Obama Claims His Economic Policies are Linked to His ‘Christian Faith’

US President Obama’s was at the National Prayer Breakfast today and made some comments:

“When I talk about shared responsibility, it’s because I genuinely believe that in a time when many folks are struggling and at a time when we have enormous deficits, it’s hard for me to ask seniors on a fixed income or young people with student loans or middle-class families who can barely pay the bills to shoulder the burden alone,” Obama said.

“But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’ teaching that, for unto whom much is given, much shall be required,” he said. (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g-TRRODeNNCTShwzLvqDYGixc2PA?docId=37dc21efcf1446b29e178f325dec7749)

Now it is true that Jesus said that to whom much is given much is required. But was Jesus talking about taxes? Notice what Jesus actually said:

47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:47-48)

It does not sound like Jesus was advocating what some, including President Obama (see Obama: ‘You Can Call this Class Warfare’), have called class warfare.

The Apostle Peter, when speaking to a recent landowner of means, stated:

4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? (Acts 5:4)

Hence, the New Testament supports the idea that the wealthy are entitled to their wealth.

Now the in addition to teaching tithing (Matthew 23:23) which involves the same percentage for everyone, the Bible does encourage voluntary giving:

7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Forcing increases in taxes, which Barack Obama has repeatedly called for, is trying to impose a necessity that is not necessarily in accordance with the New Testament.

The President should consider these and other scriptures that perhaps he has overlooked as part of his faith.

This does not mean that there cannot support for mortgage debt reduction (see also Debt Jubilee) and other policies. The Bible has support for debt relief (Deuteronomy 15:1-2), gleaning (Leviticus 19:10), helping the poor (1 Timothy 5:3-7; Deuteronomy 26:12-15, see also Is Third Tithe Still Valid Today?), and familial land distribution (Leviticus 25:8-17). Yet, what the President sometimes seems to want appears unbiblical (cf Acts 5:4; Exodus 20:17).

Covetousness is becoming the political rule of the day. A nation that used to claim to have a Judea-Christian heritage should not overlook the Bible, as politicians should not bother one class of people because others want them to:

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. (Hebrews 13:5)

2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. 3 You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute. (Exodus 23:2-3)

The Bible also warns:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-8)

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

We are living in the last days. The sorrows and troubles are just beginning (Matthew 24:5-8) and will get much worse (Matthew 24:21-22). Increasing taxes on one segment of the population does not seem to be the “Christian solution.” Repentance from sin and studying the truth from the Bible would help do that, but this is not something that President Obama has truly advocated.

Of course, President Obama has taken other positions, such as his support of abortion and homosexual marriage (see also Obama Announces He Wants to Repeal Defense of Marriage Act and Increase Debt) in direct opposition to various scriptures (see also Ten reasons Americans do not consider Barack Obama to be a Christian). And, of course, it is just not him.

Many selectively claim and overlook many passages in the Bible.

While there are many scriptures that discuss helping the poor, taking substantially higher percentages of more from those who are not poor is not something that the Bible actually advocates.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

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