Ron Paul Biblically Based

Ron Paul, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination recently suggested during a public debate that a person on the verge of death, but without health insurance, be left to die, claiming that it was his own lack of responsibility and he, the dying, should not expect to be saved by others.  This brought cheering from some members of the audience.  No one in the room seemed ready to condemn his position.

Now you may be shocked by such a position or you may agree, but Ron Paul’s position is Biblically based.  In the 4^th chapter of Genesis, after Cain has killed his brother, God confronts him with the question “Where is your brother Abel?”  Cain responds that he does not know and makes the now famous sarcastic response “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  Indeed, according to Cain’s personal philosophy, his brother’s issues are not his and he is not responsible for his brother, even his brother’s life.  Now you may say that’s a false equivalency, that killing a person directly is not the same as not getting involved in saving their life when it is threatened, but is refusing to save your brother’s or sister’s life when you have the means to do so morally any different than killing them outright?  Just as a lie of commission is the same as a lie of omission, killing out of intent or irresponsibility are the same.

The consequences for Cain were to live a life of isolation from his community and to wander the world a despised person.  His greatest fear was that he himself would be unprotected.  According to the story, Cain’s family continued to degenerate until there was so much evil in the world that God brings on a flood in an attempt to start over.  Perhaps you’ve noticed: it didn’t work.  People still advocate positions that attempt to absolve themselves of the responsibility to be their brother’s keeper. 

Even though Ron Paul and others who advocate a similar position have Biblical precedence for their position, is that the kind of world we want to live in, a world in which individualism is pitted against the weakest and most vulnerable in our community?  If we want to live in a country or a world in which Judeo-Christian values are our basic guidelines for conduct we should test ourselves and our prospective leaders against its basic principle of loving God and neighbor as self.

Rev. Islander is the pastor of the Ramona United Methodist Church, but the writings on this blog are statements of his opinion alone and do not necessarily reflect those of all in his congregation.  It wouldn’t be a very interesting church if they did.