The Biblical Case for Limited Government and Low Taxes

Liberalism, generally, favors a bigger government and higher taxes to pay for it, while conservatives advocate moving in the opposite direction: limited government and low taxes.

Let's face it. The government since FDR's New Deal has gotten bigger. LBJ instituted the Great Society. (I want my Game Show Government, no matter the cost!) By now conservatives would say Uncle Sam is morbidly obese. But liberalism is still winning, and liberals claim the moral high ground.

But do they have the right to it?

Not if we follow what the Bible recommends.

I have to admit from the outset that I get nervous about applying the economic and political specifics of the Bible to the modern era. But maybe we can draw general principles from the ancient theocracy of the Old Testament, which eventually evolved (or devolved) into a royal theocracy.

Continue reading at www.americanthinker.com

« Previous Article

Posting Policy

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse. Read more.

Evermyrtle

Government continually gets larger while the service we get is almost non existent, unless we are caught on the street with a Bible in our hands or are heard discussing the TRINITY in public, then we get their attention…..

Laws mean nothing to the liberals, they obey only those that pleas them, BUT we need laws forbidding them running for office of tax payers money, AS WELL AS PAYING THEM WHILE THEY RUN ON OUR MONEY. We have paid billions of dollars in salaries in the last year to politicians to run for office. At the same time they do not have time to take care of the business that they are supposed to take care of. They do a slap dash job of what little they do.
- Bighoss
  
  Sure, Evermyrtle, it is dangerous indeed to go out in the street with a Bible in one's hands. We all KNOW that Obama's Bible-seizing brownshirts are on every corner and hunkered down in every alley, ready to pounce on any Bible toter and drag him/her off to the hoosegow!
  
  Good grief! Get a grip for pity's sake, Everymyrtle. When you post ridiculous tripe like your rubbish above, you surrender any claim to credibility.
  - Winston
    
    Stick your head in the sand if that makes you feel better about the arrogant socialist government, Bighoss, but we who sincerely care about losing our Constitutional freedom and liberty…and unalienable rights from GOD…will continue to sound the alarm because we are Watchmen on the Wall. Crawl back into your hole.
    - Bighoss
      
      Well, Winston, if you choose to ally your comments with those of a nut job who actually contends that one walking the streets of this nation with a Bible in hand does so at peril of being interdicted by the gummint, then have at it. It is a free country still and you and Evermyrtle are blessed with the freedom to entertain your wacko watchman paranoid beliefs and fantasy fears about "s o c i a l i s t" persecution.
      - http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
        
        Bighoss:
        
        Maybe you will not get arrested for having a Bible on the street, YET, but some have already been arrested for preaching the Gospel on the street. Don't be so naive to think that the next step couldn't be Bibles:
        http://www.wnd.com/2008/06/67421/
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3MA3ue7ocE
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Vddo6V1sY
        
        http://www.wnd.com/2008/03/58583/
      - Bighoss
        
        Yes,there are occasional unjustified arrests of "street preachers" , but there are almost never any convictions for the preaching they do. There are, within the law enforcement community, too many cops who simply do not understand the law relative to freedom of speech in public places. Your honesty is appreciated in acknowledging that carrying a Bible on the streets of the U.S.A. will not get one arrested as Evermyrtle (more correctly "Evermuddled") ignorantly asserted.
      - Evermyrtle
        
        Tell me something if you can, boss????Why are you people who hate GOD so filled with such vicious hate and hate everyone and everything connected to HIM. Christian don't attack your comments and call you all sorts of names. I have never called you a name and I know for a fact you are wrong, because I know my SAVIOR AND OUR FATHER, only expects us to express the truth not salve our conscious by calling you some name. He hates that sort of thing as well as the lies that re connected to the names. HE does all of the name calling that is necessary. HE says all who deny him are "antichrists."
      - Bighoss
        
        I have nowhere denied God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, Evermyrtle. Perhaps you have not called me a name like "nut job" because I have not posted nutty commentary on this forum as you have. However, if you wish to call me "nut job" or any other derogatory name, feel free to do so. Being derogated by such an obviously disordered person as you costs my reputation nothing.
      - Evermyrtle
        
        Thanks for these email sites. Very informing, about we can expect if things continue to deteriorate..
      - Evermyrtle
        
        If it is "a nut job" to love and accept GOD, HIS SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, I am "a nut job." When JESUS CHRIST returns for HIS own, HE will find me standing true to HIM. HE will take me and the thousands, who love HIM with HIM and will leave those who hate HIM here on earth to face what is coming and I promise it won't be nice and you won't like it but you will be stuck here among all of those who hate HIM
      - Bighoss
        
        Evermuddled: One can " love and accept GOD, HIS SON AND THE HOLY GHOST" without conjuring up such ridiculous scenarios as your silly assertion about people being persecuted for toting Bibles on the streets of the U.S.A. Assuming that you do indeed "love and accept GOD, HIS SON AND THE HOLY GHOST," then you are living proof that a person can reverence the Deity and at the same time be a nut job.
  - Evermyrtle
    
    Can't stand the truth can you? God is there above us all and the universe that HE made, He is coming back, too
    
    You speak like most of those who hate THE FATHER and THE SON. You know that even Satan knows them and he hates them, just like you do. That is why you Satan allows you in with his bunch, because you fit so well.
    
    But you know what, it is not too late for you to change and get right with GOD. Believe it or not HE will accept you if you will accept HIM HIS SON , and the HOLY GHOST.
http://www.missiontoisrael.org/ Ted R. Weiland

For anyone who thinks Romney and the Republicans will solve America's problems (including lowering taxes), needs to read Laurance Vance's "Lies, Damn Lies, and the Republican party Platform" at http://libertarianchristians.com/2012/09/12/lies-damn-lies-and-the-republican-party-platform/?utmsource=feedburner&utmmedium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+libertarianchristians+%28LibertarianChristians.com%29.
- http://www.facebook.com/elmo.lovett Elmo Lovett
  
  and you ted r. weiland need to get you head out of the sand and look at what the present gestapo regime has done to America. Anything has to be an improvement over the obamanites. You sound as if you are so stupid you do not believe this regime has not told a lie.
  - http://www.missiontoisrael.org/ Ted R. Weiland
    
    Unlike Yahweh’s system, which provides for the appointment of the best of the
    best – the Constitution compels people to (hopefully) elect the best of the
    worst. It also necessitates political parties that are not only unbiblical but
    whose platforms are invariably ungodly. Political parties are the mechanism by
    which Christian constituents are offered up on the altar of WE THE PEOPLE.
    
    The Constitutional Republic’s surrogate election process is essentially no
    different from what occurred in Numbers 14 after the Israelites refused to go
    in and take possession of the land of Canaan. Verse 4 informs us that they
    clamored for a leader of their own choosing. Nehemiah 9:17 aptly depicts their
    substitute plan: “[The Israelites] refused to obey … but hardened their necks,
    and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage….”
    History has demonstrated that the Constitutional Republic’s election process
    has produced spiritual, political, and economic bondage for Americans.
    - http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Patton/592034163 Andrew Patton
      
      Ted, until you submit yourself to the authority of your bishop, you are a hypocrite, and you have no business criticizing our election process.
      - http://www.missiontoisrael.org/ Ted R. Weiland
        
        Proverbs 26:4
  - http://www.missiontoisrael.org/ Ted R. Weiland
    
    The last 224 years of constitutional elections has
    only resulted in this nation becoming less Christian and more ungodly, regardless
    who's elected. After every election, Americans eventually have cause for regret
    (Proverbs 29:2). And yet, every four years, they march right back to the voting
    booths with eternal hope (or is it merely short-sightedness?) and do it all
    over again. It's time we figure out that elections are nothing but a political
    shell game by which we are always provided the establishment's choice.
    Christians need to reconsider trying to salvage our nation via non-Biblical
    means. America cannot elect her way out of her problems; she must repent her
    way out.
    - Jeff Dixon
      
      That is a great suggestion, Ted. You work on the repenting issues and allow the more rational to deal with the actual work.
      - Esther
        
        Where is the article on Zionica that relates to your RR article on the existence of Jesus versus Julius Caesar that you mentioned?
      - Jeff Dixon
        
        http://rationalresponses.blogspot.com/2011/02/is-there-more-proof-that-jesus-existed.html
      - Esther
        
        I saw that one already… that is not more proof that Jesus existed, Jeff, it's just the opposite. Is that the message you meant to send?
      - Esther
        
        No answer needed. I am being rhetorical at this point.
  - Evermyrtle
    
    Swallow it like a man, he is dead right, 100% correct, ain't no way Romney can pull "this monkey out of the bag" Did he say anything like that??
- Bighoss
  
  Good stuff there, Ted. It nicely rats out the hypocrisy and pretension of Republicans like Paul, (the Poseur) Ryan.
  - Wordman
    
    The current Republican Party is by no means the perfect solution. I would have loved to have Ron Paul. But Romney and the Repulicans are infinitely preferable to the current brood of socialist Demorats who have America on the fast track to destruction. We can not afford to "let the perfect become the enemy of good." In politics it is suicide to say, I will except perfection or I will walk away. You work hard, get the best deal you can, and patiently work for better things tomorrow. It took, devote Christian, William Wilberforce decades, his entire long career in the English Parliment, to see his efforts bear fruit and see the slave trade outlawed in Great Britain. Real reform usually takes time, patience, and the wisdom to know that comromise is not neccessarily surrender. Winners never quit, and quiters never win.
    - aceituna
      
      I agree with most Wordman presents, but I don not believe Ron Paul is the answer.
aceituna

Let's face it — liberal thought pre-dates FDR. Right after the founding of the USA in the 1780' and beyond there was friction between the Jeffersonians and the Hamiltontarians — (Jeffersonians – who believed – "he who governs least – governs best") (Hamiltontarians – who believed in a strong central government – favored entities who would support them politically — in other words distributed 'pork' — federal money policy – national bank – and get off the gold standard – — giving the president dictatorial powers in 'emergency' situations — (does this sound familiar) — oh, yes high taxes, all kinds of taxes, especially tarrifs to aid the entities (industries) who support them politically — well you get the picture. There was constant see-sawing back and forth until the time of Lincoln who basically established the type presidency we have today. Today the politicians on both side of the politidal fence back this type govt., but a breath of fresh air, through the internet we are becoming acquainted with possible leaders who advocate "he who governs least – governs best". Now where do you stand? Biblically – check how govt. was handled at the time of Abraham — and also during the time of the Judges, and the aftermath when the people asked for a king.
Chris

What pure hypocrisy. The religious right want a bigger military. The religious right want the ability to pollute the Earth and destroy our finite resources.

Religion is bunk. Christians are not innocent moral to a fault beings.
- Evermyrtle
  
  All anti-GOD, Anti-CHRIST people are hypocrites.
- Wordman
  
  We want the federal government to be limited by the constraints set by the U.S. Constitution. Protecting the nation from foreign threats is one of the few things that the federal government IS SUPPOSED TO DO. The founders severely limited the scope of the federal government because they knew from history that central governments almost always try to become ever larger, more powerful, more controlling, and more restricting of individual liberty. Christians are the true liberals. We want more liberty, not more government. Of course true liberty is not the freedom to do what we want, but the power to do what we ought.
  
  I'm a Christian, and I'm a conservationist, but I'm an environmentalist. God loves humans and provided the earth for US to enjoy and make use of. We are supposed to make use of the earth and take care of it, not destroy it, and not worship it. There is a balance. Environmentalists tend to regard humans as the scourge on the planet. This is upside down.
  
  Most religion IS bunk. But Biblical Christianity is the truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:6)
  
  Christians do not claim be perfect. We claim to be forgiven. And to the degree that we are obedient to God's will, we claim to be on the road to moral improvement.
- fliteking
  
  "Christians are not innocent moral to a fault beings."
  
  Dam chief, you really missed the bus.
  
  We Christians sin daily, just like the rest of the world's people. We have an avenue to forgiveness. It is a lot like your auto insurance but with a much larger reward. Just trying to keep it simple for you.
  
  I bet you are fun at parties . . . you wear your bigotry and hatred on your sleeve.
daves

Since they are using the Old Testament to make this argument, can't we use it to make a case for controlling our women?

"Women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says." (1 Corinthians 14:34)

"But if … evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones…" (Deuteronomy 22:20,21)
- Evermyrtle
  
  Is that the only thing about the Bible, that you agree with?. I'm surprised that you remember that being in the Bible have seen many of your comments putting GOD,HIS SON and HIS church below the mudsills. DO you hate your mother? Do you have a wife? Poor thing, if you do, how about sisters or daughters and do you hate them all and want to get them beneath your thumb. I bet you would "cast the first stone" as JESUS suggested "whoever do which had no sin," in the new testament when they were about to stone a woman in the same situation.
  - fliteking
    
    Excellent.
  - daves
    
    I dearly love all of the women in my life and I treat them all with great respect.
    
    There is evil in the old testament that goes against everything Jesus taught us.
    - Evermyrtle
      
      But you control them????
    - philote
      
      The evil of the Old Testament, like that of the New, and that of today, are all the same and come from the selfish and self-serving heart of man – both "mankind" and the individual.
      
      The religious leaders of the Jews, even after thousands of years with the Law did not understand it, nor its purpose. That's because they didn't consult with the Law's Author as to its intent and meaning. It is no wonder that today, so many still read the Law and do not understand it. Apart from consulting the Law's Author, it is difficult, if not impossible, to fully understand the Law itself.
      
      Fortunately, the Author repeatedly tells us, in His book, the written Word of God, the meaning of His Law, and its purpose…and for most people, it just *isn't* anything close to what they conjured up in their mind.
      
      God is perfect in all His character, person, and actions. The Law codified a part of God's level of perfection, as it could be applied in/by the life of men. By codifying it, He allowed man to measure himself against a fixed and perfect standard – God Himself. And the Law showed them they didn't measure up. The consequences for breaking the Law showed how serious it was to transgress from perfection – simply put: the wages of sin is death.
      
      The purpose of the Law was to show people that, by both their nature and by their choice, they would not and could not meet even this small amount of codified perfection. It revealed the utter failure of man and his inability to fix the root problem.
      
      The Law, and fear of transgressing it, should have driven the people to call out to the Law Giver – "Have mercy! we can't do this thing". And in fact, that is the essence of the Law – God's mercy. For the Law for man is summed up in the Old Testament and New as "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice". God designed the Law both to show people their sin, and to show people God's mercy. Because they could see what was expected and that they didn't do it – they could offer no real defense for their actions. Because there were dire consequences for failure to keep the Law, they would need the judge to be merciful, else they would be condemned as Law breakers.
      
      God is perfectly just and righteous, so He must, by the Law, convict those who broke the Law and deliver the judgement that is called for by the Law. Because God is perfectly merciful, He took upon Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty, to suffer the judgement Himself, as a gift to us, so that we would not come under condemnation; so we would pass from the death sentence to life. Not because we were good enough, but because He was merciful enough.
      
      He offers that same mercy to all of us today. All of us are Law breakers, too. All of us have turned aside from God and went our own way. All of us deserve judgement from the just and holy God. But He, by/through the selfless sacrifice of Christ, offers to mark our bill as PAID IN FULL BY CHRIST. And all He asks is that we take Him at His Word, we believe and know ourselves as sinners and call to Him for mercy, for Christ's atoning to be applied to us as well.
      - daves
        
        What do you think the law means when it tells us we should kill people for working on the Sabbath?
- fliteking
  
  If you twist the facts and cherry-pick like a liberal . . . you might have limited footing for the point you make, but you'd have reduced the argument to little more than lie.
  
  I know, I know . . . in liberal land this still gets you a trophy.
Sam

Christians are not perfect but they have the instructions for making things right and good. When we don't follow the instructions and learn from the past, we cause ourselves pain over and over. It is the principles and values of the bible that make up our Constitution and I don't see anything wrong with that. I am grateful that our Founding Fathers took the right path and made the hard choices. People today want freedom with no responsibility. They want stuff without having to work for it. They want it all but they don't want to be responsible for their actions and they sure don't want to answer to God. But they will one day as will all of us. The bible stands for Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. The bible doesn't contradict itself. It is a book of history, love, sacrifice, rebuilding and most of all, it is a book of lessons. We see what happens to civilizations that worshiped idols. We are going down, too, if we don't change our ways. Just look at the Ten Commandments and learn what they really mean. There is more to the story than just the command. We are commanded not to kill but the bible is clear about the right to protect and defend ourselves. It is our duty to do so. Atheists like to mock the bible but there is a lot to learn from it and it has been a miracle for America.
Bighoss

The article quotes the Old Testament's description that criticizes the "king" for amassing a vast army, but whereas the article makes applications for our time (as in, e.g., matters of for taxation), it makes no analogy between the Biblical "king's" vast army and the enormous American military industrial establishment. Methinks the author is somewhat uneven in his analysis.
JK

I suggest you all read about lazrus and the rich man, I think the Bible teaches us we have a better covenant, what about love your neighbor?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45P6Q2oe_I4&feature=related Phaerisee

As a conservative, I am not so sure that Romney is the lesser of two evils, at least when it comes to the future of the Republican party. If we persist in ignoring our base composed of conservatives, christians and catholics we will continue to lose. Lincoln said you cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. Sacrificing conservative principles in an attempt to appeal to moderates simply is not electorally pragmatic for a Republican victory. If true conservatives want to send a message to the GOP leadership they should vote for Obama. If they cannot stomach voting for someone to the left of center, then they should consider voting for Independent candidate Gary Johnson. Nothing will change unless we send a message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92L4LHcT75s&feature=relmfu