President Obama has hit a new low. By promoting his reasoning for hiking taxes on the rich at the National Prayer Breakfast, he diminished the seriousness of his proposals and manipulated Jesus' teachings for his own political purposes.
Listening to Obama talk about taxation almost as a form of worship was beyond the bounds as he said, "For me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus's teaching that for unto whom much is given, much shall be required." He was quoting and distorting the Gospel of Luke and the Parable of the Faithful Servant. And, as Christians, we are greatly grieved by what Obama has done.
Obama is quoting a small portion of a lengthy answer given by Christ in response to a question by St. Peter. Here is a more complete version of Christ's dialogue from the New International Version:
"Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth; he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
Christ isn't talking here about money, government, or taxes as Obama alleges. Jesus is talking about following His will, as He is the Master and we as His followers are the servants. Presumably Obama would know this, as he says he is a professing Christian.
America under Obama's leadership has been the opposite of the good and faithful servant. America is now a post-Christian society that is living out in practice the contrasting phrase, "'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to... eat and drink and get drunk."
America is squandering its wealth on riotous living, war, and welfare. It is subsidizing all kinds of perverse lifestyles and practices with the public purse. America is sacrificing millions of innocent children for the convenience of the mothers, all in the name of the invented "right of choice."
Obama goes on, "I know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years, and I believe in God's command to love thy neighbor as thyself. I know a version of that golden rule is found in every major religion and every set of beliefs." And we too believe in the golden rule. And we wish it animated not the largess of Government but the actions of individuals.
The Bible we read also speaks out against covetousness and theft. And the promotion of division and class warfare promoted by this administration clearly promotes the citizenry to desire the wealth owned by others.
We believe that the Bible's teachings are clearly understandable and are accessible to all that will take the time to read it. There is much to be learned by diligent study of the Word of God; we pray that Obama will take more care when he quotes scripture in the future.
There are many passages throughout the Bible that mandate the poor and widowed should receive care, and we believe private charity is much better than a faceless government bureaucracy at delivering the care and individual attention required when people are in need. We cannot find anywhere in our Bible a call for high taxes and the confiscation of private property. Instead, we find those passages in the Communist Manifesto. Maybe Obama is confused.
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