America is in the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression. Who will we turn to as our financial savior? Will we, like our founding fathers turn to God, or will we spurn the freedom their blood, sacrifice, and toil earned and turn to big government?
In answering this question we must first look at the results when we turn to big government. After the stock market crash that preceded the great depression, the US government under the leadership of Presidents Herbert Hoover and then Franklin D. Roosevelt intervened, and the results lengthened the great depression for 10 years. In an article entitled Another Great Depression? Economist Thomas Sowell citing the work of Richard Vedder and Lowell Gallaway, in their book "Out of Work" shows that the unemployment rate following the stock market crash of 1929 rose from 5% in November, one month after the crash, to 9% in December, but the rate steadily dropped each month thereafter until it reached 6.3% in June, 1930. Then the government intervention began, leading to unemployment rates above 20%!
In an editorial entitled Our Government Problem-Solvers, Sowell points out that the stock market crash of 1987 equaled that of 1929. What was Regan's Response? He did nothing! This allowed the market to correct and was followed by 20 years of economic growth.
President George W. Bush laid the groundwork for a march toward a larger, more socialistic government. President Barack Obama is now continuing this march to socialism as he seeks to implement the failed economic policies of FDR. I have criticized both presidents for their big government policies, and I have done so based on historical experience, the constitution, and more importantly, the Word of God!
When we look at the word of God, we see in Genesis 14:18-20 that Abraham paid at tithe (a 10th) to Melchizedek. When Israel asked for a king in 1 Samuel 8:11-20, God warned the Israelites that a king would take a tenth of all they own! Here, God defines tyranny. Any government that requires as much from you as God requires of you is a tyrannical government and a messianic state (i.e. a government that wants to be God for you by providing for all of your needs.) Of course, a government that provides all of your needs will tax the life blood from you! God's 10% standard seems like chump change when we pay taxes on our income, Social Security, Medicare, unemployment, telephone, cell phone, cable, utilities, gasoline, airfare, hotel, etc. Most American's would be glad if government (federal, state, and municipal) would stop at 10%. Many in America pay 40-50% of their income in taxes when you add up all of the taxes.
Why do we pay high taxes? Because we have demanded high levels of service from our government. High levels of service aren't free. They come at a steep price, high levels of taxation. Like the Israelites in Numbers 11:4-6, we have loved the benefit of slavery more than the benefits of freedom. Our nation's founding fathers would be appalled!
When we look at the purpose of government in the Bible, we see in Romans 13:1-7 that its purpose is limited to this: reward the righteous and punish the wicked. In other words, leave law abiding citizens alone and protect us from threats from without and within. Our founding fathers recognized this when they created a limited form of government. And with limited government comes limited taxes.
If we truly want freedom from excessive taxes, we must let our voices be heard. From the firehouse to the Whitehouse, we need to demand financial accountability, limited government, and limited taxes from our elected officials. And if they won't listen, we need to replace them!
There is a movement in America today called the Tax Tea Party Day. Deriving its name from the Boston Tea Party, these modern day Tax Tea Parties provide an opportunity for citizens to protest excessive government and excessive taxes. You can join tens of thousands of citizens in protesting high taxes April 15, 2009.
St. Lucie County residents can visit the following sites for more info:
Indian River County residents can visit the following sites for more info:
Residents in other counties can visit the National Tax Day Tea Party Site: http://taxdayteaparty.com/.
Click here to watch my sermon on what the Bible says about the size scope and role of government and taxes: Who is America's Financial Savior? The Bible, Government, and Taxes - Tax Tea Party Day. You can also watch past sermons, including Pro-Life sermons that call our nation to repentance at Covenant Tabernacle's uStream page.
Thanks for the article. This is good!
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