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Title: 4 Examples of Jesus Christ’s Libertarianism
Source:
Voices of Liberty
URL Source: http://www.voicesofliberty.com/arti ... -jesus-christs-libertarianism/
Published: Jun 5, 2015
Author: Jason Peirce
Post Date: 2015-06-05 18:43:39 by Hondo68
Keywords: None
Views: 1327
Comments: 5
June 2, 2015—It seems pretty much every day there’s a story in the news about the government’s (the state’s) “War on Christianity.”
No matter how one chooses to define this war or to what degree it is being executed, the truth is that it’s the nature of the violent, predatory state to wage a war of-sorts on pretty much anyone who is not a friend, family member, or supporter of the leadership of the state.
But as for the War on Christianity, the first thing a Christian can do is “know thy enemy.” And the Christian can look to Jesus’s very own libertarian-leaning perspective regarding the political authority of the state.
Jesus was all about the voluntary. He despised the coercive authority of the state. He understood the impossibility of trying to force or tax a human being into heaven. He understood that people could not be forcibly nudged by the state into acting “neighborly” as Obama likes to put it. In fact, what Jesus reserved for the state was “irony, scorn, noncooperation, indifference and sometimes accusation” as Christian anarchist Jacque Ellul notes. And as civil liberties activist John Whitehead reminds us, Jesus did die in a police state.
Indeed, there is an intersection between Christ and libertarianism. Libertarianism is a political theory which deals with the use of force – violence – in social life. And libertarians understand that the state is the designated social institution of organized violence. This truth was as apparent to Jesus back in his time as it is to libertarians today.
Here are four examples from the scriptures to prove the point. American Christians, who are often far too eager to cozy up to the state only to be shocked when the state turns on them, should take special note.
What did Jesus feel about the moral status of the state? Let’s look to Luke 4: 5-7, where Jesus rejects the devil’s temptation (all quotes are from the NRSV Bible):
“Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him: ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I will give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will be all yours.”
The point is the estimation of the kingdom-states of the world: they belong to the devil. The state then, is a primary mechanism and means by which the devil can achieve his ends. The devil could not offer to give away what he did not possess. Detractors then, might argue that the devil was lying to Jesus about possessing all the kingdom-states of the world. But Jesus in no way denied that the kingdom-states of the world belonged to the devil. He simply rejected the devil’s offer.
Another indication of how Jesus felt about the state comes from Mathew 20: 25-28. The mother of James and John asks Jesus to seat her boys in positions of authority at Jesus’s right and left hands. Of course this angers the other apostles. Jesus addresses them all, reasoning:
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Here, Jesus summons the wisdom of Samuel on the nature of kings. Jesus instructs the apostles not to lord over others – not to exert force or coercive authority over people. Jesus likens such lording to tyranny. How many American politicians who claim to be “Christian” share Jesus’s disgust for tyranny and the lording over of others? Clinton? Bush? Obama? Why don’t more American Christians call their “Christian” politicians out on this?
Now, some might point to two passages regarding taxes to suggest that Jesus actually endorsed state authority. Let’s take a closer look at both.
First is the famous “Render unto Caesar” passage from Matthew 22: 15-22:
“Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.”
Here, the Pharisees and Herodians have designed a question to trick Jesus. So what does Jesus do? He certainly doesn’t endorse obedience to the state. Rather, Jesus doesn’t answer the question. Instead, in what James Redford calls “an ingenious case of rhetorical misdirection,” Jesus simply repeats the justice principle: give to people what they are due. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s. But Jesus doesn’t specify what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God.
Then there is this passage from Matthew 17: 24-27:
“When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple taxi came to Peter and said, ‘Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?’ He said, ‘Yes, he does.’ And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?’ When Peter said, ‘From others,’ Jesus said to him, ‘Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.”
First, different versions of the Bible use terms such as “strangers” and “people they (‘they’ being the kings) have conquered” rather than “others” to identify from whom the king forcibly extracts toll and tribute, or taxes. Also, “friends” is sometimes used in place of “children” to identify who does not pay taxes. All terms are appropriate. The point though, is that Jesus correctly asserts that “the children (friends) are free.” This means that the “others,” “strangers,” and “people they have conquered” are not free. Somewhat ironically, Jesus does instruct Peter to pay the tax. But this is less an endorsement of obedience to the state and more about Jesus’s determination to continue on in the purpose of fulfilling his destiny.
Jesus’s general perspective on the state is clear. And if American Christians are truly concerned with what they see as a War on Christianity, the first thing they should do is seek to better understand the nature of the beast — the state — they are dealing with. Jesus Christ, exhibiting a libertarian political economy, certainly understood the nature of the beast. He would expect no less from those who call themselves Christians.
Poster Comment:
Exodus 20:3-5King James Version (KJV)
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
King James Version (KJV)(1 image)
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Jesus/God is a big government tax and spend “socialist”.
Here is God saying so in his own words in the Bible:
In Genesis 41:33-36, God via Joseph gives his advice to Pharaoh to tax and then spend and subsidize the economy in times of recession:
‘Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.’
In Ex 23:10-11, Lev 25:5-7 God is pro government regulation of industry basically halting commerce for the sake of society.
In Deut 15:1-6 and Deut 15:3 from Deut 15:7-11 the Scriptures teach a cancelling of outstanding debt and not just an annulment of the interest on the debt.
Jesus was pro taxes: In Matthew 17:24-27 we learn that Jesus did indeed pay taxes: “After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied.”
In Matthew 22:15-22 we read: “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (NIV)”
This same incident is also recorded in Mark 12:13-17 and Luke 20:20-26.
So the gospels leave no doubt that Jesus taught his followers not only in words, but by example, to give to the government any taxes that are owed.
In Romans 13:1, Paul brings further clarification to this concept, along with an even broader responsibility to Christians:
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (NIV) Therefore, we can conclude from this verse, if we don’t pay taxes we are rebelling against the authorities established by God.
Romans 13:2 gives this warning:
“Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
And finally, regarding the paying of taxes, Paul couldn’t make it any clearer in Romans 13:5-7:
“Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
Jesus was against capitalist banking (Matthew 21:12):
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.
Jesus is against markets: John 2:16 “To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”
Jesus warns the rich against hoarding their money and for giving away their money to the poor: Mark 10:17-25.
Warning to Rich Oppressors
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of [feasting]. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.”: James 5:1-6 (New International Version)
#2. To: Pericles, highway to hell (#1) (Edited)
Jesus was pro taxes: In Matthew 17:24-27 we learn that Jesus did indeed pay taxes: “After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied.”In Matthew 22:15-22 we read: “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (NIV)”
This same incident is also recorded in Mark 12:13-17 and Luke 20:20-26.
That's explained in the article, yet you insist on viewing the bible through a communist manifesto filter.
Beware of worshiping the false god of Obongo&Bush, aka the D&R Corporation.
NOT the Bible
The D&R terrorists hate us because we're free, to vote second party
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul#3. To: hondo68 (#2)
Your article struggles to and fails to explain how Jesus is a libertarian when it comes to money and wealth and the state.
Jesus preaches submission to the state as did the apostles.
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority 1 Peter 2:13
Romans 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
#4. To: Pericles (#1)
Jesus/God is a big government tax and spend “socialist”.
It's the hive model of human agriculture.
#5. To: hondo68 (#2)
Beware of worshiping the false god of Obongo&Bush,
Beware of worshiping the false god of Obongo&Bush, religion.
Religion is a Created Thing. How'd that work out in Romans 1:25+?
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