Posted by
ConservativeChange on Friday, January 23, 2009 10:47:31 AM
"
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Matthew 25: 34
Paying your taxes does not satisfy this admonition of Jesus Christ. Big government hardly qualifies as one of the least of these my bretheren.
If you are thinking that the government using your tax dollars to provide the "least of these my bretheren" with welfare, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other assistance will help you merit Christ's invitation to join him in his Father's kingdom you will have a hard time.
Paying taxes isn't bad. After all Jesus did say, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." (Mark 12:17) However, it does not, and can not take the place of directly giving service to those in need around you. Government aid also makes us a faceless society. The person who receives your tax dollars in the form of food stamps doesn't know you, they don't appreciate you, and you don't know them. They don't feel your good intentions, and you can't feel their gratitude. Then again maybe your tax dollars went to bail out a bank and is now paying a bank executive's salary.
Just for good measure.
Matthew 25: 33-46
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.