COMMENTARY | In his address at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, President Barack Obama made a reference to Jesus' teaching that says "for unto whom much is given, much shall be required."
Of course, Obama is referring to his desire to raise taxes on the rich in order to give more to those who are already taking from government. We're also pretty sure Jesus wasn't talking about being forced to be kind and generous.
Where Obama gets it wrong is that Jesus is not talking about one group forcibly taking from another but instead people giving of their own accord to the less fortunate, when they have it to give. There is a difference.
Instead, Jesus teaches that if we give to those in need, we will have a better chance at entering Heaven, but the gift must come from the heart. Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:1 to "Beware of practicing your piety before men to be seen by them: for then you will have no reward from your father who is in heaven."
In fact, Matthew 6:3-4 goes on to tell us we should give in secret and not let others know of what we are doing, "But when you give alms, do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Having our taxes raised is certainly not "in secret."
In any reference Jesus makes to the matter, they all use the term "giving," nowhere do we see anything about be forced to give, which is what taxes are, and what Obama is advocating. Instead of raising taxes for the rich, wouldn't it be better to lower them for everyone else? Wouldn't that allow for those of us who would like to give to the poor to be better able to do it?
It's great that President Obama is trying to show us what a good Christian he is, but he needs to read his scriptures a little closer. When he does, he will also see there is nothing bout Socialism in there either.
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