Bible-toting tax plan

In our province's history we had a Christian democratic socialist leader that pioneered universal health care in Canada. It seems so odd today because Christianity is so married to conservativism.

LT » 3 July, 2003 2:43 PM

Interesting indeed.....while I commend the thought behind his actions,and agree that taxes paid by the poor are too high (actually current taxes on everyone are too high) I have a few questions:

God loves a cheerful giver, how is coercing someone to pay more taxes fit into giving with the right spirit? If I pay my higher taxes, but grumble, am I sinning? I believe so. God looks at the heart, not just the bottom line. Remember the poor widow:

Mar 12:41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.
Mar 12:42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.
Mar 12:43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;
Mar 12:44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on."

See the difference? She PUT in the money, out of love, nor coercion. She also gave sacrificially.

You can pass all the laws, raise all the taxes you want, but you can't force people to love one another. Only by coming to Christ can the fruits of the spirit spring forth

Government cannot force grace....and the Church needs to be a conduit of grace.

To often we are quick to abdicate our responsibility to be the conduit of grace....we expect the government to take care of the poor, the fatherless, and the widows. We become players in the modern version of the "Good Samaritan" Unfortunately, we become the priest or the Levite, passing by not wanting to get involved.

WE are commanded to show the love of Jesus, WE should be the hands and feet, showing mercy just as He has shown mercy to us. I suggest that by PERSONALLY getting involved we are following more closely the Biblical command. Yes we should pay our taxes (Render what is Cesar's to Cesar) but we are also required to be good stewards. I believe that government (mostly local and State) has proved that they are not good stewards.

JR » 4 July, 2003 1:08 AM

Check out Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators, in which David Chilton, a former pastor of mine, debunks the idea that socialistic Christianity is Biblical. You can download the book for free here.

Pieter Friedrich » 4 July, 2003 2:40 AM

I'm all for fewer taxes and more of church taking care of church business. Don't take more taxes to build more systems. Take money out of building multi-million dollar church campuses and put it into job programs and affordable housing. The church needs to take care of itself and not expect the government to do its work.

kevin » 4 July, 2003 5:45 AM

Right, Kevin. And the church needs to step into its proper role and provide for the poor (the widows and orphans, right?). And the government and the church need to stop providing for those who are just too lazy to work.

Pieter Friedrich » 4 July, 2003 8:05 AM