Justice For All

In The American Way of Poverty: How the Other Half Still Lives, author Sasha Abramsky offers a disturbing look at America’s dirty little secret – that there are many people who don’t have the means to live in the richest country in the world.  Since the economic bust of 2008, more and more people are having to deal with choosing between food or medicine, heat or insurance.  Abramsky has complied many stories of people that are not different from you and me whose life circumstances don’t seem to allow them a break.  One bad illness and medical bills overwhelm those who were struggling to begin with.

These stories struck a chord with me as my family was in a similar situation.  When my father changed jobs, the new insurance considered my mother’s cancer a “preexisting condition” and would not pay for her treatment.  By the time she died, the medical bills were very high and would have bankrupted most of the people mentioned in Abramsky’s book.  Due to my father’s audacious negotiating skills and some inheritance money, he was able to pay off the debt, but such resources are not common or expected.

As Christians, we believe there such be justice in the systems in which we live and work.  In fact, we are called to do what we can to insure such justice exists.  When dealing with such systems as government or the health care industry, we may believe we have no power to effect change, but that is not true, especially in a democratic society.

Lest you think I am going to get too political, I will not comment on health care reform or wheither politicians are doing what they were elected to do, but I do believe, as Christians, we care called to use our political power to effect change that will benefit all.  Having a significant number of people who go to bed (if they have a bed) hungry, who are unemployed or underemployed, who have little or no health insurance is not just unjust – it is unconscionable. 

We need to be disturbed by this and do something about it.  We can start with making sure the hungry are fed, the naked are clothed and the homeless sheltered.  At the same time we need to think creatively about how to change the systems that have brought us to this point and work to effect a transformation that will really show that we value all human beings, not just those who can afford health insurance. 

I do invite you to join the clergy of South Brunswick on Sunday at 7 PM at the 1^st Presbyterian Church of Dayton for our Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, were we will give thanks for all God does for us, and how, we as people of faith, can response to our family and friends in need.