DISCLAIMER: This write-up is not to be construed as one that is going against or attacking the Church as a whole, but rather encouraging the Church at this critical time to do what it should do for its own parishioners and supporters. This is a call to the church to give back to the parishioners across America in a very real and tangible way.
Whether any of us are tied to any type of church, religion or spiritual belief system, I believe that most of us would agree that as an integral part of society, the church system as a whole has a spiritual and moral obligation to its parishioners and to the communities that they not only serve, but collect money from.
From a business standpoint as it relates to the church, at a minimum the church has an ethical responsibility (let alone a spiritual one) to ensure that those who patronize and give their money to the churches across America should stand up for its congregations and demand health care reform for their obvious benefits. In fact, churches should be taking a leadership role in training leaders to hold meetings similar to that of town halls so that it's members can be properly educated regarding the truth about health care reform and how reform will improve their lives. If the church can boldly ask (and use Scripture to justify it) its parishioners - rich or poor - to give 10% of their salary, plus gifts and offerings, then the least the church can do is support a platform as important as health care reform that could provide tangible positive results in their parishioners' lives. Not only does the church enjoy the benefit of receiving money from its parishioners to support the church, the church also enjoys the benefit of IRS tax exemption.
All of us at some point in our lives have known someone who gave everything to their church home, even when they didn't really have it to give. My Grandmother would always give her last dime to the church, and never asked any questions as to who, what, when, why or where. For too long, church members have been passive and just accepting of the status quo from their leadership. The church always encourages its members to give and to have faith. The members of the church need to speak up and now ask that the church give back to them and to exercise that same faith on their behalf. The church is supposed to put into place programs that are beneficial to its members and to the community. Many churches have begun the dialogue of taking care of the physical body and good health, as it is deemed to be the temple of the spirit. If that is what the church truly believes, then it is only natural and makes complete sense that the church would support and encourage its members to become informed in the truth about health care reform, and to support a platform that is helpful to them and their families. Most churches reinforce the scripture that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). In other words, you can have all the faith in the world, but if you don't put any of it into action, then your faith means little.
On a positive note, and to give credit where credit is due, while reading an unrelated Diary today, a commenter provided the following information regarding a church that has committed itself to providing a health care platform to its members and community: www.piconetwork.org. This is a church that is obviously on the cutting edge of current events and realizes the importance of health care reform. If this church can pull out all the stops and go as far as it is going to inform its members and to involve them in the educational process, so can all of the churches across this Country.
National Conference Call with President Barack Obama and the American Faith Community
Date: Wednesday, August 19
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern (4pm Central/3pm Mountain/2pm Pacific)
To listen, dial 347-996-5501 (no passcode, long-distance charges may apply) or log on to http://faithforhealth.org/... at the time of the call.
RSVP for the call here and they will send you an email with the call-in number