The weight is heavy—the influence is strong—the conclusion is eternal.

       There is growing pressure (among groups who hold to brotherhood sharing as a Biblical practice) to accept the world’s means of overcoming financial burdens. Meeting the staggering costs of medical emergencies/treatments, surgeries, dental care, and other health-associated complications is a steep climb for the uninsured. Does anyone really believe that “cost rise” will flatten? No. These burdens will only increase, not decrease. Perhaps public social health care and its associated spiritual questions lie in the future. There’s another day for those questions...

       Because of these burdens, a murmur is mounting. The murmur seems to be that recanting the practice of brotherhood sharing and taking out public insurance is the answer and would alleviate the “pain.” One might quickly then ask, “Is public insurance a sin?" If not, (which it is not, though it is extremely toxic to brotherhood) “then why not use the simple answer of paying a regular monthly amount to receive its benefit and answering healthcare cost burdens?” But let that aside for now for other given arguments of “per person” reasoning.

       Some use logical “per person” arguments to press back against accepting public insurance. In other words, they argue, a formidable “need” divided among many (per person) makes an otherwise impossibility a practical way to succeed. Besides, they argue that public insurance violates the Christian virtue of frugality. Of course, no one of logical thinking or financial expertise would dispute two key factors of this argument: 1. Public insurance is for profit—meaning in the large picture, the monthly premiums must exceed the actual costs for the organization to exist financially. 2. Insurance premiums pivot on the truth that monies received must exceed the “chance” of health misfortunes. 

       Therefore, this “per person” logic easily wins the argument that, in the end, brotherhood sharing, which excludes both of the former facts, is a logical answer; albeit the “per person” sum comes in jerks and waves, while the public insurance premium comes monthly (while one is busy making money to pay it). In other words, brotherhood sharing is financially savvy. That’s a Biblical value worth defending. Hmmmm...

       So yes, those “per person” arguments seem logical enough, but is there more? Will and can that logical “per person” argument stop the wave of movement toward accepting public insurance? Probably not... 

       But consider more. Jesus taught that the time shall come when tribulations will fall upon God’s people as never before. Jesus' words certainly meant sometime after His departure—that is AD, not BC. Some interpret those words to a different dispensation; others interpret them to mean a time in the past, etc. But, laying aside those differences—the words of Jesus stand. Only torturing, dispensationalizing, or doctoring the text could obliviate them—obviously, Jesus meant the world would not tolerate faith-based “per person” brotherhood sharing somewhere, sometime. Think about that! 

       Today, the world still often allows for Christian faith practices, though they care not to do so themselves or have a brotherhood with which to connect. The question is, “Will the logic-based ‘per person’ argument for continuing brotherhood sharing practices keep us from turning to public insurance? For now, the world seems to be a friend of grace, but will logical “per person arguments” be the right view and practice, after the world is no longer a “friend” to grace? 

So, think about it. Isn’t there another rock upon which true brotherhood sharing stands? How valuable is faith-based, eternal-based, “per person” sharing of financial, emotional, and spiritual needs pertaining to the everlasting end? After all, Biblical brotherhood is much deeper and wider than financial assistance, not? How different is faith-based, eternal-based “per person” sharing versus logical “per person” practice? Would that be enough reason to save and sweat and cling to brotherhood sharing? 

-Greencastle, PA