Ethics, Health Care and Comfort Zones

Blogging is a new thing for me, so I have no idea how long it will take to get a response on this one. Basically, today I was asked how the church can support current health-care reform legislation, since so many people don't like it.

Interesting question. Should the church support only those things most people like? Should the church refrain from ANY ethical conversations, unless we get a 50% or greater public approval rating on the ethical positions expressed? Since, as Lincoln said so eloquently, we are (at least hopefully) a nation of, by, and for the people, should we not as Christians simply and authentically express valid cares and concerns through political influence? Can this nation ever be totally spiritually neutral?

Should the church just stick with salvation-chat and leave the other things alone?

We are in a strange season, if that is the case. What would it look like for the church to espouse only popular causes? Would we advise this as a part of Christian education, advising teens to "always go along with the crowd", so folks will like you?

It's not new, of course, just one moment's reflection on one of life's "ain't this wierd" events.

In a weightier sense, isn't it amazing that the church of Jesus Christ should grow "ethics-less", dedicated to the providing of larger and larger comfort zones for folks. Is that our task?