Stories from our Congregation - Healthcare by Courtney Sutter, RN, BSN, CVRN

Courtney Sutter is post anesthesia care nurse who worked in the ICU during the first wave of COVID-19. She is passionate about being able to provide quality healthcare to all regardless of race, gender, income, or insurance status.

Matthew 22: 37-40

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

The most important commandment in the Bible is found in Matthew 22:37-40, love God with all your heart. The second, is to love your neighbor. The Bible consistently tells us that as Christians we are supposed to care for others around us, especially those that are less fortunate. In the early church, Jesus commanded his disciples to go out and care for the sick.

He does not ask them if they have health insurance. He does not ask them to receive payment. In fact, Jesus tells his disciples the exact opposite, to give without pay. As Christians, we have been called to freely give to the sick. 

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 

 Historically, Christians provided food and care for the sick and needy. During a plague in the 4th century, early Christian historian Eusebius notes

      “  ….the evidence of the Christians’ zeal and piety was made clear to all the pagans. For example, they alone in such a catastrophic state of affairs gave practical evidence of their sympathy and philanthropy by works. All day long some of them would diligently persevere in performing the last offices for the dying and burying them (for there were countless numbers, and no one to look after them). While others [ie. Christians] gathered together in a single assemblage all who were afflicted by famine throughout the whole city, and would distribute bread to them all. When this became known, people glorified the God of the Christians, and, convinced by the deeds themselves, confessed the Christians alone were truly pious and God-fearing.”

– From Ecclesiastical History 9.8.13-14

In modern times,the church takes a less active role of caring for the sick, and leaves the job to the healthcare professionals. In the 21st century we have hospitals, doctor's offices, and urgent care centers to do that instead, leaving us with the question. 

How can the modern day Christian effectively care for the sick and needy? The answer… Vote. 

Vote for those that will help provide Healthcare for all. 

Vote for those that keep the marginalized at the forefront of their healthcare policy. Vote for those that trust science and healthcare professionals.  

As a nurse, I see many people that have delayed coming into the hospital because they either did not have health insurance or they were scared of the bill that they would receive by getting treatment. This often leads to sicker patients and sometimes even death. 

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Let our hearts not become hardened to those around us. Roughly 44 millions Americans do not have health insurance, and another 38 million have inadequate health insurance. In 2019,the US spent 3.6 trillion dollars on healthcare, more than twice the average of every other developed country. While we spend so much money on healthcare, millions of our citizens continue to go without proper treatment simply due to insurance. 

Medications are not covered. 

Insurance premiums are through the roof. 

People are afraid that getting sick will bankrupt them. 

While we may not be able to personally provide insurance for every single citizen, we can vote for those that will. We can vote for those that listen to healthcare professionals in the middle of a pandemic, and encourage people to wear a mask and care for our fellow man. 

Under the current administration, more people have contracted coronavirus in the last week from a single White House event than several other countries have nationally. As an ICU nurse that battled on the front lines of COVID-19, watching our current President go for a joyride from the hospital and then remove his mask around other people was like a slap in the face. It was disrespectful to the hundreds of thousands of lives that were lost, their families, and the healthcare professionals that have been fighting to keep this disease at bay. I have cared for so many people that were on ventilators, paralyzed and sedated, just for a fighting chance, and watched them die anyway. I have gone home and cried for the many lives we could not save. I still have nightmares and anxiety about the possibility of a second wave. The way this administration is acting, a second wave will happen. 

Amidst all this, the Trump administration is trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Roughly 20 million Americans are covered by the ACA. We cannot afford to have 20 million people lose their health insurance in the middle of a pandemic. The ACA also ensures that those with pre-existing health conditions cannot be denied insurance or have their insurance prices raised because of them. While Trump has stated that he will protect those with pre-existing conditions, none of the proposed plans have done so. People are already worried about the possibility of contacting a potentially deadly virus. They should not have to be worried that it will bankrupt them in the process of healing. Let's not turn our back on our brothers and sisters. 

Vote for those that will fight for our healthcare. Vote for those that will fight for the many and not just the few.

Matthew 25:37-40

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

These election day decisions can play into our overall voting plan. We are challenging all of our Justice League members to make a voting plan and we encourage you to join along with us, by following the guidelines below:

Forefront relies on your financial generosity. To give click here. Thank you for supporting our vision for a just and generous expression of the Christian faith.