The Bible Belt is allegedly a large portion of the Southeastern United States. In the "Deep South" which intersects largely with the "Bible Belt", only one Republican Governor has accepted the Affordable Care Act known as "Obamacare". That Governor is Rick Scott of Florida. The tantrums and hatred toward this President border on treasonous--yes treasonous and the actions of the Governors and many Southern citizens is not Biblical.
From Romans 13:1-7 (and this is Scripture that many either don't read, ignore it or claim it's their "duty" to be against the government--regardless of their "reasoning"--it is not Biblical):
13:1--"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
I understand that there are times to resist governmental authority--but this is not one of them. Anyone who makes that claim truly is ignorant of the Bible and its teaching and is willingly rejecting God as the Romans passage states. That is what many who claim to be "Christians" and live in the "Bible Belt" are doing today regarding the Affordable Care Act. In fact, most Republican elected officials to the Federal Government hold this belief. A belief, based on the Bible to be wholly unBiblical and not Christian by any means.
However, what struck me to even address this idea of the "Bible Belt" and the alleged Christianity of the people who live there and the politicians they elected was this NYT article from August 2, 2013 titled "Missouri Citizens Face Obstacles to Coverage". From the article:
"While states like Colorado, Connecticut and California race to offer subsidized insurance to their citizens, Missouri stands out among the states that have put up significant obstacles. It has refused to create an insurance exchange, leaving the job to the federal government. It has forbidden state and local government officials to cooperate with the federal exchange."
This was a ballot measure passed by the citizens of Missouri by a 71-29 percent margin in 2010. The author of the ballot? Republican State Senator, Robert Schaaf who claims he's a Christian. Schaaf and those who allegedly voted for this non-cooperation with the Federal Government over the Affordable Care Act did it because of "healthcare freedom". Which I have no idea what that is--and I'm pretty sure those that voted for the ballot initiative have no idea either. One of the things that the "Bible Belt" initiative has done is to make it difficult for Missouri residents to know about and obtain insurance due to the Federal healthcare law.
According to the NYT article: "Over 850,000 Missouri residents, including low-income people in St. Louis and Kansas City, family farmers and small-business employees, are uninsured. Many could qualify for coverage through the exchange, which encourages competition and offers subsidies to reduce costs."
Let me stop here, because I want to reinforce that what these politicians and citizens of Missouri are doing is not Christian nor Biblical. You don't need to believe me, here are the words of Jesus when asked by the Pharisees about the Greatest Commandment:
Matthew 22-34: Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Now, I don't think it's too neighborly to deny people health insurance or make it extremely difficult to obtain health insurance. Jesus healed all those who came to Him. Not those He liked or was in His political party. Jesus healed multitudes of people. Alleged Christian Republicans in the Bible Belt are doing their best to make sure many in our nation don't get the health care coverage they need.
In Jesus time, there were four main opposition groups--The Saducees, the Pharisees, the Scribes and the Herodians. The Pharisees are very similar to our modern day average Republicans. Highly nationalistic, very legalistic and showy in their approach--if you are not one of them--they are against you. Republican politicians, however, are more like the Herodians. The Herodians were those who supported and propped up the political family (Herod) during Jesus' time. They used any means necessary to obtain and maintain power. Sound familiar? Now, if you mix our modern day Herodians with their propaganda machines focused on the modern day Pharisees--what will you get? You really get a group of people who think they Believe and love Jesus but truly love the world and money.
The following comment from "averagemojo" (a commenter on the NYT story) sums it up very well:
"I'm moving in a year and Missouri is no longer on the list of states I'll consider. My current major-corporation-retiree health insurance is a rip-off and I am looking forward to the exchanges. More broadly, as a Christian I have a philosophical issue with giving my tax dollars to a state which defines poverty as a character defect, as if working for the minimum wage with no benefits is something people choose to do. To base health care on a person's wealth is a great example of how the love of money is the root of all evil. It's ironic indeed how more secular countries like Canada do a better job of following the teachings of Christ than the Bible-belt states. Aug. 3, 2013 at 10:15 a.m."
Amen, my brother, amen.