MWR : Taxed for war

Last updated November 24.

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Jan. 11, 2010 issue

Taxed for war

By Donald D. Kaufman Newton, Kan.

Harold A. Penner found nuggets of hope and inspiration in the Nov. 30 MWR. His call is for greater honesty when making ethical decisions. The waste we condone with our Empire’s war taxes is horrendous. Our Christian heritage affirms allegiance to love, community and respect. But the “principalities and powers” exploit our individual and corporate resources.

One of Jim Wallis’ earliest books, Revive Us Again, A Sojourner’s Story (Abingdon Press, 1983) has a clear, moving account of how a group of people sought during the 1970s to take the Bible seriously, practicing the nonviolent life and love of Jesus. This group describes itself as a community of celebration and resistance in the face of unbridled nationalism and arrogant warfare. They recognized how this government was placing “Christians in a dilemma in which peace claims their commitment but war claims their money.”

If “Socrates was killed and Christ was crucified through the corporate actions of individuals” then the question is still with us. How will we and our congregations answer? Can we, like the Sojourners, “see a neighbor in the face of the enemy now”?

Comments

I wonder if Mr. Kaufman would also encourage withhold paying taxes that go to support law enforcement where deadly weapons are sometimes used against violent criminals?

Jesus has some words for MWR writers and readers. Responding to the Pharisees who wanted to trap him on paying taxes, Jesus said in Matt. 22, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God, the things that are God’s”. These words of Jesus are repeated in Mark 12 and Luke 20, therefore, we can conclude this was important. Repetition is the mother of learning. Nowhere does Jesus provide a list of exceptions. If the words of Jesus are not enough, I refer you to verses in Romans 13:6&7, For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they, (the powers that be are ordained of God,) are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. For those who encourage paying a percentage of taxes because it goes to the military, I refer you to Romans 13:2 “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” For those who understand these words from the Bible, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

- Dale Welty (jan 24 at 2:18 p.m.)
It is interesting to compare the two writings--one of Kaufman which focuses on rendering to God the things that are God's--"allegiance to love, community and respect", "to take the Bible seriously", "practicing the nonviolent life and love of Jesus", etc.--and the focus of Welty on taxes and allegiance to government authorities, therefore allegiance to Caesar.

Kaufman uses the words "taxes" and "money" once each.

Quoting a few verses means there are hundreds of verses not quoted. Would reference to some of those verses bring us together?

- Les (jan 24 at 9:49 p.m.)

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