Thread by @ThomasDierson

I had a disturbing conversation on Twitter yesterday that is very revealing about the divisions in our country. Someone with whom I had previously had NO disagreements (we followed each other) suddenly started calling me out for "SIN" because I don't support Medicare For All.

She was quite emphatic about the fact that a Christian CANNOT have any other view except to embrace Single Payer Healthcare. To reject M4A is to be "unchristian", a "Christofascist", and "in sin".

Now, understand, I have always been vocal about the need to care for the poor and

feed the hungry and take care of the sick. I am totally on board with helping those who cannot afford healthcare or health insurance. In no way do I advocate the neglect of or abandonment of those who are in need.

I just don't believe that M4A or Single Payer Healthcare is the

way to go. This is a disagreement over POLITICAL POLICY. And she is calling it a "sin" and denouncing me as a "Christofascist" and as "Unchristian" simply because I don't agree with her on this Political Policy.

This is a matter that faithful Christians of good conscience can

disagree on as a matter of Political OPINION and not have it be a matter of "sin" or unfaithfulness to Christ's teachings.

Christ didn't command Single Payer Healthcare, he commanded the CHURCH to care for the poor, sick, and hungry. He didn't specify that it HAD to be done by

creating massive Government programs. In fact, Jesus never himself used or advocated the use of Government power to fulfill ANY of his teachings.

That is not to say that a Christian cannot or should not promote Government programs as part of a Political expression of their faith

But it most certainly means that it would be inappropriate for us to DEMAND or REQUIRE Christians to support Single Payer Healthcare as a condition of their faith.

If you support M4A, that is fine. I may disagree, but I respect your right to vote according to you conscience.

We must not confuse Political Parties or political agendas with the Kingdom of God.

The person who called me out for "sin" because I don't support SPH is NO DIFFERENT than those MAGA people who say that a "true Christian" must support Trump and can NEVER be a Democrat.

Let us not confuse our favored political policies for GOD'S WILL. Let us not impose our political beliefs as a condition of the Gospel.

We can express our faith in our politics, but let us never assume that OUR way of expressing our faith politically is the ONLY way that a

Christian can legitimately express their faith politically.

If we have the same goals (justice, compassion for the poor and sick and marginalized) we can legitimately have different ideas about HOW to reach those goals.
We should not make Government action be the sole or primary

way in which we fulfill Christ's commands. Can Government programs be PART of our desire to help the poor? Yes. But Christ ultimately commanded the CHURCH to do it, not the Government.

I am REALLY tired of Christians on BOTH sides of the aisle equating Jesus with their own Political Parties or philosophies.

Jesus was NOT a Republican OR a Democrat. Jesus was NOT a Capitalist OR A SOCIALIST.

He NEVER used the power of government to accomplish his goals.

He never used Government to make laws to compel people to be moral and to punish those who were immoral. He never used Government to force people to believe in him.

He never used Government to compel people to give.

Again, that is not to say that we cannot express our values

politically, but we need to be careful of EQUATING a particular political expression with "what Jesus would do". Because he DIDN'T do it politically. He DIDN'T use the power of government.

When we say "I don't understand how a person can be a (Republican/Democrat) and still call

themselves a Christian" we are EQUATING the Kingdom of God with a Political Party.

And when we say that someone is "in sin" because they don't support M4A or Single Payer Healthcare, we are equating our Political agenda with Christ's commands. That is remaking Christin OUR image

Understand further that I am NOT a supporter of Donald Trump. I did not vote for him in 2016, and I will not vote for him in 2020.

But that is MY political opinion and choice.

My soul does not hang in the balance over who I vote for. My faith is not dependent upon my Political

affiliation, or my political philosophy, or my support for particular Government programs.

We can legitimately disagree on the best ways in which our country should be governed without judging each other's souls.