The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Rights.

Eleanor,

I think you are taking the right (biblical) approach in all this. Although the State can mandate such and such, that doesn't necessarily make such the mandate right. Scripture clearly mandates that the CHURCH (professing believers) is to care for the poor, the infirm, hungry, naked, etc. There is no mandate from God that relinquishes nor adds to this responsibility of the Church, i.e., God doesn't make this a responsibility of the State. This wouldn't be the case IF, which it isn't, there was a theocracy in place.

However, and this is a bit off-topic, should the State mandate universal healthcare, then its citizens... ALL citizens are obligated to accept it. Christians are not exempt since such a mandate would not violate a command of God in either omission or commission. Yet, since the State would be taking upon itself to do that which is the responsibility of the Church, I do believe it would be incumbent upon the Church (individual believers) to voice their opposition to such a mandate.

On the practical side, having lived in Canada for 16 years under a system (Socialism) which has a universal healthcare plan in place, I can tell you from experience that it simply doesn't work, at least the way it is implemented there. It is a total disaster!!

That's my