To begin, Ann wonders how Dr. Brantly feels since, according to her, he cost Samaritan's Purse more money than the value of his services with his transport home and medical treatment. Samaritan's Purse is not a federally funded agency. It is run by donations, and I very much doubt that the majority of donors mind that some of their money is going towards to care of Dr. Brantly. It is not something he should even have to think about.
Ms. Coulter asks what the point is of going to Africa, and asks if anyone can serve God in America anymore. Gallup.com reports that in 2012, 77% of Americans identified as Christian. If this is true, the majority of Americans are serving God in America.If it had been a mass exodus of Christians to developing countries, as Ms. Coulter implies with her question, then the numbers would be much different.
She gives some statistics about the murder rates and other horrors in America. I don't think anyone would argue that America is far from a perfect country. Evil occurs right in our backyard daily. However, I don't think that serving in a developing country is denying the work that needs to be done in America.
Ann states that Dr. Brantly could have done the world vastly more good by serving in Hollywood and affecting the American culture-makers. While Dr. Brantly could have made a great difference working in America, no doubt, I have two significant problems with her statement.
First, in 2008 there were 262 physicians per 100,000 people in the state of California. If that sounds small, consider that in 2004, both Liberia and Sierra Leone had .03 physicians per 1,000 people. That translates to three physicians per 100,000 people. This is a clear and significant gap in services. In Liberia, 83.8% of the population live on $1.25 or less per day. In Sierra Leone, 51.7% of the population live below that line. This begs the question: if the people could find a physician, could they even afford services? There is a need for volunteers like Dr. Brantly to provide medical services to those who need them.
But the more disturbing element of Coulter's argument is that affecting culture change in the US is much more important than saving lives in Africa. Genesis 1:27 says "So God created mankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Everyone, from the power brokers in Hollywood to the poor child dying of Ebola in Sierra Leone, is made in the image of God. Everyone has immeasurable value in God's economy. And, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25.40). What is the point of working with people in developing countries? Everything. Every life is priceless. Who is Ann Coulter or any of us to suggest that one country or one life is more important than others?
Ms. Coulter asserts that American Christians go to work in developing countries because they are tired of fighting the American culture war. I assure you, the motivation is vastly different. Jesus asked us to go into all nations to make disciples (Matthew 28.19). Ann is right to say that this includes going out into America. She is wrong to assume that we should ignore everywhere else.
Ann says that our first loyalty is to our country, that we should "take care of our own first." But as a Christian, my first priority is to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness." (Matthew 6:33). This isn't to say that I am not a loyal American. This isn't to say that our country doesn't need help. I am, and it does. But God sends us as he chooses. My first loyalty is to Jesus, before anything else. And I will go where he leads, whether it be somewhere in the US, to a slum in India, or to the medical tents of West Africa.
Finally, Ann says that Christians choose to serve abroad because it's "heroic." I don't think Dr. Brantly, or the majority of Christians serving abroad, do so for attention. Would we know Dr. Brantly's name had he not contracted Ebola while serving the poor in Africa? Probably not. And I think that, if given the option, he would choose to serve quietly and unknown rather than be fighting for his life. In fact, the majority of the time, when a foreign missionary gains recognition, it is because of something unfortunate, such as being killed, being imprisoned, or now, contracting a deadly illness. Most missionaries will never achieve recognition in this world, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
Ann Coulter makes some valid points, as I expressed, but she fails to recognize the real heart behind the work of Dr. Brantly and all Christian missionaries: the wild, passionate, wonderful love of Christ. And that is the most sad thing of all.
She gives some statistics about the murder rates and other horrors in America. I don't think anyone would argue that America is far from a perfect country. Evil occurs right in our backyard daily. However, I don't think that serving in a developing country is denying the work that needs to be done in America.
Ann states that Dr. Brantly could have done the world vastly more good by serving in Hollywood and affecting the American culture-makers. While Dr. Brantly could have made a great difference working in America, no doubt, I have two significant problems with her statement.
First, in 2008 there were 262 physicians per 100,000 people in the state of California. If that sounds small, consider that in 2004, both Liberia and Sierra Leone had .03 physicians per 1,000 people. That translates to three physicians per 100,000 people. This is a clear and significant gap in services. In Liberia, 83.8% of the population live on $1.25 or less per day. In Sierra Leone, 51.7% of the population live below that line. This begs the question: if the people could find a physician, could they even afford services? There is a need for volunteers like Dr. Brantly to provide medical services to those who need them.
But the more disturbing element of Coulter's argument is that affecting culture change in the US is much more important than saving lives in Africa. Genesis 1:27 says "So God created mankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Everyone, from the power brokers in Hollywood to the poor child dying of Ebola in Sierra Leone, is made in the image of God. Everyone has immeasurable value in God's economy. And, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25.40). What is the point of working with people in developing countries? Everything. Every life is priceless. Who is Ann Coulter or any of us to suggest that one country or one life is more important than others?
Ms. Coulter asserts that American Christians go to work in developing countries because they are tired of fighting the American culture war. I assure you, the motivation is vastly different. Jesus asked us to go into all nations to make disciples (Matthew 28.19). Ann is right to say that this includes going out into America. She is wrong to assume that we should ignore everywhere else.
Ann says that our first loyalty is to our country, that we should "take care of our own first." But as a Christian, my first priority is to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness." (Matthew 6:33). This isn't to say that I am not a loyal American. This isn't to say that our country doesn't need help. I am, and it does. But God sends us as he chooses. My first loyalty is to Jesus, before anything else. And I will go where he leads, whether it be somewhere in the US, to a slum in India, or to the medical tents of West Africa.
Finally, Ann says that Christians choose to serve abroad because it's "heroic." I don't think Dr. Brantly, or the majority of Christians serving abroad, do so for attention. Would we know Dr. Brantly's name had he not contracted Ebola while serving the poor in Africa? Probably not. And I think that, if given the option, he would choose to serve quietly and unknown rather than be fighting for his life. In fact, the majority of the time, when a foreign missionary gains recognition, it is because of something unfortunate, such as being killed, being imprisoned, or now, contracting a deadly illness. Most missionaries will never achieve recognition in this world, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
Ann Coulter makes some valid points, as I expressed, but she fails to recognize the real heart behind the work of Dr. Brantly and all Christian missionaries: the wild, passionate, wonderful love of Christ. And that is the most sad thing of all.
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