Is the Fair Tax an un-Biblical Regressive tax on the Poor? Part 2 of 2

What is our Biblical responsibility to the poor?  Does it include providing them with lower tax rates than others?  Here are some things we know from scripture and what we can learn.

1. Matthew 26:11a – For ye have the poor always with you; – Poverty cannot be eliminated.

2. Leviticus 19:9-10a – And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.  And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger – A part of your resources should be available for the poor, but they must work to obtain it.

3. Mark 10:21 – Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. – Personal charity is a part of following Christ, yields heavenly treasure, and shows that we love God more than things.

4. Mark 14:3-6 – …there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.  And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor.  And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. I Timothy 5:8 – But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. – There are certain things such giving to your church or other eternal endeavors and providing for your family that are more important than giving to the poor.

5. Luke 10:30-37 (The good Samaritan) …there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  And likewise a Levite… …Samaritan… …he took out two pence… – Government charity is not just inefficient, but is often a complete failure.

6. I Timothy 6:8 – And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. – Poor that have food and clothing are no longer in need.

7. Mark 14:7 – For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. – Giving to the poor is voluntary.

8. I Corinthians 13:3 – And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. – Loving people is more important than providing for physical needs.

There are many other passages referring to the poor, but no-where do we see a mandate for lower government tax rates.  Personal charity on the other hand is efficient and commendable.