'Cause God Blessed Taxes with His Own Hand...
President Obama isn't selling the bracelets, but he is asking the question: WWJT? What Would Jesus Tax? Speaking at yesterday's National Prayer Breakfast, the President invoked everyone from Jesus to Mohammed to push his universal welfare state. "It's hard for me to ask [people]... who can barely pay the bills to shoulder the burden alone. And I think to myself, if I'm willing to give something up as somebody who's been extraordinarily blessed and give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy, I actually think that's going to make some economic sense... For me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus's teaching that to whom much is given, much shall be required. It mirrors the Islamic belief that those who've been blessed have an obligation to use those blessings to help others, or the Jewish doctrine of moderation and consideration of others. It mirrors the Islamic belief that those who've been blessed have an obligation to use those blessings to help others, or the Jewish doctrine of moderation and consideration for others."
How ironic. Liberals accuse us of trying to create a theocracy, when they're the ones trying to attach biblical significance to big government! The Left engages God when it's convenient, and draws a line between church and state when it isn't. Unfortunately, that's the reality of an a la carte belief system. God can easily conform to public opinion. And this isn't the first time the White House has recruited Jesus to support its policies. Back in November, President Obama said God "wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work." "Isn't it a bit much to bring God into the jobs debate?" a reporter asked? Press Secretary Jay Carney fired back, "I believe that the phrase from the Bible is, 'The Lord helps those who help themselves.'" Only that phrase wasn't from the Bible. It's usually attributed to Benjamin Franklin (and I doubt he'd support the legislation either!)
The problem here is not that the President references Scripture. The problem is that he's interpreting it through a narrow ideological lens that isn't aligned with the Truth. Sure, Jesus hung out with the tax collectors, but no serious student of the Bible would construe Luke 12:48 as a call for big government. The Bible is clear that we should care for the less fortunate, but not once does it imply that it's government's job to do so. When Jesus wanted to help the orphaned or widowed, he didn't hire bureaucrats. He called on His followers, the Church. We can ask ourselves What Would Jesus Tax? but without taking Scripture wildly out of context, we may never know. What we do know is that the same God who supposedly "supports" Obama's tax hikes is the One who condemns abortion, sexual immorality, and religious persecution.
The Great Divorce?
Every year, over a million American children suffer the pain of their parents' divorce. Research shows that this breakdown is debilitating children and society as a whole. Divorce diminishes children's future competence in all five of society's major tasks or institutions: family, school, religion, marketplace and government. Divorce also damages children's physical and psychological health, and, as a result, kids may engage in destructive behavior, or even commit suicide. There is no way to predict how or to what extent divorce will affect any particular child, but it is clear that it will profoundly weaken society. FRC explores these consequences in a new paper, "The Effects of Divorce on Children." Click here for your free copy.
** Don't miss this week's Washington Watch with Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), who will stop by to talk about the "Respect for Rights of Conscience Act," which he introduced to help faith-based groups and insurers opt out of contraceptive coverage on religious grounds. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) will be on the show to tell us about his new book, "Now or Never: Saving America from Economic Collapse." For more information or to find a radio station near you, visit FRCRadio.org.
*** Circle your calendars for next Thursday, February 9, as FRC responds to the President's war on religious liberty with a webcast dedicated to the new insurance coverage rules. Tune in at 8:00 p.m. to hear what you can do to stop this administration from violating your conscience and the conscience of hundreds of faith-based groups.
**** Ken Blackwell and I were featured in Time magazine for our responses to this question: What are the three most important action items for the next President. Check out our answers here and here.
***** Before you head out to church, click over to CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday at 9:25 a.m. (ET). I'll be talking about presidential politics.
