Rights and Responsibilities -Taxes

It's that time of year again when we organize our records and prepare to account for our income to the government. Taxes pay for many of the good services we receive so it is right that we should pay for these services. We enjoy roads, schools, protection services like police and firemen, and our nation is protected from enemies by our military.   We receive many good things from government spending. 

When government does not choose wisely in their spending we have a great privilege in the US; we live in a republic where we have representation at the highest levels so our voice can be heard. Our nation was founded on Christian principles that have resulted in social justice programs and healthcare legislation.  We have always been a nation that offered opportunity even to the most vulnerable allowing them to regain strength and achieve success. We want everyone to have a shot at prosperity.  Laws are passed to ensure that no business power can take advantage of the citizens (even if following those laws result in higher costs of product delivery). 

Each service received from the government has a cost and reflects the values of the nation. (You elected them after all). So when it comes to paying taxes we should be ready to pay that price. As Christians we must recognize the very common temptation to not be fully transparent on our tax return is dishonest and shirks our responsibilities as citizens. Cheating on taxes for our own personal gain is not holy conduct and if we have been guilty we should confess it before God and do everything we can to make things right. 

Christians should be models of integrity and morality, therefore if there are decisions made by our elected officials we also have a responsibility to make things right and voice our stand and help educate our electorate about the choices before them.  We can and should be active in our govenment. No on ther nation has such opportunity. 

We are called to honor our authorities on earth even if they are not behaving rightly. They have been placed in their offices by God himself so our responsibility is to ensure their success. 

As I look at our system of entitlements, insurances and benefits, I do not believe that our nation can economically survive the burden these obligations place on the tax payer. Our founding fathers strongly believed in limited government and placing more responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the individual. Transferring responsibility for our welfare, health and retirement are all violations of our founding principles. 

We must pay, but we must also work to bring sensibility back to our government. It must not be given authority usurp our own responsibilities or those of charity. As Christians our obligation to care for the poor and needy must be a personal outreach and should not be transferred to goverment. If we are aware of suffering we have a responsibility to become involved. Let's take back our legacy to the world and share with those who need a word of hope that it is God and not government who supplies all our needs according to his riches in glory.