Recurrent and recent debates about Medicaid, USAID, and PEPFAR have brought up a perennial question about Christian political theology: is it right to spend taxpayer dollars on works we might consider charitable? There are many admonitions throughout the Bible to be charitable to the poor, but only a few where we are told to pay taxes. It is not hard to find people who are not themselves Christian throwing around Bible verses about “the least of these” as they apply to government policy—a legacy, no doubt, of Christianity’s incredible influence in shaping the ethical landscape of Western civilization. Yet it is unfair, unwise, and unbiblical to assume that the government ought to be the mediator, guarantor, or vehicle of Christian charity or works of mercy.
Login to read more
Sign in or create a free account to access Subscriber-only content.
Topics:
