Here's a new one: The rich shouldn't be taxed more based on Exodus 30:13-15

[sinkingfeeling]

Last edited Tue Jul 17, 2012, 03:29 PM - Edit history (1)

There was a letter to the editor in the 'Northwest Arkansas Times' yesterday (cannot access online without paid subscription). The writer blasted the President for his National Prayer Day words and said there was an equal arguement in the Bible for everybody paying the same taxes. He used Exodus 30:13-15, showing he has no understanding of Jewish atonement and thinks that 'offerings' to the 'Lord' is the same as state/federal taxes.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000, Exodus, Chapter 30:
13
This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel Ex. 38.25, 26 · Mt. 17.24 after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs a half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.
14
Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.
15
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

[elleng]

1. One 'man,' one vote.

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less.

[notadmblnd]

2. that's taxes to the Lord, not the Government. I'm pretty sure the only thing it says about Govt Tax

Is "Render unto Cesar that which is Cesar's"

[RKP5637]

3. Yep, they drag out totally irreverent dribble. Too bad they can't

just teleport back in time to those wonderful times they long for, and it would save the rest of us the grief of having to listen to their BS. Damn I get fed up of listening to things wrapped in god-stuff in this country.

[tanyev]

4. Luke 18:22-23 "Sell everything you have and give to the poor."

[22] When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

[23] When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

[Writely Wrong]

5. Don't tell the churchs this

Especially the ones that rely on tithing, like the Church of Later Day Saints.

Does this also mean that we should only allow a single flat deduction amount on income taxes for sin forgiveness money paid to houses of gods?

[mindem]

6. I'll match the Old Testament with some of the New.

New Testament passages
"Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" Matthew 19:21
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35
"They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." Mark 12:40
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed." Luke 4:18
"So he replied to the messengers, Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.'" Luke 7:22 [ E-book: The Kingdom strikes back ]
"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys." Luke 12:33
"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." Luke 14:13
"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" Luke 18:22
"Beware of the teachers of the law . . . They devour your widows' houses . . . Such men will be punished severely." Luke 20:46-47
"'Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.' He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." John 12:5
"In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor." Acts 9:36
"Cornelius stared at him in fear. What is it, Lord?' he asked. The angel answered, Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.'" Acts 10:4
"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings." Acts 24:17
"On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'" Romans 12:20
"For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem." Romans 15:26
"All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." Galatians 2:10
"Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need." 1 Timothy 5:3
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
"Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here's a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man, 'You stand there' or 'Sit on the floor by my feet,' have you not discriminated among yourselves and becomes judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?" James 2:2-6
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

[Fozzledick]

7. Hey, let's just have a jubilee year and forgive all debts!

And FWIW, the idea of the fixed offering in the OP was that the rich couldn't buy more forgiveness with a larger payment.

[rustydog]

8. Yo, Arkansas remedial biblical class attendee:

Your bible quote is referring to the CHURCH!
aren't you late for recess or another "Obama is not a true American" meeting somewhere near Donald Trump's house?

[Zyzafyx]

9. GAWWWWWWWWWWWWWD wants global warming

K&R!