I want to be clear in my intended communication. First, for disciples wrestling with the Christian ethics of war and their involuntarty support via taxes, voluntarily living under the tax line is a option that is legal, does not violate Mt. 22:21, is in the spirit of Mark 10:21, and requires sacrifice and self-denial. This would hold true for other moral dilemmas such as abortion, etc.
More importantly is the point that if I choose to obey Mark 10:21 in the spirit of serving the kingdom, then I by default live below the tax line and avoid involuntary support of anthing the government does. If I were to sell all, quit my job, and participate in mission work, I would be following Christ per Mark 10:21. I would also not being paying taxes, even though my motivation was to follow Christ, not avoid taxes.
If I voluntarily began living with the absolute minimum resources required, I could give most of my salary to Kingdom work while in the secular career where God led me. And I would be living below the tax line with the purest of motives. If the giving exceeded tax limits, then I could negoatiate with my employer to donate that portion to the charity of my choice. Or I could setup a foundation which my salary goes to and draw only the minimum needed while giving the rest away. There would be a way to maximize the money going to Kingdom work.
The commentator also said this, "I know you know the story of Rich Mullins who lived on a small, fixed income... . I think it's his example that is the better suggestion. Rich didn't do that to avoid paying taxes, he did it to keep himself humble and free from the greed and excessive materialism that he saw around him."
That is exactly my point and one I had hoped I had clarified in my post or in discussion comments. But maybe this was not evident, so I make this effort to clarify.
What about family? How can you live at this level and provide for your family including education. I would suspect that your gross needed, although above the tax line, would be reduced to below the line with the deductions and credits allowed. If not, I would go ask somone like Stephen Meeks who has lives this way and has 5 children how he does it. (also see his Good Soil Ministries site)
The purpse here is not to avoid taxes, but to maximize the amount of effort or resources that goes toward kingdom work.
What about using societal resources and infrastructure without contributing? Would not this lifestyle contribute to society and more than offset the use of resources? That is why the government allows charitable tax deductions and family tax credits.
This discussion began as a war and tax issue, but is no longer; it is now a Kingdom and heart issue for me. Now to the aspect that really bothers me. I am not willing to make this radical change at this point in my life. Don't bother asking why not, I don't know. That is what bothers me. I don't think my unwillingness damns me or makes me a bad person. But, what I do know is that it would be a decision in which my Savior would find joy. No one could argue it as a bad choice.
But I can't pull the trigger. I am the rich, young ruler! Oh sure, I have greatly reduced my material expenditures; I serve more in direct Kingdom work; I donate more. But I know I could do more. I and Christ know my heart. There are certain steps I am not ready to make. But shouldn't I not only be willing to, but wanting to make these choices for my Savior? How convicted am I really? Not enough! And I am suppose to be completely convicted.
I know one other thing: Now that these questions have been raised within me, it would be a sin to sweep them under the rug. I believe this struggle of heart is purposeful by the Spirit and healthy for me spiritually. One comfort I take away is also found in Mark 10: (21) Jesus looked at him and loved him. (26-27) "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
I close with the lyrics of a favorite song.
It's Love
by Pinnick, Tabor, Gaskill
I sit in a chair reflecting back upon my life
And I have so much yet to learn, and so much yet to do.
Its love, ove, ove.
That holds it all together, I'm just glad to let you know
That its love, ove, ove
Thats holding back the weather, and the same will let it go
I sit on the beach feeling the wind, feeling your hand
In all there's a ship on the ocean, and I can't decide if I like it
Its love, ove, ove.
That holds it all together, I'm just glad to let you know
That its love, ove, ove
Thats holding back the weather, and the same will let it go
Gethsemani Homilies by Matthew Kelty, O.C.S.O.
10 comments:
Tony,
Thanks for your clarification. I thought that was where you were going, but wasn't sure.
I feel your pain. I am praying for you and A (how sweet and precious she is!)--I pray for your wisdom as you seek what God has for you in all this. I pray you will be open to the Spirit and obedient as you understand where God is leading.
I want PH to read your post when he gets in this evening--you have expressed some thoughts I have struggled with very well.
I have many more questions than answers. I admire Rich Mullins. He was single, therefore, didn't have children. Do we let children affect our choices?
In some ways--it's so relative. We live in a middle middle income area. There are many houses much bigger and many lots smaller near by. Some of their friends would declare our house a mansion--and others a shack.
I believe God has used us by living in this neighborhood. Sure, we could live in a smaller house--but what if it's God plan to use us here? How do we know??
Yep, I have more questions than answers. And I am praying for you brother!
Thanks JB. Likewise I pray for you and your family.
I do think we let children affect our decisions and sometimes to their detriment, even though our motivation is to be generous to them.
I love this from you comments: "In some ways--it's so relative. We live in a middle middle income area. There are many houses much bigger and many lots smaller near by. Some of their friends would declare our house a mansion--and others a shack."
Perspective is a very interesting and important aspect of decision making.
Tony
Tony- I really appreciate your thoughts as they are always challenging to me. Although I'm not always sure how to respond because I feel so spiritually less mature than the likes of you and Jettybetty.
Last night, my husband and I watched a documentary called "Beyond the Gates of Splendor." Have you seen that? It was about the five missionary men that were savagely killed in Ecuador. It was amazing. Those men had already given up the comforts of home in order to live in the jungles of Ecudaor- and their wives and children too! They were willing to sacrifice it ALL because God called them to "radical Christianity."
Now, I certainly would not consider myself to be a radical Christian. Far from it..but I want to encourage my children to be....but how can they learn but by my example and how do I lead by example and not give them all the comforts we've worked so hard to give them? It's a sacrifice and I'm not sure I'm ready to go that far.
So, for now, I continue in my little middle class suburban habits and think and pray about WHAT it is a WHERE it is that God would have me to go if I were to TOTALLY give everything I have and own (including my children) to Him.
I have not seen this movie. I will though. I am humbled by your words, I don't feel spiritually mature. In fact the more maturity I gain, the less mature I feel.
I echo your thoughts completely about example, children, and willingness.
Tony
[T]he more maturity I gain, the less mature I feel.
Perhaps that's what Jesus meant when he said we need to become like little children.
A couple comments: First of all, I wonder if Jesus and his followers paid taxes. Most of what we know would suggest that they did. Roman taxes were heavy and I'm sure that Jews who paid taxes helped support the local and distant Roman military. Roman peace was ensured by lording over the peasant majority of the Roman Empire population.
Secondly, if American Christians did not succumb to the normal consumeristic mentality that is under fire here, jobs would be cut and the G.N.P. (Or is it the G.D.P.?) would shrink and there would be less to give to charity. Does that make sense? What I am describing is the catch-22 situation we have here. We must all buy goods to keep our neighbor employed. Moreover, if all Christians live under the tax line, the government programs that are in place would become bankrupt.
I know that my comments are theoretical and can be easily rebutted, since that is the nature of such discussions. However it is difficult for me to see the benefit of talking about the teachings of Jesus when his words were spoken in the context of a culture (an agrarian Jewish one in a world of Roman occupation) and worldview (premodern) that has very few similarites to our own.
I commend any discussion that challenges us all to love and help others. However, to limit that discussion to Christian ideals that few have the gumption to put into practice just shows that religion has done more harm than good in this world. Loving an exclusive God doesn't make this world a better place as we have always been told to believe.
Brent,
I am not at all afraid of the effects on the economy if Christians were all living below the tax line and completely serving mankind in the process. I think all would work out for the better. There would be balance.
Loving an exclusive God doesn't make this world a better place as we have always been told to believe.
If I believe in one God and serve man with complete love because of that faith, I don't see a downside. Many that I serve might not agree with my faith, but they would still be served and they wouldn't have any complaints. And they might start seeing my God in a different light.
I guess my point there is that Christ did not call me to worry about others faith, He called me to love and to serve unselfishly. Thereby the world would witness the love of Christ and witness a genuine faith and I could trust God with whatever decision each free soul chooses to make. I cannot force people to believe. God and Christ chose not to do this. But I can follow Christ's example and love.
Right now, I have a hard enough time just getting better at love, so I will focus on that change in me. Once I become perfect, I will then have time to argue theology.
So, no one should really be hearing much argument from me for a long, long time--ever actually.
Thanks for your comments Brent. Glad to see...read you back.
Tony
We missed y'all in class this Sunday morning.
Thank you for your clarification. I don't want to argue either. This is a very personal issue for all of us. However when you say:
"for disciples wrestling with the Christian ethics of war and their involuntarty support via taxes, voluntarily living under the tax line is a option that is legal, does not violate Mt. 22:21, is in the spirit of Mark 10:21, and requires sacrifice and self-denial. This would hold true for other moral dilemmas such as abortion, etc."
I still don't completely agree with you (not in legal since, that is true but in a Christian ethics one). I don't know exactly how to articulate it, so I won't even try because I'll just botch it all up and make myself look like a bigger @$$ than I already am! :-) Maybe we'll have the chance to discuss this in person someday.
And I echo Jana's sentiments...missed you and Anita this morning!
The key words in my discourse are "wrestling" and "option".
If you are not wrestling with such problems, then the post may have little relevence. I am not trying to push others to feel the same struggles. I am articulating my struggles in a way that I hope aids others who wrestle with the same thoughts and emotions.
We are not all on the same spiritual journey or at the same place on that journey. And I am not trying direct anyone else's journey.
Also, it is okay to state your opinion, pro or con, because that is the purpose of the blog.
Tony
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