Taxes and giving

Laodicean60 · Feb 6, 2025

soldier of light said:
You can get a tax break. Giving to the poor is tax deductible.

If you're giving for a tax break then I think you're giving for the wrong reason.

soldier of light · Feb 6, 2025

FAITH-IN-HIM said:
I am having difficulty understanding your position. In one Thread ( your own), you mention that worrying about the economy is SIN, while in this thread, you provide advice on how to use government laws to save money on taxes and donate it to those in need.

This is not about the economy. It's not about worry or fear or complaints. It's about giving like we are commanded to do. The government cant obey God for us. Being forced to give is not faith and love. Is it?

soldier of light · Feb 6, 2025

Laodicean60 said:
If you're giving for a tax break then I think you're giving for the wrong reason.

You misunderstood. The tax break is not for our gain but for the people we give to. It's so we have more money to give them

Laodicean60 · Feb 6, 2025

FAITH-IN-HIM said:
I am having difficulty understanding your position. In one Thread ( your own), you mention that worrying about the economy is SIN, while in this thread, you provide advice on how to use government laws to save money on taxes and donate it to those in need.

Double standard going on in the name of God.

soldier of light · Feb 6, 2025

Laodicean60 said:
Double standard going on in the name of God.

Please prove your assertion and attack on me. Thank you.

public hermit · Feb 6, 2025

soldier of light said:
You misunderstood. The tax break is not for our gain but for the people we give to. It's so we have more money to give them

Is that what people do, they give more based on the tax break they receive? That would be great if they did.

soldier of light · Feb 6, 2025

public hermit said:
Is that what people do, they give more based on the tax break they receive? That would be great if they did.

That's what I'm proposing. Take your power of giving away from the government and do it yourself.

public hermit · Feb 6, 2025

soldier of light said:
That's what I'm proposing. Take your power of giving away from the government and do it yourself.

That's not a bad thought on an individual level. The problem is Christians are too divided to be very effective, and certainly we're not nearly as effective as a unified, government entity that has money and logistical capabilities.

Now, if Christians could ever unite, as the Lord commanded, there would be no need for government intervention. We have all we need to do it ourselves as one body, but nope. Sadly, we don't just live in a broken world but also a broken church. And since that's the case, it's best to support those good things that governments can carry out. It's the very least Christians can do, actually. We pay taxes, and the government helps where Christians are unable (because we're divided) and unwilling (because we don't love goodness more than our desires).

soldier of light · Feb 6, 2025

public hermit said:
That's not a bad thought on an individual level. The problem is Christians are too divided to be very effective, and certainly we're not nearly as effective as a unified, government entity that has money and logistical capabilities.

Now, if Christians could ever unite, as the Lord commanded, there would be no need for government intervention. We have all we need to do it ourselves as one body, but nope. Sadly, we don't just live in a broken world but also a broken church. And since that's the case, it's best to support those good things that governments can carry out. It's the very least Christians can do, actually. We pay taxes, and the government helps were Christians are unable (because we're divided) and unwilling (because we don't love goodness more than our desires).

Let me explain my belief to clarify. I'm not against paying taxes, welfare or social security. I'm against the government getting credit for God's work. It's not God's work because God's work isn't forced on us like taxes are. God gives us the choice to give or not. God likes a cheerful giver as Paul said. Looking at 2 Corinthians 8 and Exodus 16, we might say that God is testing us. But I'm not saying that. I'll let scripture speak for itself

soldier of light · Feb 6, 2025

public hermit said:
That's not a bad thought on an individual level. The problem is Christians are too divided to be very effective, and certainly we're not nearly as effective as a unified, government entity that has money and logistical capabilities.

Now, if Christians could ever unite, as the Lord commanded, there would be no need for government intervention. We have all we need to do it ourselves as one body, but nope. Sadly, we don't just live in a broken world but also a broken church. And since that's the case, it's best to support those good things that governments can carry out. It's the very least Christians can do, actually. We pay taxes, and the government helps where Christians are unable (because we're divided) and unwilling (because we don't love goodness more than our desires).

I'm not concerned with what the herd is doing. I plant my little flag and say this is God's kingdom and we obey Jesus here.

public hermit · Feb 6, 2025

soldier of light said:
Let me explain my belief to clarify. I'm not against paying taxes, welfare or social security. I'm against the government getting credit for God's work. It's not God's work because God's work isn't forced on us like taxes are. God gives us the choice to give or not. God likes a cheerful giver as Paul said. Looking at 2 Corinthians 8 and Exodus 16, we might say that God is testing us. But I'm not saying that. I'll let scripture speak for itself

Isn't the government, in some significant sense, already doing God's work? If the government encourages what is good and helps repress evil/destruction, isn't that God's work? If my taxes are going toward good things in that sense, I'm thrilled about it. So long as it includes the interests of the tax payer, it's good in terms of government helping folks. In the same context, the church can do things differently, or at least with different interests. The church can give liberally, without self-interest, in the context of a government that does its God-given job. Our power is our unity in love.

soldier of light said:
I'm not concerned with what the herd is doing. I plant my little flag and say this is God's kingdom and we obey Jesus here.

I hear you. I mean, what can one person really do? You never know, we might get it together one day. :prayer:

soldier of light · Feb 6, 2025

public hermit said:
Isn't the government, in some significant sense, already doing God's work? If the government encourages what is good and helps repress evil/destruction, isn't that God's work? If my taxes are going toward good things in that sense, I'm thrilled about it. So long as it includes the interests of the tax payer, it's good in terms of government helping folks. In the same context, the church can do things differently, or at least with different interests. The church can give liberally, without self-interest, in the context of a government that does its God-given job. Our power is our unity in love.

I hear you. I mean, what can one person really do? You never know, we might get it together one day.

No the government is not the church.

Laodicean60 · Feb 7, 2025

soldier of light said:
Please prove your assertion and attack on me. Thank you.

I feel the same #20 Double standard Economic politics are sin, change my mind. and this thread.

Richard T · Feb 7, 2025

soldier of light said:
Medicare is irrelevant. I'm talking about giving

Medicare is the largest chunk of money going to the poor. You wrote "Being forced to give like giving taxes to the government is not a good work. That's not the Lord’s work." Medicare is forced. So if we take it away, the poor will for sure get less health care. I am not saying it is not good to cut programs even like medicare but there is no way donations are going to take up the slack if government support for the poor are slashed.

soldier of light · Feb 7, 2025

Richard T said:
Medicare is the largest chunk of money going to the poor. You wrote "Being forced to give like giving taxes to the government is not a good work. That's not the Lord’s work." Medicare is forced. So if we take it away, the poor will for sure get less health care. I am not saying it is not good to cut programs even like medicare but there is no way donations are going to take up the slack if government support for the poor are slashed.

It's ok to pay taxes but that's not God work. Being forced to give is not God's work.

Richard T · Feb 8, 2025

soldier of light said:
It's ok to pay taxes but that's not God work. Being forced to give is not God's work.

Without the ability to force taxes, perhaps only the Vatican government could exist.

soldier of light · Feb 8, 2025

Richard T said:
Without the ability to force taxes, perhaps only the Vatican government could exis

Paying taxes is not giving to God

Taxes and giving

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