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Dr. Del Tackett is the author, architect and teacher for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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Responses to My Tax Blog
Posted on April 24, 2009
Filed Under The State |
Well, the subject of taxes sure raises hackles. Several of you took great exception to viewing our tax structure in such a way that shows a small minority carries most of the tax burden.
But that wasn’t really my point. Maybe I didn’t do a good job communicating.
The point was that we are clamoring for them to carry more. This is natural because of the nature of man.
But, is it right?
When you give people the unlimited power to take from others, they will not stop until there is nothing left to pillage. During the 1992 LA riots, when the masses found that there was no restraint, they broke into stores and hauled off everything they could carry out.
When a tax systems grants power via the voting box to elect officials who will continue to take from others for my benefit, then there will be no end to that pilfering either. When a tax system ensures that a majority will not be affected when taxes are raised, then the majority will always support higher taxation. That is why we have added trillions of dollars to the national debt in the last few months and there has been little to no outcry—except to tax the minority more.
In the end, it is a politician’s dream for gaining more and more power—create a tax system that plays on the greed of man, promising the majority that their vote will get them more of the other guy’s stuff.
That only works, however, until the till runs dry. Then the majority will turn their eyes toward the next level of wealth, the new minority to plunder.
I believe we should examine this innate greed we have and speak out against it…not just because it is wrong, but because it will end up hurting everybody.
Might does not make right…even if that “might” comes in the form of 51% of the vote. That is why our founders hated “democracy”. They called it “mobocracy” because it was anathema to them to think that 51% of the vote could be given the power to determine right and wrong.
All of this is exactly what God warned about in 1 Samuel 8 when the people rejected God and wanted a savior-king like the other nations. Maybe it would be good to revisit that…
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19 Responses to “Responses to My Tax Blog”
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Amen Dr. Del! Amen…
To those who don’t like your foray into the issue of unfair taxation I would politely remind them that this medium is your personal blog and you have a right to your opinion.
The biblical linkage is inescapable. Man’s self-serving (a.k.a. sinful) nature has been a constant since the fall and will be until Christ returns.
Respectfully,
Dan…
I could not agree more. Ever since I saw the American experience episode I have had to re-evaluate everything I thought I believed. I used to believe that a strong Federal government was the best and most efficient way for the nation to exist. I used to think that taxes of 30%+ was good because it was less than the rest of the world and pays for all the good things government does.
I now understand that the entire American vision was to only have a limited Federal government for a few items, such as common defense and items that the states could not manage independently. Our founders rightly feared the tyranny of government and as students of history they understood how the great republics of the past had failed. The Constitution is the guard rails that hoped to prevent our government from going wrong. Unfortunately, as Congress, the courts, and the States have allowed the government to expand its power these constraints continue to be removed. Until 1913 there was no income tax, with each increase in taxation we are really losing our freedom. The end of this road is the same as slavery for if you do not own the fruits of your labor then you are a slave. When I count all the taxation (Fed, State, Payroll (employee/company), city, property, sales tax, gas tax, inflation (a subtle tax but still a tax), licensing of all sorts, etc.) I find that over 50% of the fruits of my labor are no longer available to me and I am not even in the top 5%. If we think it is bad now wait until the bills for all of the current insanity must start to be paid. Without a change it is easy to see this moving to 75%. Is this freedom? Is this what the founders envisioned?
We must reign in the government and restore sound money (Gold/Silver). Our founders knew this and the bible clearly states as much as well.
As we as a nation have lost our faith and thus our way. We are now on the precipice and we risk having the lamp stand removed. I pray for America but as I read Jeremiah it looks all too familiar today.
Jeff
For what it’s worth, I don’t think you were unclear at all. For whatever reason, whenever I write about politics on my own blog (honeyandlocusts.wordpress.com), people always seem to miss my point as well, no matter how clear I am.
I think it is because Christians in this country have so much bought into the idea that ethics and morals are tied directly to politics (blurring the spheres of Church & State?) that we tend to react too strongly to political matters, and don’t take time to listen to what God is really trying to tell us. It’s very difficult to think outside the box, especially on things that get our blood boiling! It’s one reason I’m so thankful for the Truth Project; it really has helped me to see things more clearly as a battle between worldviews rather than a battle between political parties or candidates. Thank you!
The more that the government takes (steals) the less there is to give to GOD for his work. If, as Christians, we are required to give 10% of our income to GOD, then why should we give more than that to the government? The only way that our government will live within its means is when “we the people” require them to.
Having attended a “tea party” lately I find the lack of knowledge and understanding on my part of what our government is suppose to be, related to the founding fathers first premise, is sad at best. We the people have turned a blind eye in the interest of keeping our own little island of comfort,and the government has been sneaking up for a long time….higher taxes are just the tip of the iceburg
“…Will the silent majority…help? The so-called silent majority was, and is divided into a minority and a majority. The minority are either Christians who have a real basis for values or those who at least have a memory of the days when the values were real. The majority are left with only their two poor values of personal peace and affluence.”
With such values, will men stand for their liberties? Will they not give up their liberties step by step, inch by inch, as long as their own personal peace and prosperity is sustained and not challenged, and as long as the goods are delivered…?”
I believe the majority of the silent majority…will sustain the loss of liberties without raising their voices as long as their own life-styles are not threatened. And since personal peace and affluence are so often the only values that count with the majority, politicians know that to be elected they must promise these things. Politics has largely become not a matter of ideals — increasingly men and women are not stirred by the values of liberty and truth — but of supplying a constituency with a frosting of personal peace and affluence. Read this quote from Francis Schaeffer.
Christians often forget, others choose a blind eye to the expression “Separation of Church and State” that the word Church comes first. I don’t believe the goal was to keep God out of the day to day governing of people but rather to make sure the eventual government would not attempt to stimi God!
Amen Dr. Del
However…. do you and all these people realize that there will be no change without radical revolt. I’m not suggesting nor advocating violence against the tyranny of the Governement. But I am quite purplexed to find answers that are of less consequence. Quite frankly, as history well demonstrates, nothing will happen until it’s too late to happen without a severe conclusion. The bottom line is, I suppose, how much pain are we willing to put our grandchildren through that we might have some peace and tranquil servitude? I am quite pessimistic but I dare any rational being to show me what possible optimism we have outside an absolute sweeping miracle of God. There IS no moral majority.
I would gladly be imprisoned to gain my children’s freedom. But if only a few are found that will, their imprisonment would gain nothing for anyone. The prayer of the Christian community now must be the prayer for courage.
Dear Sirs,
You are right on with the exception of us being a “mobcracy”. We are not a “democracy” ( a group ruled by the majority) nor a “monarchy” (a group ruled by one) nor an “oligarchy”( a group ruled by the most powerful)! Our founding fathers decided we should be a “republic”(a group ruled by laws). Don’t believe me ? Recite the Pledge of Allegiance. What a good dissertation on taxation !
As I sit here listening to some music and reading comments I am seeing a connection between the two. The song is saying,
“You alone are Father and You alone are good. You alone are our Savior and You alone are God.”
and I am hearing the comments lamenting the fact that our government is starting to impede on these truths. Father is replaced by Big Brother, goodness is claimed as the point of each new program. Am I the only one that has heard the words Savior and Messiah used to describe certain political figures? Caesar claimed it right out front, but how long before our “leaders” start claiming deity for themselves? If government is in its proper place then my submission to God will result in proper submission to them. My first and greatest concern is my relationship with God. He alone is my central focus. Anyone/thing trying to de-throne Him will have to answer to Him.
Are you all failing to see the point. It is that we must each carry a brick, or our fair share. Taxes are to help all.
The more people work, and pay taxes, the less help they need, the better the system works. If we choose to complain about the system but do nothnig, then we are the problem. We need to become the solutions. It does not matter who you think is carrying the 39 bricks if you are not carrying any yourself. And if you think you are carrying the 39 bricks, take a good look and make sure that is the truth.
I don’t care what your political beliefs or your religious beliefs. If you want the services provided by a government, they must be paid for. Can we all agree on that? And the more we demand the government do, the larger the government must become to accomplish what is required. Can we agree on that?
If we want smaller government, we must find a way to provide necessities without government help. Are we a strong enough society to make that work? Do we care enought about people to be willing to give some of our share to those who need help so that they can learn to carry any share of the responsibility?
If we want less taxes, we must be willing to survive with less. We must also be willing to help those who have less then we do to be able to bring themselves up to a level where they can live comfortably. Have enough food, adaquate houseing, and an education so they can become productive members of our society.
Some times I think these are the basics that we as a nation have forgotten.
Job well done Nancy thank you very much. Dr. Del, I’m sure your readers got your point and they were also expressing their opinions on the topic so please respect that. Who created the earth? Who owns all the gold? Who owns all the silver? God owns everything even the money our government takes. God’s work will be done - no man can stand in the way of what God is doing. Believe it. I think the problem with us is that some of us don’t read our bible - our instructions for life and it applies to today as it applied then. We need to be on our knees praying to God to help our leaders utilize our tax money wisely on the things society needs. I thought we were supposed to live in Christ and follow His example. Are we above that or it only applies to just some people. It is a shame that we christians complain about what the govt is doing and isn’t doing. What are we and our churches doing? If nothing but just blowing smoke then we don’t have anything to gripe about. In Jesus’ days I’m sure there was corruption as man is naturally wicked and deceitful but Jesus wasn’t complianing about that He addresses what is due God and what is due Caesar with no drama from His end. Why can’t we seem to follow His example, it seems so easy yet we make it so hard. Why is that? Anyway, Dr. Del, I understood your point just fine but you didn’t say we couldn’t comment it. I think as christians we should be ashamed that morally we leave it up to the government to take care of God’s children who are suffering and reforming society overburdening our government and then complaining that they aren’t doing enough or too much and not to mention also giving them too much power. It would be the same case if the church was running the country because remember man cannot be trusted because his heart is deceitful - that means you, myself and all the other people in the world. God does take care of His own if we depend on Him but instead of bickering about who did what lets start working together in building stronger lives and communities producing healthy societies. Remember good always truimps evil. And in God all things are possible. God bless and help us all.
“We the people” are playing right into their hands. I even talk to christians who think it is only fair and proper for the “rich” to carry the tax burden. Why do they think this way? Just listen to them and you will know. They are angry because they are not rich. I think we call that lusting after your neighbor’s stuff. No one is content with what they have and no one is trusting God to provide. If you notice, politicians seem to target “low income” people the most when fishing for votes. We have allowed our government to get as big as they are because we decided somewhere along the way that they can provide for us better than God can. Now we are screaming for national health care as well. I actually heard a man on the radio telling the host that the government owed him a job. I thought it was a joke at first. With the system we have here in the US, we have allowed our government to step way over it’s bounderies and into systems they don’t belong in. It is a rolling snowball at this point. The more we want them to “take care of” for us, the more of our money they will need and the less freedom we will have to make choices for ourselves and our families. Right or wrong, I pay my taxes, because they will jail me if I don’t, not because I think they are making good use of my money. Knowing they are using my money to fund abortions is making it harder and harder all the time. I fear that the day is coming where we will have some very hard choices to make. If we don’t get things in perspective now, we may not be able to see it coming. We have created this monster and just as Moses was the vessel used by God to force the hand of the oppressor in Egypt, we may find ourselves in the same boat. First, we all have to diligently “seek” God so that we know in our hearts what is “truth” in all things, and quit squabling about stupid stuff and unite.
Once again, as in the first thread, I find myself agreeing with Kevin for bringing up an extremely poignant and relevant quote from one of my favorite authors, who’s words have unfortunately become prophecy.
Moreover, understanding the times and what confronts us should never be confused with “whining” or “complaining”. We would be wise to take heed and pause when considering the current set of circumstances which we face as a Nation. Denial and ignorance are largely to blame for our captivity to deception in this realm and attacking the messenger for argument’s sake or in allegiance to an ideological affiliation is counterproductive.
That being said, politics will always incite debate and discord. However, I think that Dr. Tackett’s point was to expose the larger deceptions in this area by raising a particular example, i.e. the tax laws. Many of us may be captives to the lies of statism and the humanistic belief that man is intrinsically good, as these prevailing thoughts are all around us. In addition, we know that many in our culture crave a King in the White House, just as the Israelites in Samuel’s day desired one to be like the other nations and to go out before and to fight their battles them. Just as this rejection of God must have grieved Him then, I believe it does so now. And yet He still said (and says), “Listen to them and give them a king.”
The next step beyond recognizing what ails us is to do something individually to turn the tide. I believe this is what the Truth Project is ultimately all about and I know it is what Francis Shaefer intended in writing his great work “How Then Shall We Live?”.
I want to also add something else. It is the common deception that it is “of course”, the wealthy who oppose what the goverment is doing in their “re-distribution” of wealth. After all wouldn’t those considered to be “in poverty” by the world’s standards be all for it? Not necessarrily so. We must remember something very important. The world says we are poor, God says we are rich. The world says if we don’t have lots of stuff, we are lacking. God says we have abundance. By the world’s standards, my family is “low class”, nearly poverty level. I believed it once myself. Now, it’s sounds utterly rediculous to me and I have to laugh. Our “not enough” is always “more than enough” and defies what the world says. The only true poor are the poor in spirit. If we think we are poor and need the government to provide our retirment, healthcare, jobs, food, money, whatever, by taking from those who have abundance we are, in fact living under the world system or “earth curse system” if you will. How does God say we receive? Does he say, take someone else down and get what he has? I don’t think so. The Kingdom doesn’t work that way. The Kingdom laws say, we will reap what we sow. So what if some have worldy riches, they don’t have to pay, for us to gain. Kingdom laws are just the opposite of worldly laws. We raise one another up and we give away what we have. That is how we receive blessing. It’s time to put on our “spiritual” eyes folks. Provision has been made for us. We don’t have to beg God for it either. We already have it! How cool is that! We have wellness, we have prosperity, we have eternal life. Go get that coin out of that fish, go gather those pots and fill them. Don’t let the world speak death to you. We are no longer under the earth curse. Jesus tried and tried to get us to understand that. Sow the word of God into your heart, not your mind. “The spirit will guide us into all truth”. With this sowing of the spirit, comes faith and lots of it and with faith comes great fruit with seed in it. Am I there yet? No…..but I have left. Hallelujah! We have an awesome God!
I agree with Nancy, we should all pay our fair share. Is it moral for the government to not only take more of my money, but a greater percentage based on my income while letting 40% (soon to be 49%) of Americans off the hook. If I were paying no taxes, I could care less how much of other people’s money the government spent. A fair tax would make sure every citizen has a dog in the fight regardless of income.
That was nice. Thank you for sharing this one.
I couldn’t agree more. We have a situation in this country where a large percentage of people pay no income taxes; in fact they get free money given to them by the federal government. Yet these are the same people who clamor that the “rich” should pay even more. When the “rich” point out they already pay almost all the income tax the government collects from individuals they are called greedy.
Aren’t the greedy people the ones who expect to be given free handouts for something for nothing?
Christian’s who are civically involved in particular issues such as taxation need to step away and see the problems with and virtues of both sides of the debate, and may need to consider alternatives outside of the falsely framed, bifurcated setup of problems. One could poke holes in either side, drawing attention to an unaccountable population, broadly speaking (Republicans), or unaccountable elites (Democrats). Fair arguments exists on either side, as to justice, efficiency and the like. Noteably, wrong headed arguments also exist on either side.
Until and unless we christians become aware of the cutting edge solutions and analysis concerning this issue, as well as others, perhaps, we would be better saints by occupying our time with evangelizing those around us and worshiping and better knowing God. If there are those of us who still feel, prayerfully compelled to offer comment on an issue, such as tax policy, we might want to consider breakthrough alternatives such as a progressive consumption tax, an approach which addresses, for instance, sloth on both the low end and high end income scales.