"In Search of the Good of All"

During the 2020 pandemic there has been an ongoing dialogue concerning which is more important to ideal human life, physical health or economic resources. Although the arguments for or against seem politically motivated right now, they go to the depth of determining priorities concerning what it means to be human. In today’s society there needs to be attention to well-being. First and foremost, well being includes wellness in physical and mental health. A second priority is the need to secure economic resources for life, which often includes an elevated view of securing what is desired, rather than what one needs. As Christians well-being begins with maintaining a balance of the two, but always putting the priority upon public health.

From the onset of the coronavirus in the United States we have been in the heart of the 2020 presidential season. During this time the economic well-being of the country has been a key factor in determining which candidate would present themselves the best to the American people. Who would be in power for the next four years emerged as a factor in valuing health or economic well-being? After a brief time when the Republican leadership was willing to prioritize health, they eventually reneged on that correct prioritization and opened up the economy. Public health, which by its nature should be for all, was sacrificed for the economic well being of the country, which typically means primarily for the upper level of capitalists.

Alongside of the economic argument was set an argument about personal liberty. Once against, the public health of all was not considered a priority, but rather the rights of the individual. Democracy was defined as libertarianism. The political systems that might begin to balance the individual with society as a whole became the enemy. The Democratic political party was said to be against both capitalism and democracy.

The Judeo-Christian way would seek wellness for all, beginning with the concern for all people. Our ethic begins with the Golden Rule “to treat others as we would like to be treated.” It is extended by Jesus in the New Testament to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” This ethics begins by prioritizing the health of all people. We are not to put ourselves first by living as we please. We are not to insist on our own way of securing capital, but to seek the good of all. This leads to giving a greater weight to public health than we have done to this time. Although there should be some concern for being able to make a living for the individual, for this period of threat to human life the priority should be on doing this with maximum safety to all people.

Ultimately, the ethical choices we make reflect who we are. As people of faith we should make the choice to care for the greatest good of all. Although not all will agree on the avenue to the greatest good, it is clear to me that economic and political systems are tools in human hands, but are not the gods we should worship. We must put the safety and well-being of people—all people—first. In doing so we will be showing respect to God, the giver of all life, as well as to human beings, who the psalmist declare are “a little lower than the angels.”