A daily prayer for government as we consider the ACA
As we head into 2015 many Christian Scientists are wondering how to meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The individual mandate is a primary provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and requires most Americans to have a medical health insurance plan that meets federal requirements or to pay a tax penalty. The provision went into effect this year. We first blogged about preparation for the individual mandate in 2013 and we continue to receive many of the same questions.
Answers to your questions about the ACA
The best resource for information about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how it affects you is from the Christian Science Committee on Publication, Federal Office. Here is a link to their ACA resource page. The Committee’s Affordable Care Act FAQs are quite specific and provide answers to every question we have received from our readers about ACA. We encourage you to check these out.
A continuing inequity
As it is currently written,the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to present an inequity for Christian Scientists. In particular, the ACA requires that most Americans obtain health insurance starting in 2014, but eligible health insurance plans do not include Christian Science care, nor does the ACA provide for a religious exemption. The Christian Science Committee on Publication continues to address this inequity and has called on us to help in many ways. In fact there is a section on their website, How can I help? I think the most important part of this section is under the heading “spiritual support,” where they list a number of metaphysical articles relating to this topic.
A prayerful answer
I have at times been tempted to view this inequity in the ACA as an unsolvable and unjust problem, and part of what often looks like a dysfunctional government. That’s why I have so appreciated the work of the Christian Science Committee on Publication and their spiritual viewpoint. It has encouraged me to study more deeply what our Pastor says about government, and to pray daily to recognize that right government is a spiritual fact.
One of my favorite daily prayers is from Mary Baker Eddy’s Christian Science versus Pantheism, p 14:
Pray that the divine presence may still guide and bless our chief magistrate, those associated with his executive trust, and our national judiciary; give to our congress wisdom, and uphold our nation with the right arm of His righteousness.
Thank you, Janiva, for your thoughtful and alerting message. It would seem this stipulation of the ACA is an infringement of a Christian Scientist’s basic Constitutionally guaranteed right to religious freedom.
It’s good to be reminded of Mrs. Eddy’s far-reaching, timeless prayer. We can all know that there’s only ONE Mind, and that this Mind governs supremely.
Loving wishes,
Diane Cothern
Thank you.
Thank you for the alert!!
I appreciate your insights and helpful updates that keep us “abreast of the times” regarding ACA. I’m also glad to know that I’m not the only one who has felt the frustration of inequity and un-justness regarding this unconstitutional law. I’m grateful for those in our Movement’s forefront and those legislators who endorse religious freedom without government intervention.Thank you for sharing Mrs. Eddy’s prayer as a reminder that she was ever faithful in turning our thought in the right direction.
Thank you so much for your response.
Thank you Janiva for the reference by our Leader.
I have heard many opinions and thoughts on the ACA. From being obedient to the laws of the land, to not obey the law when it is lawless.
One individual shared something that I found noteworthy. She refused to see that her choice was not resulting in a tax “penalty”. Rather, she figured it to be paying unto Ceasar his dues. Her choice was from thoughtful motive, and knew that she would have her supply to pay the tax, and keep her peace of mind.
Either way, we do have to address this particular governmental issue for ourselves, our nation and all mankind..
Thank you again.
Again, thank ou
Yes. I feel, sensibly, that our rights and dominion in this situation are respected, upheld, and protected by divine Principle; Love. This fact will inevitably result in appropriately kind and considerate outcomes for such a staunch group of sincerely Christian citizens and other similarly deserving groups. Just like gentle rain and sunlight on a seeded plain.
Thank you Janiva for your helpful blog.