This year curiously enough, Easter and Income Tax Day came the same weekend. One represents a cross borne for our sins and the other represents a cross we continue to bear for someone else’s sins.
Of course, I believe every American ought to pay their taxes. I just don’t like to pay other people’s taxes. I have enough trouble scraping up the money to pay for mine.
As a Christian I take seriously what the Bible says; "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s." And I have no problem with this. I’m more than willing to bear my share of the burden.
Unfortunately, the line between what is Caesar’s and what is God’s has been so blurred that people get them mixed up. Those who expect Caesar to act like God have become greatly disillusioned. On the other side, those who expect God to act like Caesar don’t understand God.
I think even God would have a hard time making up his mind who to vote for come Election Day.
This year in calculating my share of the national deficit, I have had to sharpen my pencil quite a few times. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly believe in . . .
This year curiously enough, Easter and Income Tax Day came the same weekend. One represents a cross borne for our sins and the other represents a cross we continue to bear for someone else’s sins.
Of course, I believe every American ought to pay their taxes. I just don’t like to pay other people’s taxes. I have enough trouble scraping up the money to pay for mine.
As a Christian I take seriously what the Bible says; "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s." And I have no problem with this. I’m more than willing to bear my share of the burden.
Unfortunately, the line between what is Caesar’s and what is God’s has been so blurred that people get them mixed up. Those who expect Caesar to act like God have become greatly disillusioned. On the other side, those who expect God to act like Caesar don’t understand God.
I think even God would have a hard time making up his mind who to vote for come Election Day.
This year in calculating my share of the national deficit, I have had to sharpen my pencil quite a few times. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly believe in paying our share, but only our share. I certainly don’t want to cheat Uncle Sam, but I don’t want to give him any more than I really have to.
In fact, I am still waiting to see what Uncle Sam did with the money I sent him last year. Obviously, he spent it all or he would not be asking for more. What I want to know is what he spent all that money on. I might look over his spending for the past year and recommend some ways he could curtail some of that spending.
I’m still not sure anybody in the Washington circle has the slightest idea of what the word budget means.
For me, "budget" means that I do not budge when it comes to my spending limit. Oh, sure there have been times when I wished I could be a politician and just passed some bill in my house lifting the budget limits on my personal affairs.
My problem is I do not have somebody to pass the buck on to. I once tried to pass this buck onto my wife but she demanded more bucks than I had on my person at the time.
In going over all my financial records, it seems I’m going to owe Uncle Sam quite a hefty piece of change — which changes the way I’m viewing my checkbook these days. I would not mind changing my checkbook for Uncle Sam’s checkbook. I mean if you can’t owe money to your relatives whom in the world can you owe money to?If Uncle Sam would forgive me my taxes, I would forgive his trespasses, and he has tressed many passes just this past year.
I love knowing my hard earned tax money is lining some politician’s pocket; after all, it does get cold in Washington, D.C. It must be cold; all I get from my politician is a cold shoulder.
Perhaps if I sent a little more money this year, call it a tip, some of those politicians could buy a wool scarf to warm the cockles of their hearts. Which, begs the question, do politicians truly have hearts?
Every once in awhile I see a news report of some politician having a heart attack, but I have never believed it. I think these rumors of politicians having heart attacks are just to dupe people like me into believing politicians have hearts in the first place. The overwhelming evidence is to the contrary.
But then I come back to the money I owe to the revenue man. I feel this way, if the IRS can get money out of my bank account, good luck, I never can.
I never worry about somebody stealing money from my bank account.
In fact, if they would go halves with me, I’d help them get money out of my account.
I would give them my PIN if I could only remember what it is.
The only person who has my number is good old Uncle Sam — and just try getting personal information from that relative.Right now, I’m torn between paying my taxes or going to jail and let the government support me with other people’s taxes. Believe me, this is quite a dilemma on my part.
In searching the Bible on this subject, I discovered what the Apostle Paul taught on our responsibility to the government.
"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." Romans 13:7 — 8 (KJV.)I might point out the Roman government, of which Paul is referencing, was not friendly toward the Christians of Paul’s day. The officially sponsored arena games, which included killing Christians, are just one indication.
Christians aren’t killed in our country. Just taxed to death.
Dr. James L. Snyder, is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives with his wife in Silver Springs Shores. James is an award winning author whose books are available at https://amzn.to/2SMOjwO.
Call him at 352-687-4240 or e-mail [email protected]. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.
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