One of the culture shocks I experienced when I came to America from the UK six or so years ago was having to fork out for health insurance every month. Of course, in the UK health care is “free.” (Which means you pay twice as much for half the service, but you don’t notice it because it’s deducted via general taxation.)

In fact, not only did I have to fork out a monthly premium, but the insurance didn’t even kick in until I had paid $5000 in medical bills! However, I now realize that I got off pretty lightly then as my monthly premium was only $280 per month for a family of six.

Over the last two years, my premium has risen rapidly up to $800 per month a year ago, and now close to $1000 per month, the last two hikes due largely to Obamacare requirements. And I still have to pay the first few thousands of any bills!

Priceless Healthcare
I have to say though, that the healthcare we’ve received here has been of an incredibly high standard. While I’m so thankful for the amazing work medical professionals do in the UK, they just don’t have the time or the resources to offer the kind of care we get here. Grand Rapids hospitals are space age, the technology is at the cutting edge, the waiting times are virtually nil, and the staff have the time to care, which is absolutely priceless.

Expensive Healthcare
But, if the disastrous first month of Obamacare is anything to go by, it looks like American health care is going to end up costing a lot more, while the availability and quality of care is going to be significantly reduced.

A small minority will benefit, including the very poor and those with pre-existing conditions. However, as usual, the majority of the hardworking middle classes are going to take a huge financial hit, with premiums and deductibles rising on average 25%, and in some cases doubling, as millions are being forced into government plans despite the President’s oft-repeated promise that would not happen.

And most families just don’t have the money.

Rejected Healthcare
Americans are relatively well-paid, but as is the case everywhere, most families live to the very edge of their income and only have a couple of hundred dollars free every month to save up for special treats, car repairs, vacations, family trips, birthdays, college fees, etc. Obamacare’s premiums and deductibles are going to swallow up that small cushion, month after month after month.

Many can’t do it. Many won’t do it. They’ll simply refuse to pay the premiums and take the risk. Others will go into debt trying to maintain their previous lifestyle and pay the premiums. The remainder will pay the premiums but have nothing left over for life’s little luxuries. They all end up in the same place, increased costs and reduced health – both physically and psychologically.

Gospel Healthcare
What can Christians and the church do in this situation? First, confess our sin of omission. It’s tragic that Christian conservatives have not led the way in proposing legislation or designing healthcare programs that demonstrated practical love to the weakest in our society. We’re good at protesting against the evils of abortion and gay marriage; we’re not so good at providing for those who are impoverished by sickness and disease. The result? Under the guise of caring for the poor, the behemoth of Obamacare is changing the very nature of the relationship between the American people and their government, and also using the opportunity to impose social change and immoral values on individuals, families, and businesses.

Second, let’s be careful that when we oppose Obamacare, we don’t sound as if we could hardly care less about those who are sick, poor, and unable to afford or access health care. Although we must respect those whom God has set in authority over us and the laws they enact, that does not mean we should not argue against injustice and immorality in these laws. We are right to resist a bullying government’s intrusion into the most intimate parts of our lives. But when we do so, let’s sound a bit less selfish and a bit more loving towards those who desperately do need a safety net.

Third, teach financial stewardship to Christians. As premiums and deductibles rise higher and budgets tighten further, Christians are going to need regular and systematic biblical teaching on budgeting, planning, cutting expenses, etc. Future generations will need to learn much greater financial discipline than their parents. Dave Ramsey should do well out of Obamacare!

Fourth, pray for contentment. Yes, most of us will have much less money in our pockets. We’ll have to cut out some sports, some fishing, some clubs, some technology, some vacations, some clothes, etc. But we’re not exactly going to be living in slums. This is an opportunity to display God-centered satisfaction with our lot in life and demonstrate to others how we have learned to be content whatever our financial state.

Fifth, preach the Gospel. Obamacare’s costs will end the American dream for many people. Others are never going to get a chance at it. That’s really sad; yet it’s also an opportunity. In the midst of the evaporating mirage of prosperity we have the water of life to offer thirsty and disillusioned people. We have the Great Doctor who came to heal the sick of their deepest disease and who offers His services for free (Luke 5:31-32).

“Sir Alex who?” ask most Americans.

Try to imagine the soccer version of Tony Dungy.

Sir Alex spent 26 years as manager of Manchester United, one of the richest and most successful clubs in sport. During these 26 years, Sir Alex won 13 English league titles and 25 other domestic and international trophies, including two Champions League trophies. The Harvard Business Review analyzed Ferguson’s Formula and came up with 8 Leadership Lessons.

It’s a fascinating and extensive article on the psychology of leadership (the full article if free but you need to sign up to HBR to access it). But what struck me as I read it was that although some of the principles of leadership were applicable to church and ministry, some would be disastrous if brought into the church setting. Here’s a summary and some of the best quotes.

1. Start With the Foundation
When Sir Alex arrived at United there was a dearth of young players in the first team. Although it would take years to pay off in a results-driven industry, he started youth academies and invested in centers of excellence. He says: “I wanted to build right from the bottom. With this approach, the players all grow up together, producing a bond that, in turn, creates a spirit.”

2. Dare to Rebuild Your Team
Even in times of great success, Sir Alex worked to rebuild and refresh his team while continuing to win trophies and yet spending less money than any of his main rivals. The key to his success was looking 3-4 years ahead: “The cycle of a successful team lasts maybe four years, and then some change is needed. So we tried to visualize the team three or four years ahead and make decisions accordingly.”

3. Set High Standards and Hold Everyone to Them
“We never allowed a bad training session. What you see in training manifests itself on the game field. So every training session was about quality….I said that to them all the time: ‘If you give in once, you’ll give in twice.’ And the work ethic and energy I had seemed to spread throughout the club.”

4. Never, Ever Cede Control
“You can’t ever lose control—not when you are dealing with 30 top professionals who are all millionaires,” And if any players want to take me on, to challenge my authority and control, I deal with them.” An important part of maintaining high standards across the board was his willingness to respond forcefully when players violated those standards…Before I came to United, I told myself I wasn’t going to allow anyone to be stronger than I was. Your personality has to be bigger than theirs. That is vital.”

5. Match the Message to the Moment
When he had to tell a player who might have been expecting to start that he wouldn’t be starting, he would approach it as a delicate assignment. “I do it privately,” he told us. “It’s not easy. I say, ‘Look, I might be making a mistake here’—I always say that—‘but I think this is the best team for today.’ I try to give them a bit of confidence, telling them that it is only tactical and that bigger games are coming up.”

“No one likes to be criticized,” he said. “Few people get better with criticism; most respond to encouragement instead. So I tried to give encouragement when I could. For a player—for any human being—there is nothing better than hearing ‘Well done.’ Those are the two best words ever invented.”

6. Prepare to Win
“Winning is in my nature. I’ve set my standards over such a long period of time that there is no other option for me—I have to win. I expected to win every time we went out there. Even if five of the most important players were injured, I expected to win.”

7. Rely on the Power of Observation
Sir Alex increasingly delegated the training sessions to his assistant coaches. But he was always present, and he watched. “As a coach on the field, you don’t see everything…A regular observer, however, can spot changes in training patterns, energy levels, and work rates….I don’t think many people fully understand the value of observing. I came to see observation as a critical part of my management skills. The ability to see things is key—or, more specifically, the ability to see things you don’t expect to see.”

8. Never Stop Adapting
“Most people with my kind of track record don’t look to change. But I always felt I couldn’t afford not to change. We had to be successful—there was no other option for me—and I would explore any means of improving. I continued to work hard. I treated every success as my first.”

Which of these leadership principles are helpful for ministry? And which would be damaging?

You can read the whole article here (free sign up).