If your a christian belonging to a church?

Question

why do you not pay taxes but stand by and watch as the poor and middle classes are over taxed and loan sharks charge mega boon interest when in the Old and New Testament are clear on not charging interest rates? And doing all you can for the poor then tell them welfare is a sin?
Not accusing just curious of the justification here.
Yep, I read and understood the teaching of the Bible.

I am poor and accused of being unimportant and unforgivable and a sinner because of being a single mom on welfare. However I will one day be a lawyer in the spirit of Moses the first law giver and JFK and Bobby Kennedy and MLK who tried to change and work for peace and benefits of those who are OPRESSED> Not support a billion dollar war that opresses and kills others.

If I sound embittered sorry, but I want to know why things are like this. It's not the loving Jesus I know.
He got mad at selling stuff in the Church too.

Interest, old testament, Dueteromony law of Moses, read it, you'll find it, it's there but I aint looking it up for ya.

Answer 1

I don't know which church told you that you were unimportant and a sinner because of your poverty, but neither my church (Lutheran) nor I say that! I'm sorry you had that experience. Those folks are not walking in the way of Christ; He told His disciples that the poor would be with us always. And James says that God chose the poor to be rich in faith.
As to your question about why churches don't pay taxes...well, that's something I wonder myself. I think we might be better off if we did, really. And the overtaxation of the poor/middle class and the loan sharks...honey, the blame for that falls on our elected officials who live in the back pockets of corporations, giving them huge tax breaks and letting everyone else shoulder the burden...while they vote big pay raises for themselves! (Must be nice, huh?)
And lastly: welfare is not a sin! We were poor when I was a kid, and if it hadn't been for food stamps, free lunches at school, and surplus government commodities, us kids would have starved! And later, when my mom developed heart problems so she couldn't work and had to go on full AFDC, we were just thankful those services were there for us. The only time welfare -might- be considered a sin would be if someone were just lazy and refused to work. But I don't think that's you...believe me, I know how hard it is to find a job that will support a family, or to get affordable training to help get a better job.
Please don't let that church get you down. I'll be praying for you, OK?

Answer 2

Gosh, you must've missed the "render unto Caeser" passage. Rome wasn't exactly doing any social justice work in Palestine when Jesus was walking around, you know.

The reality of a law degree is that you'll invest $80k in tuition, fees, books, etc PLUS living expenses for 2-3 years. You'll get out at least $100k in debt, and then have to take crappy jobs for a couple of years until you pass the Bar Exam. After that, you'll have to work for a firm whose clients have MONEY so you can pay those $1000 per month student loan payments. I'm not saying that this is right, but that's the reality.

If you want to help the poor as a lawyer, then become a well-employed lawyer working for some nice firm or company, then do volunteer work as a hobby.

FINALLY -

You're a single mom, which isn't part of the Bible plan, and then you attack me (a church member who pays taxes) because I'm not following the plan. Let's face it, if you'd have married a good man you wouldn't be so poor, nor have to raise the kids on your own.

Second, you attack the same society, government and tax payers who send you checks for thousands of dollars a year, claiming we're uncaring and not very religious. We're not the one who had kids with a man who didn't marry you, or ran off if he did marry you, but yet we care enough about you to send you checks and put you thru school.

Might I kindly suggest that those around you aren't saying that "welfare is a sin" but rather your attitude TOTALLY SUCKS and is KEEPING YOU IN POVERTY????

Answer 3

Christians pay taxes the church is a non profit and if you see any good churches books they give sometimes more than they have. and the church has nothing to do with loan sharks and if people were not so tight and gave to the churches they could and would do more for the poor. I know there are churches out there that spend way to much on the size and glamor looks of there church and yes even I question that. I think that we have grown callused to the way God wants the church...

Answer 4

I pay taxes, tithing, and usually come up with as much money as I can for whatever my church needs.
I take issue with your generalizations about standing by, and about judging people on welfare.
It sounds like you are judging all Christians.

I find the rest of your statement confusing. If you are going to be a lawyer, are you in law school? And what is this final sentence about the war? You are all over the place as far as topic.

Answer 5

I'm a person of faith, and attend a church.

I pay my taxes, just like everyone else. I don't any sane person that thinks loan sharks have the right to charge massive interest rates on people.

Welfare, and public assistance is NOT a sin. Jesus spoke more to the poor while he was on Earth than to any other group.

Answer 6

Jesus said "Pay Ceasar what is due Ceasar but pay God what is due God."
We all must pay our taxes, whether wealthy or poor.
We are also to follow the laws of the appointed.
If you are taking out high interest loans then that is your mistake. We should all try to live a debt free life. When you are in debt you are in servitude.
Jesus cared, spent time with and gave much to the poor, and we are to strive to live as he lived, but those who are on welfare, and I am not knocking it I have recieved assistence my self, must look at our actions and our stewardship of the gifts that God has given us, and ask ourselves if we are truly doing all that we can. Sometimes the answer is yes. But often it is not.

Answer 7

If there is a church I can join to avoid paying taxes, point me in that direction. I'll join in a heartbeat. But until then, I guess I will have to continue paying my taxes and tithing to my church so that they can support the poor too. I go to an inner city church where many of the members are in your situation and we do all we can to help and support them. And yes, they are sinners - just like every other member of our church. But I've yet to hear a sermon that points to poverty as a sin. Attorneys maybe, but not poverty.

Answer 8

First churches do not loan money and charge interest.

Christians all pay taxes, churches do not pay on donations, but do pay taxes on any non profit income

And yes churches do more for the poor than anyone else does, Look who was in LA after the hurricanes.

And actually here in the US the poor and middle class pay less taxes than anywhere else in the major world nations. The rich pay the majority of the taxes. The poor really pay no income tax, since they get it all refunded,

Facts do not represent the arguement

Answer 9

I don't know who don't pay taxes but I want to get in on that if there is a way. The only way I know of to not pay taxes is if your a preacher and that is your only source of income.

Answer 10

Cite the passage in the Old Testament that forbids charging interest.