This is tax week. Taxes, they say, are like death...it's inevitable. I have just completed mine because I always owe and I wait until the due date in order to use my own money for as long as I can before I obey the command "to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's". This is year I will pay almost double what I paid last year, despite the fact of not increasing our household income one dime. I have to scratch my head and wonder about that. I know I am not in the category of what the government declares as "rich"; yet here I stare at my tax obligation. I would be lying if I didn't say that it aggravated me to no end.

You might wonder, "What spiritual insight could come from blogging about taxes"? (You mean besides "self-control" because of my irritation?) Several, to be candid.

First, the Bible tells us that civil government has a responsibility to provide certain services for their citizens; most notably, defense and protection of their God given rights. In order to do that, taxes can be appropriately levied. I have mentioned before that the tax burden Scripture teaches should not exceed 20% of one's income. Well, you can already see that a problem is arising with that percentage.

Second, taxes are about control. Whatever government wishes to control, it taxes and regulates. That is why I am vehemently against any tax laws or consideration applied toward the church. The church has a first amendment freedom which requires that government stays out of it's affairs, but beyond that, the government cannot usurp authority over God and His commands concerning His Houses of worship. If the government is allowed to tax the church we are ostensibly saying that government is over God. I suspect the Lord will take a dim view of that.

Third, (appropriate) taxes remind us of our respect and responsibility towards authority as we have learned it in Romans 13. It is an opportunity to put into practice what we say we believe in a very tangible way.

Having said all of that I still hate high taxes like the rest of America. I think I pay way too much and I would like to see some things scaled back. I will continue to practice obedience, but I am believing that the Lord is going to do some things in the not too distant future to begin to put aright what seems to be so wrong. Do it Lord!

Until then, looks like I am going to be eating at home this week.

Planting a Cross

Pastor