Thinking Biblically About Current Events: Taxation
Thinking Biblically About Current Events: Taxation
The biblical worldview helps us understand the purpose and role of government. Is there a biblical way of thinking about taxation? Jesus said that we should give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar… but the human person does not belong to Caesar.
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Gotta disagree on this one. In 1 Samuel 8, Samuel is warning the Israelites of the disadvantages of having a king. One of the things they are warned of is a 10% tax on their fields and flocks. If the king taking a 10% tax is spoken of negatively by Samuel, how much more a 30-40% tax. Also I would interpret Jesus’ words here not to be an approval of taxation, but rather a recognition of the reality of taxation.
If you’re self-employed write off everything you can bring your taxable income to zero if you only have to pay tithing on your taxable income then you don’t have to pay tithing I pay tithing after all business expenses if I can bring my income to zero that year then I don’t have to pay tithing it’s very easy to overpay on tithing
Religion is a form of government.
That form of government exists either:
in relectutant cooperation,
or
in proactive cooperation,
or
merged with,
or
in place of,
or
(otherwise) in competition with formal state governments.
As for taxes, Jesus (per the rumor-stories we call "books of the Christian Bible") certainly did say his followers should pay whatever taxes a ruling govt requires.
Although, most wealthy Jesus-fans tend to disagree with Jesus about this.
As for how the literary character "Jesus" spoke about ‘which people own which people, …
Personally, I cringe at both secular and religious government systems for speaking and/or acting as if anyone is owned by someone else.
I understand that my State and Federal govt refuse to "say" they own anyone.
But they do insist on acting upon their belief that they own every resident and every registered citizen.
And while I fully disagree with them,
I recognize that "authority" is merely a game people play.
Whereas, power is objectively real. And it takes a lot of money for anyone to fully buy their way out of the power-system which functions as everyone’s owners.
As for how Jesus (that literary character) felt about that?
That is a very complicated matter. And I dare say all the Christian factions have radically misunderstood those writers about that issue.
In any case, what this video-clip’s narrator seems(?) to be suggesting (the subtext) is:
Christians should all feel free to disobey govt authority whenever their churches (who claim to speak for God) say to behave in ways that the government has laws against.
"In principle", I agree; but not on religious grounds.
People should (almost)-always feel free to behave per their own conscience.
I say "almost always" because there is one exception:
Whenever a government’s law is specifically protecting other humans from having their rights violated.
So if a govt says "Don’t do X, because X violates other humans’ rights" (right to good health, good function, and equitable liberty),
all believers in ANY "God" absolutely need to obey that directive.
In those circumstances, I don’t give a crap what anyone’s "God" says through fallible, self-appointed messengers.