by David K. Williams, Jr.
A.
One of my adamantly “progressive” Facebook friends recently said opposing universal health care is “unchristian.” It is not an uncommon charge.
The accusation, however, shows both a fundamental misunderstanding of economics and Christianity. The economic fallacy is that universal health care will result in universally better health care. This assumption is belied by recorded history. That, however, has been widely explained. This post is not about the economics.
This post is about Christianity. Jesus’ summed up his teachings in Matthew 22:36 – 40. He was asked by a Pharisee “what is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus replied:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Consider Jesus’ answer the Cliff’s Notes on all of Christianity. In sum, Jesus said to be Christian is to “love God” and “love your neighbor.”
This is where progressives get lost. They mistake Jesus’ command for us to “love our neighbor” with a command to make OTHERS love their neighbor. See, progressives want to take other peoples’ money – via forcible taxation – and give it to their neighbor. That’s not what Jesus said.
In short, Christianity is about helping others voluntarily. It is about charity. Jesus said you should help others – and if you do not, you have to live with it and the consequences.
Progressivism is the opposite. Progressivism – indeed, all statism – is brute force, nothing else. Progressivism says that, by government dictate, some of us must help others – or go to jail.
The two could not be more different.
I’ll make a final comparison: Walking next door and giving your neighbor in need some of your bread is Christian. Walking across the street, taking bread out of the window, and then giving it to your neighbor in need is progressivism. They are opposites. One is love. The other theft.
B.
Can a case be made that Christians are not voluntarily loving their neighbor, as Jesus commanded? Absolutely. The answer, however, is not to abandon Christianity and institute force to make Christians love their neighbor.
How absurd is that notion? You will love your neighbor or we will MAKE you! It is nonsense.
George Washington was right when he said, “government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force.” One might add that “government is not charity; it is not love; it is force.”
The progressives, therefore, make a fundamental, and crucial error: They equate love with force. They equate compassion with force. They equate charity with force.
They might as well equate war with peace, day with night or lies with truth.
In fact, they do.
God is love. Government is force. Using one in the name of the other is not only futile, it is destructive.
