“Each man should give what he has in
his heart to give, not reluctantly decided or under compulsion, for God loves a
cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Recently, with what we in politics used to call the “silly
season” upon us, there has been a lot of discussion in the news and among my
friends about welfare and entitlement programs.
As some of you already know, I am completely against the welfare system
of today because of the old saying “give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a
lifetime.” Our system as it currently
stands, in my opinion, is heavy on giving away fish and falls far too short on
teaching men to fish. I really do
believe that if we spent half of the resources that we spend on giving away fish
on teaching people to fish, with clear consequences for those who choose not to
fish, this country would have a whole new outlook and out welfare system would
be much better at doing what it was originally intended to do – get people back
on their feet.
In discussing this point recently, I had someone really try
to take me task. This person went on and
on about how we have a responsibility to take care of the poor and needy among
us and asked me how anyone who calls himself a Christian pastor could ever be
against a program that does so much to help the poor.
So I asked him the obvious question – “how much of your own
money do you give to the poor?” His
answer: “nothing out of my own
money. My tax dollars go to help the
poor.” And then, in another discussion
on an ACNA discussion board, another layperson made the statement that
disciples should consider part of their tax dollars a tithe, since some of the
money goes to help the poor. Therein
lies the real problem.
Using the government to help the poor may sound good on the
surface. We really should want to help
the poor – that should be the noble desire of every Christian disciple. But to say that giving tax dollars to welfare
is good Christian stewardship is false teaching, and it runs completely
contrary to the entire concept of Christian stewardship – and I say this for
two reasons. First, Christian giving and
taking care of the poor should be done freely and joyfully from a heart totally
in love with Jesus Christ. Second, if it
is done under compulsion, then it sends the wrong message that works-based
righteousness is acceptable and all I have to do is pay my taxes to be saved.
Paul covers the first point very clearly in 2 Corinthians 9:7. Each man should give cheerfully and joyfully
from a heart in love with and committed to Jesus Christ. It should never be done reluctantly or under
compulsion. Taxation is compulsory by design,
and therefore any consideration that paying taxes is somehow stewardship is
completely wrong. Remember that Jesus
said “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.” (Matthew
22:15-22) Jesus very clearly delineated Christian
stewardship from taxes – there is no confusion.
While we should pay our taxes, we should not allow our taxes and our
giving – or taking care of the poor – to be confused as if they are the same
thing. Jesus says differently.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord – voluntarily and joyfully. We will continue to help the poor, both here in Ridgecrest and throughout the world – not because we are compelled by the government, but because of the love of Jesus in our hearts. That is our prayer for all people who believe in Jesus Christ.