October 4, 2013 (Friday)
“Obamacare” was established by a law passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, signed by the president, and declared constitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States. Whether we agree with the idea or not, it is the law. Evidently some who voted for it have changed their minds. The result is political action which has shut down the government.
I don’t know enough about the law to offer an opinion of it. Obviously many would like to see it repealed. If it is to be repealed, there is an orderly and reasonable way to do it. The constitutional process for repealing a law is for Congress to enact a new bill that repeals the old one. If the president vetoes it, then a two-thirds vote of the House and the Senate can override the veto. I suppose if that failed then the country could get the ball rolling toward a Constitutional Amendment to change the situation.
Today, however, our government is at an impasse as disagreement about “Obamacare” is shaped along party lines. It seems we have reached the proverbial point at which the “irresistible force” is meeting the “immovable object.” Personal bitterness and name-calling are becoming common place.
In times like these, I believe we Christians should make it a point to remember that “our citizenship is in Heaven” (Philippians 3:20 NIV). We should be good citizens of the U.S.A. but our primary responsibility is to live according to the will of God, with lives characterized by “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).