Sometime at the turn of the last century (20th) somebody got this really great idea…let’s tax the American people’s income. Originally the idea was to tax 1% of the total income. Now remember that at the close of the 19th century and opening of the 20th century the Federal government only had three basic obligations: secure the boarders, defend the nation, and govern by law. That was it! However, times were changing. There was discussion of roads which would reach from one coast to the other; the need for federalizing certain crimes; and the possibility of strengthen a standing armed force since things were starting to get very ugly in Europe. By 1913 the idea was ratified into the 18th Amendment.
Despite what most conspiracy buffs want you to think, the 18th Amendment was legal and despite a few potholes in ratification, everything was done as it should have been. That was then, but what about now? As most know the least in taxes you will pay is anywhere between 19-25% of your income. In other words you and I pay at least a bare minimum of 19 to 25 cents on the dollar. If you make over $250,000 dollars a year, that goes up. And that’s just on the federal income tax. For those of you who live and work in states that have state income taxes you pay more. Then there are all the federal and state sales taxes on the gas and other items we purchase. If that isn’t enough they now tax your retirement (even if you get Social Security) and if you die or better yet when you die you are taxed then.
In the health care debate it has been brought out that a consumption tax or value added tax (which is a sales tax) will be added to help pay for this. I (along with many of you) will be taxed for purchasing health insurance and will be fined (or taxed) if we don’t purchase any. (Me’s think they call that double jeopardy.) Presently food is not taxed, under the Obama plan it will. They have planned to tax you and I everywhere till sundown. In fact I bet they will tax us for watching the sun go down if we let them. What I am discussing is only the tip of the ice berg. It has officially been estimated that there is a possibility that we as American citizens will be taxed as much as 70% before it’s all over(http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2008/06/European-Levels-of-Taxation-Barack-Obamas-Tax-Plan ). Again understand that is 70 cents on the dollar. That leaves you and me with 30 cents to do or buy anything (including food). We have not seen this kind of out of control taxation since 1937 under the Franklin Roosevelt and later the Harry Truman administrations. I respectively ask you to read one of my previous blogs dealing with this (Socialized Medicine? Good, Bad, or Indifferent?)
The question may be asked, “If the federal and state governments tax us of our living so much do we have to pay our taxes?” For the Christian the answer is an undaunting, YES! Why you may ask. Because Jesus was clear in Matthew 22:21, “…render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's.” The idea is that if Caesar built it, it belongs to him. If you reside under his protective hand, payment for that protection is to be made to him. If you walk on roads he built, live in cities he approved for structure, live under his authority, you have to make payment. If Caesar prints the money then it belongs to him.
Jesus does not stop there. He makes a greater observation, we are not only to give the tribute that Caesar is owed, but we are to also give to God what belongs to Him. If we are paying back to the government what they own, then what is it that God owns? Simple, EVERYTHING!!! God owns it all. Why? Because He created it all, His authority is unlimited, and His power is unreachable. This means our very lives belong to Him. This is where government stops. In Job 2 God tells Satan that he can do whatever he wants to poor Job except take his life. Why? Because Job’s life belonged exclusively to God. Things could not be clearer. It is our lives which we pay tribute to God with, not money, even though the way we handle money may show how we are paying tribute to God. Paul the apostle would have agreed with this thought in Romans 12:1-2 were on bended knee he begs Christians to give their all to God as living sacrifices.
John Locke, known as the father of liberty, would agree with the assumption that if God owns the person, then nobody else should own them. As a British philosopher and minister of the 17th century John Locke had great influence on such men as Roger Williams. His view was that government should make a contract with its people, limiting itself to defending the people, not controlling them. Since God owned the person, then what the person owned was owned by God and government’s authority should be limited to taking care of the matters of state and defense and allow the people to govern their own affairs. It was the idea of a nation where people took responsibility of what they did and also of the government itself.
John Locke also had a great influence on our founding fathers such as Samuel Adams, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. His writings would cause the birth of a nation which has been called the greatest experiment in history. Exclusively the United States was born from the influence of preachers, philosophers, and theologians, unlike any other nation before or after it. It is a nation where the church does not run the government, nor the government runs the church, yet each person involved in government is allowed to vote according to the dictates of their own conscience. As Martin Luther stated in Worms, “It is neither safe nor right to go against conscience.”
With this brief understanding how shall we proceed with a government which is encroaching more and more on our freedoms every day? What should we do about those who’s spending is out of control? Where should we turn in the process?
Allow me to note some things first before we come down to what we can do. As American Christians we have a responsibility and obligation that the rest of the world does not understand. I go to church with immigrants from Eastern Europe, who escaped communism and are concerned with the direction of our nation. Even then they can, at times, be critical of American Christians when we complain about the way things are going. However, there are some Biblical grounds for the way things run and I believe that what our founding fathers attempted to do was closer and is closer to God’s design for humanity. I know that it has been reported by the Chinese Christians that they pray that we will go through a persecution to wake us up. And who knows that maybe what it takes. I think we should understand that as long as we are faithful God in all that we do and draw close to Him constantly, then persecution will not be necessary. At the same time I also pray for their freedom so that the Gospel can be openly preached. So now how shall we proceed?
First, pray. I know, I say that every time, but this is the basis. We have to be a people of prayer. We need to pray for those who we disagree with as well as those we agree with. Again, Jesus in Matthew 5:43-45 is very clear about this. We are to pray for those who abuse us as well as those who love us. At the same time I do not believe this means we should willingly submit ourselves to abuse, but if abuse does happen then we are to be praying for those doing the abusing. We need to pray that God will give them favor for salvation; that they will become more compassionate and understanding; and that they will become more helpful with the needs of others. At the same time we should pray for those who we agree with so that they will stand the needed ground in order to preserve liberty.
Second, we should be involved. There are a number of ways in which citizens can be involved. One is to make sure we stay informed about what is going on. Learn and understand the issues at hand from all angles. Another way we can be involved is to write letters, e-mails and make phone calls to our representatives, senators, governors, city councilman, and mayors. Remember that the person, who runs for mayor today, may run for the senate tomorrow. An additional way to be involved is by giving to the person who discusses the issues you think are important. Finally, you can also show up in rallies. When doing this we need to be very careful about the way we handle ourselves. Rallies can become contentious especially if another rally is going on at the same time from the opposing side. Remember that our Constitution secures the right for peaceful assembly. Protest rallies can be both peaceful and Biblical as long as they do not move into a frame work of calling names. This is the reason why some ministers and preachers, especially younger ones, are speaking out against going to politically motivated rallies.
Third, stand your ground morally. What do I mean by this? Stop allowing society to declare what the norm should be. I have come to the point where when someone uses filthy language in excess, I say something. It is not right that my wife and child have to be subjected to someone else’s abusive language. While the Constitution guarantees free speech, it does not allow for abusive speech. There is a difference. No one has the right to use foul language in open public. Take the high ground morally and ethically every day. We may pay a heavy price for it, but in the long run it will pay off.
Fourth, pay your taxes. Right now the tax situation is what it is and we are all obligated to pay. Laws can be changed, but until they are, taxes have to be paid.
Fifth, vote. I have the attitude that if you don’t vote, you shouldn’t complain. Vote for the person you agree with.
Last, go to church and daily dedicate yourself to the living Savior. You and I have to understand that what goes on down here is small compared to the kingdom of God and what He is wanting. If we are not busy proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost while there is free speech and while there is time, then we are missing the point. You see freedom means very little if we are not busy proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ with it. There are people who have not heard the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. They do not understand that they are lost in their sins, bound by their lusts, greed and passions. They have no idea that Hell will become their eternal home without Him. There is no real conscience toward the fact that Jesus Christ bleed, suffered and died on the cross for, because of, and in place of their sin. They are blind to the idea that they are under the judgment of God and need this Savior. They do not care that He is bodily raised, nor are they concerned with the fact that He will return one day to judge everything they have ever done.
You see this is the reason I am concerned with freedom of speech, liberty of life. If we do not have these two things then the Gospel will have to go back underground and it will be suppressed from the masses that need to hear.
Let me know what you think.
God Bless,
Steven Swaim-President and Founder of Be Devoted Ministries
(All Bible quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)-Lochman Foundation)
