Perhaps you could explain to me what you mean by the phrase individual sovereignty, and why it means that the government is forbidden to use tax money to help the poor, and how Jesus makes this clear. If you could just find one quote... ONE QUOTE that makes it clear that Jesus disapproved of the government helping the poor, I'd be ever so grateful. I keep asking and asking for this, but no one seems able to supply it.
Jesus was not sanctioning tyrannical government. He was first of all turning the trap meant for him back on the Jews, exposing their hypocrisy. And he was making the distinction between tyrannical government—as inherent to the fallen nature of the world—and the supreme authority of God.
Caesar (the world, and all evil) vs God (the Spirit, and all good).
The sovereignty of the individual means the individual has an intrinsic value which cannot be displaced or outweighed by that of any other individual. This comes from the heart of Jesus’ message that each individual is cherished by him and invited to enjoy the glory of the Father through him.
Luke 12:7 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
Luke 15:10 “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
That each individual has value in God’s eyes is extremely powerful. Powerful as an idea, but even more so because it’s true. It breathed life into the philosophy underlying democratic principles, and planted the seed in the minds of common people that they had no less value than the ruling class. Culminating in the principles of liberty in our U.S. Constitution. There is no liberty without God.
Jesus teaches us to make the moral choice to take care of the poor. Taxation by the government eliminates free choice in the matter, stealing the opportunity for the individual to make a moral decision to help the poor. Seen in this light, taxation is the opposite of what Jesus wants.
Matthew 19:21, “Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’”
Also Mark 10:21, and Luke 18:22.