Health care, When they're against you, a Reflection on Ephesians 6:10-20

This letter is written to the church--a church that apparently has some scared people in it. The advice, "When you think demons are after you, depend on God for your protection."

The modern-day application that came to me today was the debate we Americans are having over our government's role in health care.

We don't exactly agree, according to the results of a tracking poll done in July by Kaiser

The idea of expanding Medicaid under the ACA to cover more low-income people is popular, with 67 percent of Americans supporting the concept and 30 percent opposing it. But the Court’s decision giving states the option to decide whether or not to expand Medicaid has created a new arena for ACA controversy and partisan disagreement. When people are asked whether their own state should expand its Medicaid program to cover more low-income people, with the federal government eventually paying 90 percent of the cost and the state 10 percent, 49 percent of people support expanding Medicaid in their own state while 43 percent say they prefer to keep their state’s status quo. As with most ACA-related controversies, the public splits sharply along partisan lines on whether their state should undertake the expansion.

As the faith community considers how best all can receive whatever help they need, can we not use the metaphors in this passage?

belt of truth 

breastplate of righteousness (note, not self-righteousness) 

shoes (so you'll be ready to step out) 

shield and helmet (there's a lot of folks that will be shooting arrows at you)

And not metaphorical at all, prayer.