Right-winged Evangelicals are to the Republican Party what Spliff Star is to Busta Rhymes: the hype man.

Now, don't mistake me; Democrats have their share of Spliffs and Flavor Flavs as well. No one can deny, though, that Evangelicals and Republicans roll as tight as ten toes in one sock.

Predictably, this bond did anything but suffer during the recent health care debates. The issue boiled down to concerns about individual responsibility, abortion ethics and big government.

Toward that end, I kinda "get" my Evangelicals friends and loved ones in the sense that our country must, as the Bible teaches, count the cost before jumping knee-deep in new waters. At the core, the conservatives empathize with their "betwixt and between" brethren-that is, those who earn enough that they're disqualified for government assistance yet don't earn enough to afford costly health care premiums. Yet, they're also aware that, in practice, throwing a life line comes with a magnanimous moral and fiscal price tag. But what of the plight of conscientious and even thrifty Americans who suffer bankruptcy on account of massive health care bills?

Right-wingers cried "Foul! Foul!" during the recent health care reform debates. That's not all they cried. In one instance, a politician yelled "Liar!" to our president and, in separate case, another blurted, "Baby Killers" during Rep. Stubak's speech in the House Chamber.

In this same vein, Christian political columnist Cal Thomas contested that, fundamentally, any Christian who is a Democrat is by default pro-choice. And, such Christians are duped.

What? Is this to say that Republicans-with all their Ad Hominems, hyperboles, war and terror rhetoric and mud slinging-are above dupe-dom?

Could it possibly be that Republicans don't like IT because they simply don't like HIM? (Afterall, they have dubbed it "ObamaCare.") And, could it be that Evangelicals love the chatter because THEY love THEM?

Is it really US versus THEM?

Statistics indicate that most Evangelicals are THEM...the working-class, that is…the type that are a few pay checks away from financial and medical ruin. Annually, American evangelicals collectively make about $2.66 trillion in income. Yet, overspending means that some forty percent of church members live above their means. About 80 million Evangelical families in the United States would say that they are in financial trouble, after 50 years of almost unparalleled prosperity. Thirty-three percent of U.S. born-again Christians say it is impossible for them to get ahead in life because of the financial debt they have incurred ("Generous Giving," 2009).

And what about the change in position? Now markedly opposed to it, Republicans are known as the party that initiated state government-regulated minimum healthcare insurance coverage, particularly in Massachusetts. They vehemently derail it now, perhaps not because of true dangers, but because of the so-called socialist, idealistic, "hope-filled yet action-poor" man whose steering it.

As to the abortion issue-the steam left that sail when Obama signed an executive order that ensured the new healthcare law will maintain a ban on the use of federal money to pay for abortions, except in cases of rape or incest, or if the life of a woman is in danger. Yet, that was not enough to stop "baby-killer" epithets.

And of the fiscal irresponsibility I simply ask: which is better to spend trillions on, war or health care?

Christians-Republicans, Democrats, rich or poor-must engage in critical thinking. That coupled with rich prayer lives will help us not fall for fallacies, mass anxiety, mob mentalities and general misinformation.

Again, I ask, what viable paths have conservatives offered for people who've never "milked the system" or "been too lazy to work," if you will, and are dropped by their health insurance or are forced to choose between their mortgage and their children's coverage?

Take South Florida's own Diana Smith, for instance. The 28-year-old working mother was dropped from Medicaid coverage while needing a bone marrow transplant. Smith is battling a rare form of Leukemia and needs the transplant to survive. She managed to raise money to pay for it, thanks to her friends and the community, but found out her Medicaid coverage was dropped - putting her operation on hold.

I agree with Time Magazine's Joe Klein who so aptly wrote in his column that "the question for Republicans is whether they continue on the path of intransigence or decide whether to participate in government...The Tea Party nativism, paranoia and anti-intellectualism embraced by the Republicans have rarely been a winning hand in American politics."

Sadly, to a group of Evangelicals and Republicans, the only positive that has come out of the health care reform bill is that there's still hope for immigration reform, since we now see that huge social reform is, in fact, possible.

My charge is for them to not simply be known as the Party of "No, but we'll keep praying about this." Do something! You agree that health care needs an overhaul. Now, why not contribute to the makeover?

Have Evangelicals forgotten the apostle James' charge that "Faith without works is dead?"