguish.

Let's all listen and learn.