Is there such thing as “legitimate taxation”?

American Vision ^ | September 8, 2014 | Joel McDurmon

[all the best]

The answer is no. Now let’s explain.

Doug Wilson has published an opinion that “taxation can be done right,” by which he means there is legitimate taxation according to the Bible. While I esteem much of Rev. Wilson, and there is tremendous overlap between us in general, I disagree with this sentiment, and I think it is important for the Christian’s overall vision of the future. I offer this intramural essay.

Doug makes a distinction between taxation that is without biblical warrant and taxation with biblical warrant, and which we should therefore accept as normative for society. While we would largely agree on the first category, it is the second where I dissent. Doug writes,

We know that taxation can be done right because the Bible talks about paying taxes to the one to whom it is due (Rom. 13:7). These are taxes that we owe, and are not to be considered theft at all. We should no more chafe at paying our legitimate taxes than we do paying our bill for satellite television.

My view, expressed online and in Restoring America, does not allow this distinction:

None of this, however, is to justify taxation in general. Ideally, there would be none, and public services would be much more like private services, if not in fact private services. . . . There is no biblical law regarding any taxation for civil government. This leads me to believe there should be none.

I am now more resolved in that belief than I was over two years ago when I first wrote it.

But Doug gives a Scriptural basis. What of that? While I certainly recognize the Scripture he references to support his concept of “legitimate taxes” which we cannot consider theft at all, I don’t agree on its import.

[fruser1]

Taxation comes after government, not before.

In the Book of Kings (I think), the people ask God for a king, and God warns the people against this, as no man should be elevated over another. The people whine and God relents.

So to get rid of taxation, you must do without kings and, along with that, government.

Biblically speaking, you could live the way of the Gospels and ignore government. Unfortunately, in today’s world, this means you’d have to do as Jesus said to the rich man - “Sell everything you own, give the money to the poor, and follow me.” AKA completely Galt.

Have fun in the woods and hills!

[ChessExpert]

“Tithing is very much Biblical.”

Tithing is a choice.

[i_robot73]

>Right. And no involvement by the executive branch.

Nor, the Judicial (wasn’t it Kansas that judge ‘made’ spend all that $$ on ‘[schools’? Course, the State just went ahead with it like, ‘Oh, OK.’).

But, what do *I* know? I’m just a govt-school approved, post-self-educated serf. Luckily, I know cursive. /s