Taxes for Jesus

I have recently been thinking about how I, living in America as a well to do person, can do my part in changing the lives of the poor and needy of the world. Within the political climate of today many are thinking of how their vote next week can affect their lives without really worrying about anyone else.

Brian McLaren has a very nice blog post about how we as Christians should have a very different perspective about politics. He makes two points, one of which ties into my idea the other including for good measure, 1.) a politics of fear should not be coming from us as Christians; 2.) we shouldn’t be concerned with politics in the sense of what I can get out of this or that economic measure, even if it means exploiting them, rather we need to be thinking of the common good. Especially, as Christians, thinking of the good as it relates to those who really need the help—the peopple Jesus commands us to help; the widows, the orphans, the poor and needy.

It is this second point that I want to focus on right now. Let me spell out the problem. We live in a society where our economic/political system has been constructed or at least evolved into a system where one doesn’t look for/work towards the common-good. We are concerned with ourselves and our interests. Whatever alliances we can make to get to our goal we will make, even when those deals may be made with the devil.

We need to rethink our position in the world and also in our society. I think part of that will be reforming our relationship with the community—whatever amount of community is left around us. Our perspective on taxes is one which views it as our money, and it is evil government stealing it. When a bill on public education or public healthcare comes up we think of how it will affect us. Those who don’t have children or already have healthcare don’t see the importance of giving extra money to the project. But when their is a bill which will help us, a break on a specific tax, but hurt others we will not consider them but only ourselves.

What if we didn’t vote behalf of our personal benefits? Let us try to use our voting power for Christ. Let each tax or bill be considered in view of it being a sacrifice for others. But a common argument against putting money in the pot, is that government is huge bureaucracy which can barely get anything done. So okay let us grant that as valid, you don’t want to put money in because it won’t be used well. What if we started giving Christ our taxes? You want to support education, but not through the government? Why not create your own tax which you donate to a child you know who is about to go to college. Or even better donate your time to educating children in an afternoon program like big brothers & sisters.

Isn’t this just some convaluted description of tithes and offering, something that Jesus already calls us to? Yes. I guess my attempt is simplying to come at it from a different angle. Try this: Jesus  says that we will find him in the poor and oppressed. We are supposed to give our tithe to God. Jesus is God. We our suposed to give to the poor, who is supposed to be where Jesus is, who is actually God. By giving to the poor we are giving to God. So maybe we should consider how we vote for our taxes in the sense that they our offerings to God.

I know this is a stretching of an idea, but hopefully it at least opens thoughts about our ideas, political positions, use of our money.