Here we are addressing another issue on which Christians are supposedly hypocritical. (see article here ). As dealt with in that article, this is a list of supposed inconsistencies in Christians' position on issues where Jesus is claimed to have held a different position or never addressed.
The extent of Jesus' teaching on taxes is found in Matthew 22, Mark 12, and Luke 20. These three chapters include an account of the Pharisee's trying to trap Jesus by asking if the Jews should pay taxes to their oppressors, Rome. If He said, "Yes," He would be discredited in the eyes of the Jewish crowd. If He said, "No," He would be guilty of rebellion and could be arrested by the Romans who were certainly present as well.
Jesus sidesteps the issue by pointing out that it's already Rome's money (it has Caesar's picture on it), and He then gives the now famous words, "Give to Caesar what is Casar's and give to God what is God's."
Now there have been volumes of very well written books by very smart people on what exactly this is saying. I want to look at what He is NOT saying. Nowhere in these passages will you find Jesus addressing tax rates for any members of society. Should it be a flat rate or a progressive system? Should there be deductions? Should someone have to pay more because they make more, or because they got their money dishonestly or because their motivation was greed? What about rich people who inherited their wealth? What about people who worked hard and earned it through their labors and smart investing? What if they made a bunch but also gave a bunch away?
What if ... ?
What about ...?
Yeah, but ...
The issue of government, wealth and taxes is so complex that it would be ridiculous to try and water it down to a simple issue of "yes/no" on tax cuts for a certain segment of society. It's possible that there may be a situation where it would be warranted and another where it would be a bad thing to do.
Repeatedly Jesus' teaching are focused on the individual and THEIR attitude and relationship to God. He is not instituting a societal or political stance on issues. The main point is whether our motives are pride-filled or humble.
Many of these issues, I am discovering, are oversimplifications and loaded with emotional language to rouse the reader, but they do little to actually address the issue.
Was Jesus for or against tax cuts for the wealthy? He never addressed it. And a good rule of thumb is to be silent where Scripture is silent. And Scripture is silent on on this issue. In that case, individuals are free to use other reason and principles to inform their views on this particular topic.
Christians tend to be more politically conservative, and that view tends to want government less involved in people's lives and in social engineering through redistribution of wealth. To claim tax-cuts for wealthy is anti-Christian is as asinine as claiming the reverse, that wanting government to take people's money makes you anti-Christian.
Jesus simply did not address economic, governmental, or tax policy. He taught that “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). For some that may mean giving up wealth while for others it may mean giving up disdain for wealthy people. For one that might mean giving up looking to the government to solve problems. For another that might mean giving up the worldly freedoms that have become their idol.
We are as individual and unique as snowflakes. The issue we face is a pride-filled heart in rebellion against God. That pride will manifest differently for everyone. This issue, like many that divide us, can be reasonably held and argued on both sides by Christians who's faith and devotion to Christ are equally strong, with no inconsistency.
No comments:
Post a Comment