The 8th Commandment
12 Dec '12 08:381 editI recently received my monthly Church publication. The article I read was written Dr. RC Sproul - a brilliant mind indeed. Normally RC steers clear of controversy, but this time, I guess considering the state of affairs here in the USA, he couldn't resist weighing in on a hot topic.
To start off, he established the 8th Commandment. This Commandment is one of those that any civilized society would agree with. "You shall not steal." RC spoke about the obvious meaning of the Commandment... clearly one should not break into someone else's house and take their property. He subsequently went on to mention as an aside, that obviously it's not a sin to own stuff, since the Commandment makes it clear that it's acceptable to have property, and to expect that property not to be taken by someone else.
But it was the last paragraph he wrote, that prompted this thread. I'll just repeat it here and then I would like for folks to either agree, or, state why this line of reasoning is wrong.
"Some of the most sophisticated means of theft are codified in law by our lawmakers. Politicians routinely promise to raise taxes on one group of people to pay for services for another group of people. This creates tax rates that demand a higher percentage of income from some people than others, and it creates tax laws that are enormously complex and punish those who cannot hire accountants and lawyers to figure it all out. Scripture never explicitly sets an ideal tax percentage for the government (though elected officials are arrogant indeed to claim more than the 10 percent God allots for His church). Nevertheless, Scripture does not endorse different tax rates for different groups of people. Christians are to follow the laws in place and pay their taxes (Rom. 13:6-7), but, as they are able, they must not perpetuate legalized theft. Voting a tax rate on others that we do not vote on ourselves is the same thing as stealing from our neighbor."
I wholeheartedly endorse this message. With our President and Socialist-in-Chief in office, we are turning more and more Socialist every day. With resounding applause from his followers, Obama promises to make the wealthy in this country PAY for their success... and will ensure that their tax rates are jacked up, while everyone else is left alone. His followers shake their fists and say, "Yeah! Stick it to the rich!!!" during his speeches. Of course, little do they know that although the "rich" will pay higher taxes, WE the non-rich aren't going to see a single penny of it land in our pockets. It will go straight into the coffers of our irresponsible, inefficient, corrupt government who will sumarily spend the money on their own pet projects--which are mainly lining the pockets of special interest groups that promise to vote them back into office, and funding failed companies that donate to their cause (companies that after receiving their billions, disappear into bankruptcy with their CEO's laughing all the way to the bank).
Anyhoo... the bottom line is, RC is throwing down the gauntlet on this one... what he's saying is obvious.
Christians: Is he wrong? And if so, why?
To start off, he established the 8th Commandment. This Commandment is one of those that any civilized society would agree with. "You shall not steal." RC spoke about the obvious meaning of the Commandment... clearly one should not break into someone else's house and take their property. He subsequently went on to mention as an aside, that obviously it's not a sin to own stuff, since the Commandment makes it clear that it's acceptable to have property, and to expect that property not to be taken by someone else.
But it was the last paragraph he wrote, that prompted this thread. I'll just repeat it here and then I would like for folks to either agree, or, state why this line of reasoning is wrong.
"Some of the most sophisticated means of theft are codified in law by our lawmakers. Politicians routinely promise to raise taxes on one group of people to pay for services for another group of people. This creates tax rates that demand a higher percentage of income from some people than others, and it creates tax laws that are enormously complex and punish those who cannot hire accountants and lawyers to figure it all out. Scripture never explicitly sets an ideal tax percentage for the government (though elected officials are arrogant indeed to claim more than the 10 percent God allots for His church). Nevertheless, Scripture does not endorse different tax rates for different groups of people. Christians are to follow the laws in place and pay their taxes (Rom. 13:6-7), but, as they are able, they must not perpetuate legalized theft. Voting a tax rate on others that we do not vote on ourselves is the same thing as stealing from our neighbor."
I wholeheartedly endorse this message. With our President and Socialist-in-Chief in office, we are turning more and more Socialist every day. With resounding applause from his followers, Obama promises to make the wealthy in this country PAY for their success... and will ensure that their tax rates are jacked up, while everyone else is left alone. His followers shake their fists and say, "Yeah! Stick it to the rich!!!" during his speeches. Of course, little do they know that although the "rich" will pay higher taxes, WE the non-rich aren't going to see a single penny of it land in our pockets. It will go straight into the coffers of our irresponsible, inefficient, corrupt government who will sumarily spend the money on their own pet projects--which are mainly lining the pockets of special interest groups that promise to vote them back into office, and funding failed companies that donate to their cause (companies that after receiving their billions, disappear into bankruptcy with their CEO's laughing all the way to the bank).
Anyhoo... the bottom line is, RC is throwing down the gauntlet on this one... what he's saying is obvious.
Christians: Is he wrong? And if so, why?
Back to Top