The Torch, Spring/Summer 2010

18 TORCH | Spring–Summer 2010 JODIE COSTON | ISTOCKPHOTO The aftermath included bricks thrown at windows, obscene messages, suspicious powder in mail envelopes, death threats mentioning snipers, a picture of gallows with one’s name on it, suggestions that one commit suicide, and proclamations that one’s family would rot in hell. Such was the life of some policymakers after the passing of the new health care legislation. Obviously, it evoked strong reactions. It still does. As Christians, what should our reaction be? How should we think about the new legislation? Specifically, how should we morally evaluate it? Two preliminary points should be made. First, the legislation can be evaluated from the moral point of view. Indeed, anything can be. As the Reformation reminded us, there is no division between the “sacred” and “secular.” Dutch Reformed theologian Abraham Kuyper put it well: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’” Everything falls within the moral domain, including our new health care legislation. Second, questions like, “Is it economically viable?”, “Is it politically expedient?”, and “Is it constitutional?” are different questions from “Is it moral ?” It is that latter question we’re interested in if we’re morally evaluating the health care legislation. As Christians, when we examine this legislation — or any legislation — we do so as followers of Jesus. There are two implications to this. First, we shouldn’t be concerned with whether we are personally satisfied with it. Marks on the Moral Map by Shawn Graves, Ph.D. Viewpoints