"The Lenses of Reformation Concerning Failure to Pass State Budget"
by Dr. Patti Amsden
All people, all organizations, and all governments are required to be responsible stewards of their assigned or allotted portions. If the allotted portion is small, stewardship is mandated to ensure that the supply does not run out before the needs and obligations are met. If the allotted portion is large, stewardship is still mandated to avoid waste, squander, and misuse. Stewardship of the portion being managed is, in part, a determiner for future increase.
Reformation lens #1 – Good stewardship, which is an ethic that embodies the responsible management of resources, is required of everyone.
The civil realm has monetary assets accrued through the collection of taxes from which to pay the cost of its biblically-defined duties of protection of the citizens and of the execution of justice. Taxes, like the tithe, should be collected from the nation’s people and businesses according to a set percentage of the increase derived from good stewardship of resources. The tax, like the tithe, should be the same percentage for all. The amount of the tax and the tithe vary from person to person depending upon the measure of the increase.
Reformation lens #2 – The civil government is given the right to collect taxes from the populace from which all financial obligations are to be paid.
Wisdom and honesty are qualities that must be applied when exercising fiscal responsibility. Wisdom guides choices when deciding where and how the funds will be allocated, including the making of contracts that promise future payments. Honesty guarantees that all needs, bills, and contractual obligations will be met. Wisdom and honesty certify that the steward will live fiscally responsible within a balanced budget.
Reformation lens #3 – Wisdom and honesty demand that contractual obligations be constrained by the limits of the resources.
When a debt is created outside of the limits of the asset base, more assets must be acquired to meet all financial obligations or the loans are defaulted upon. Increasing one’s asset base must be done through legal and moral means, like working extra hours. A thief employs coercion – such as a gun – to illegally take from another. A nation that taxes special income groups, special market items, landowners, and inheritance to gain access to extra tax money employs coercion – such as the power of prosecution and punishment – to illegally take from its citizens.
Reformation lens #4 – Contractual obligations created in excess of resources are unwise and often immoral as they run the risk of defaulting on the loan and thus robbing from the lender.
As Reformers - let's think on the topic of fiscal responsibility. If we, personally, create bills that exceed our income, we will be forced to pay some of our creditors and default on payments to other creditors. That means that we steal or rob from those who in good faith went into a contract with us. We become liars and thieves. The same scenario applies whether the discussion is centered around the fiduciary responsibility of an individual, a family, a business, or a civil government. Put on your reformation lenses and apply the above four biblical principles to the current discussion of fiscal responsibility and current government budget policies.
Reformation lens #1 – Good stewardship, which is an ethic that embodies the responsible management of resources, is required of everyone.
The civil realm has monetary assets accrued through the collection of taxes from which to pay the cost of its biblically-defined duties of protection of the citizens and of the execution of justice. Taxes, like the tithe, should be collected from the nation’s people and businesses according to a set percentage of the increase derived from good stewardship of resources. The tax, like the tithe, should be the same percentage for all. The amount of the tax and the tithe vary from person to person depending upon the measure of the increase.
Reformation lens #2 – The civil government is given the right to collect taxes from the populace from which all financial obligations are to be paid.
Wisdom and honesty are qualities that must be applied when exercising fiscal responsibility. Wisdom guides choices when deciding where and how the funds will be allocated, including the making of contracts that promise future payments. Honesty guarantees that all needs, bills, and contractual obligations will be met. Wisdom and honesty certify that the steward will live fiscally responsible within a balanced budget.
Reformation lens #3 – Wisdom and honesty demand that contractual obligations be constrained by the limits of the resources.
When a debt is created outside of the limits of the asset base, more assets must be acquired to meet all financial obligations or the loans are defaulted upon. Increasing one’s asset base must be done through legal and moral means, like working extra hours. A thief employs coercion – such as a gun – to illegally take from another. A nation that taxes special income groups, special market items, landowners, and inheritance to gain access to extra tax money employs coercion – such as the power of prosecution and punishment – to illegally take from its citizens.
Reformation lens #4 – Contractual obligations created in excess of resources are unwise and often immoral as they run the risk of defaulting on the loan and thus robbing from the lender.
As Reformers - let's think on the topic of fiscal responsibility. If we, personally, create bills that exceed our income, we will be forced to pay some of our creditors and default on payments to other creditors. That means that we steal or rob from those who in good faith went into a contract with us. We become liars and thieves. The same scenario applies whether the discussion is centered around the fiduciary responsibility of an individual, a family, a business, or a civil government. Put on your reformation lenses and apply the above four biblical principles to the current discussion of fiscal responsibility and current government budget policies.