Comments on: Fair Tax in the Bible?

By: Ben Ward

Ben Ward — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:20:38 +0000

Yeah, nothing…It happened last time I commented as well. No big deal, I just thought you would want to know and see if others are having the same problem.

By: Deane

Deane — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:36:27 +0000

I am not sure what a half shekel would equal in today’s dollars, but I certainly like the principle that everyone pays something and that there is a limit on how much any person would have to pay.

Taxing income is a terrible idea. Basic economics, if you want more of something subsidize it, if you want less of something tax it.

By: Fred McKinnon

Fred McKinnon — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:56:12 +0000

Ben, odd .. it should – have you checked your junk mail folder?

By: Ben Ward

Ben Ward — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:49:15 +0000

Even though it isn’t “free-will” you can still have the same attitude, I think. Sowing and reaping is Kingdom and transcends what we are required to do by a government.

BTW, I check the “notify me of new comments” and it doesn’t notify…just thought you should know!

By: Robert McKinnon

Robert McKinnon — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:20:00 +0000

I like the scriptural reference, Fred. What I think about is somewhat similar, and something a few christian “politicians” have alluded to in the past:

What about a “year of Jubilee”? Talk about wiping out the deficit? What if on an undisclosed date (for those who would abuse this) everyone who had a debt – homeownwers, car owners, patients, doctors, school loaners, banks, etc – was declared “debt free”.

No one would owe anyone. Everyone would have a clean slate. No one would lose. We, as a nation, would still owe foreign countries, but how quick could we pay that back with our income tax – possibly the flat/fair tax you’re discussing?

By: fmckinnon

fmckinnon — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:15:04 +0000

New blog post: Fair Tax in the Bible? http://bit.ly/2ey8Q

By: Bj Collins

Bj Collins — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:35:39 +0000

NO WONDER Steve Forbes “found religion” in 1999. Here’s a quote from Steve:

“It was people of faith who founded this country. George Washington said that ‘It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe without a Supreme Being. And it is impossible to govern … without the aide of a Supreme Being.’”

By: David Goodwin

David Goodwin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:22 +0000

Definitely Fred.

By: Fred McKinnon

Fred McKinnon — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:49:48 +0000

David, true … but that passage is about whether or not we SHOULD even be paying our taxes – it’s about submission to authority, and the laws of the land …

True, also, that no country abides totally by Kingdom principles. But there will be a day … amen?

Of course, Jesus taught us to pray “Thy Kingdom come, here on earth, as it is in heaven”.

We, ambassadors of that Kingdom … we should be more proactive in bringing forth HIS Kingdom principles here on the earth, right?

By: David Goodwin

David Goodwin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:46:44 +0000

Let’s not forget Luke 20: 20-26 in this though…

Fact is, none of us, regardless of nation, are living in a country that is based solely on Kingdom principles…which was the basis for OT Israel.

It would be great to live in a country where God’s economy was the only economy though huh

By: Fred McKinnon

Fred McKinnon — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:18:28 +0000

Mike, yep, you are correct – I knew that as I published … realizing that:
1 – it wasn’t exactly the same as “fair tax” and
2 – it wasn’t a “tax” at all

I suppose I was thinking not so much about the fact that it was a half-shekel … but that a designated amount (in our case, could it be a percentage?) was specified, and all were required to meet it.

By: Fred McKinnon

Fred McKinnon — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:16:41 +0000

Ben, I love that analogy of sowing and reaping. Of course, it’s hard to think of it as sowing when it’s not a free-will donation. Hmm.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:08:30 +0000

Ah, but but the Lord’s instructions to Moses were the opposite of a flat tax. The Lord instructed everyone was to pay a half shekel, rich or poor.

The analogy would be for the government to say “Everyone pays ten thousand dollars tax, no matter who you are.” Obviously, this would be a huge burden on someone living below the poverty line, and a night out on the town for someone wealthy. (the point of the Census Tax being, of course, everyone’s sins are the same in the eyes of God)

So given this example, the idea of a flat tax (which I support, BTW) would be decidedly unbiblical.

I prefer the example of the poor widow in Mark 12: each according to his ability.

By: Ben Ward

Ben Ward — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:44 +0000

I’m with you, Fred. If we started looking at what we give to the government as sowing, we would look to the reaping. We would want what we’ve sown to bear fruit. I believe a percentage is Biblical…now we also know that the government doesn’t always act Biblical.