Thursday, June 16, 2005

Render Unto Caesar

I recently ran across this comment on another blog (actually, the topic under discussion didn’t really have anything to do with what appears here; the discussion had sort of gone off on a tangent, and I didn’t want to comment there and add to any confusion):

The State is given the power of the sword, and it is for that reason we pay taxes. To tax some in order to provide "benefits" for others is not only inefficient (bureaucracies cost enormous sums to sustain), which is bad stewardship, but it is also a form of theft, in addition to taking from people the blessing of providing charity individually in the name of Christ.

I really had to take issue with parts of this. Now, I hate to pay taxes as much as anyone else. On April 15th as I begrudgingly write my check to Uncle Sam, I think about all the terrible ways that my hard-earned money will be wasted rather than what good might happen with it. However, although government bureaucracies can indeed be very inefficient and even wasteful, many needy Americans get some services that they need because I pay my taxes.

I have heard many people say that it isn’t fair (and that it’s even thievery) for the government to take money out of the hands of hardworking people and give it to others who haven’t lifted a finger to earn it, and to an extent I agree with this idea. Paul taught against idleness saying that whoever does not work should not eat (2 Thes. 3.10). I believe that able-bodied people who receive benefits from the government should do some kind of work, to the best of their ability, to earn their benefits, if only for a few hours each week. Everyone has some sort of skill or could perform some sort of task that could be utilized somewhere in society. A good example of how this works is with the organization Habitat for Humanity. People who receive a new house have to put in hours working on not only their house, but houses for others as well. As another example, on college campuses, students can participate in work-study programs, receiving partial scholarships for a few hours work on campus every week. Government agencies could implement work programs like these just as easily as private organizations can. In this way, recipients of benefits have the satisfaction of personal responsibility, and taxpayers have the satisfaction of knowing that their tax dollars are not enabling laziness and idleness.

Those of us who profess to believe in God have a responsibility to obey his commands. For Christians, Jesus said that the entire law can be summed up in “Love God with all your heart,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” One of the things that God repeatedly took issue with in the bible was when people overlooked the plight of the poor, foreigners, widows and orphans. (If you look up just the word widows, you’ll find that these four categories of people are almost always mentioned together in the OT.) In fact, God set up some laws to protect the interests of these disadvantaged people, and one of these laws was a 10% tax on crops to be paid every third year (Deut. 14.28-29). Now, we like to use the word “tithe”; it sounds so noble and holy, but let’s call it what it really was—it was a tax paid to the government of Israel, the leader of which just happened to be God and not an elected official. God even set up a “bureaucracy” (the Levites) to keep up with and dispense the tithes. So to imply that God does not endorse the use of taxation to help the disadvantaged is a misreading of the bible. (Incidentally, “bureaucracy” is not a negative word; here’s the definition: Administration of a government chiefly through bureaus or departments staffed with nonelected officials.)

Finally, to say that we are robbed of a blessing by having to pay taxes rather than to help others on our own is a false claim. In Romans 13.1-7, Paul discusses the need to obey the government and to pay taxes because God is the one who has put that government in place. Yes, some governments are corrupt. Yes, some government programs are ineffective. However, God is in control; he allowed those programs to be put into place, so it is our duty to support those programs with our taxes. We’ll be blessed when we do what we’re supposed to do. To think that we are doing a better service if we give to a charity instead of to the government is not necessarily correct either. Charities have levels of bureaucracy to ensure that monies are distributed properly, and even some of the best charities have been known to have problems. If we totally avoid any bureaucracy by giving directly to poor people, we aren’t being nearly as effective as larger organizations which have the ability to obtain large quantities of food or more services for less money.

I have to say that I am one of the first to criticize the government and how it does things, and I’ll say again that I hate paying taxes. But from now on when I begin to complain, I’m going to try to remind myself that God says that paying taxes is good. When I do what I’m supposed to do, I am blessed. After the money leaves my hands, God will deal with those who spend it.

Sorry this is so long.

18 comments:

jettybetty said...

I don't know if it is the exact some blog, but I read something almost exactly the same yesterday. I was shocked that people felt this way and considered themselves Christian. I am learning things every day!
The Caesar scripture and the Romans scriptures are the ones that quickly came to my mind, too. I don't see how the commenter you quoted can believe that and believe those scriptures, too. I am sure they are rationalized some way.
I think government needs reform--I don't enjoy paying taxes. I think one of my big concerns is that if you punish parents, you many times punish innocent children.
I certainly don't have all the answers. For me, to follow Christ is to have compassion (and help) those that are less fortunate than me. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the church took care of this?? (The response to this question on the blog I read, was if the gov't would just quit, the church would have to take over--I would love to believe that, but in reality, don't know).
Now, I am going long.
I agree almost 100% with what I think you are saying. After reading all that stuff yesterday--this is very encouraging!
JB

JMG said...

JB, I think we were reading the same blog.

Tony Arnold said...

JMG,

I wish I could do something about the wastes that exist. And at times, such as the purposed property tax increase in Nashville, I say, "There is no way I am going to give more when the gov't. is not using my current taxes efficiently and effectively."

However, taxes are necessary. We all need and enjoy an infrastructure that would not exist without taxes. Drive on a highway? Visited a state or national park? Benefit from, or are protected by, our laws and courts? Glad to have Police and Fire protection? Beside, we have a Biblical obligation to pay our taxes as you pointed out.

BTW, thanks for the link, and you write very well. But then, you should, shouldn't you :)?

Tony

JMG said...

Tony, I agree, but I also think we as Americans have demanded too many benefits and services from our government. Tennesseans complained a couple of years ago when the state implemented the access fee for state parks, but really, is it the state's obligation to provide us with free recreation? (However, I was pleased when I went to the lake the other day and found out that Wednesdays are free!)

Thanks for the complement (is that the right spelling--I never claimed to be a good speller!).

jettybetty said...

JMG,
Did you know "Christians" felt this way about taxes?
I am still in shock!
JB

JMG said...

This isn't the first time I've run across this train of thought. But of course, most of the "Christians" I've heard say this are Republicans.

I probably shouldn't have said that.

jettybetty said...

Well, I am a Republican--and I never have. I am not a staunch Republican, that's just how I lean. I don't think God has a chosen political party or anything.
I posted a comment on a blog and got blasted--I still haven't gotten over that!
I suppose I have just been living in the land of the clueless.
JB

JMG said...

JB, I don't think any less of you for being a Republican! :-)

Actually, I agree with Republicans about half the time.

I listen to a lot of talk radio, and I hear this sort of stuff all the time from people who profess to be Christian. It's pretty crazy.

jettybetty said...

JMG, I agree with the Democrats about half the time!!! We may have to start a new party. (This would be really funnier if you knew how non-political I am. I do vote.)
I don't listen to talk radio, and I suppose this week, I visited one too many blogs, because I really think I was happier living in the land of clueless on this one. Even in the land of clueless I knew some people were against birth control--I think in my almost 30 years of marriage I could have had at least 30 children, since I do multiples--but our current topic blindsided me.
JB

Tony Arnold said...

I would be called a Republican based on my voting record and many of my views, but I don't think the way these fringe writers think. By the way, Republicans love taxes just as much as Democrats. The elected Republicans are paid by them!

I have to admit that since I read Mere Discipleship by Lee Camp and attended a Sunday class by him, I am feeling very alienated from any party. I will say I am in the Christ party.

Tony

jettybetty said...

I have never felt very much a part of any party--I don't really care for politics very much. I pray for our leaders and vote--but otherwise I don't get involved very much.
Perhaps I should read the book you mention.
For the most part, I just feel I am a part of the kingdom of heaven and my leader is God.
Many people may think I have my head stuck in the sand.
JB

JMG said...

I know how you both feel. I can't agree with either party more than half the time usually. I've been trying to read Jim Wallis' book God's Politics lately. I've only read the first 3 or 4 chapters, but he's saying some pretty good stuff in there about how both parties have it wrong. I don't think I'm going to finish the book, though. I have to have it back in the library on Monday, and I'm too cheap to buy it.

But anyway, I just wish that Christains would unite the way that we are called to do and do something about poverty and waste and greed and ....

jettybetty said...

JMG--your last paragraph is what makes me really sad--Christians cannot agree. Your response to the comment in your current blog is just one example. That is so frustrating to me. If we could agree perhaps, per chance, we could do something about poverty, waste, greed and a lot of other things. As long as we can't agree, do you think we will get much done??
JB

JMG said...

No, JB, unfortunately, I don't think we'll get much done because Christians are too hung up on doctrinal issues and have trouble looking beyond them. We just can't have dunkers working side by side with sprinklers, or heaven forbid a mainstream church working side by side with that Unitarian cult.

Is my sarcasm blatant enough?

jettybetty said...

It is blatant--but what you say is also true--and so it's also sad. I am personally a dunker, but I will gladly hold hands with a sprinkler if we can serve someone in the name of Jesus together. I would love an answer to this dilemma--but I haven't found it so far.
JB

JMG said...

I hope one day there will be an answer. I'd really like to see the unity that Christ called us to. It's so disheartening to look around and see all the bickering about things that just aren't all that important. If someone says that he loves Christ and wants to live like him by loving the outcasts and feeding Christ's sheep, then it isn't my place to say "OK, but before you can serve with me you have to say this certain creed, and you can't raise your hands when you worship, etc. And you have to believe exactly like I do because if you don't you're wrong, and you'll make me uncomfortable because then I'll start to question why you believe the things that you believe and then that might make me question why I believe what I believe, and that would really be uncomfortable for me because I might find out that I'm wrong about something." (Sorry, I'm ranting here.)

Speaking of dunking, several months before my mother-in-law's former husband died, he came to believe in Jesus, and a few days before he died he asked to be baptized. But because of his medical condition, he couldn't be dunked, so the Baptist minister of the church they had been attending came to the nursing home and sprinkled him (which kind of surprised me), and after he died, the preacher prayed, and I could tell from what he said that he didn't really believe that P. was saved because he hadn't been dunked. It's junk like that that drives me nuts.

jettybetty said...

I am really kind of a unity friek--that's what Jesus prayed about the night before he died--so to me it's rather important. Hey, I am willing to hold hands with these people that think the govt is stealing from them while they pay taxes--but I am unclear if they want to hold hands with me--let's just do the work God called us to do.

And yes, the sprinking incident you mention would drive me nuts, too.

You have to agree with me on this point--Jesus saves.
If you do, then we agree on enough for me hold your hand and do what God has called us to do.

If I use the phrase holding hands any more, I am going to get tired of it. Sorry of the repetitive nature I took!

JB

JMG said...

I'm with you JB!