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October 24-31, 2007

Presidential candidates talk taxes

Warm-up Question:

Would you rather be a boastful and arrogant saint, or a humble and repentant sinner?

  

With the beginning of the caucus season less than 10 weeks away, presidential candidates are starting to sharpen their stance on the hot-button issues. Taxes are always one of the most important issues in every campaign. In 2005, the average US household paid 17.2% of their income in federal income taxes. This means that for every $10 a person made, almost $2 went to the federal government.

Most people don’t like paying taxes; they like to hang on to as much of their money as possible. Presidential candidates know this, so many of them attempt to appeal to voters by proposing tax cuts. All of the 16 major Republican and Democrat candidates have promised to cut taxes they are elected. However, the similarities end there.

Most of the Democratic candidates are hoping to reduce taxes for lower-class and middle-class families. Some also pledge to lower taxes for senior citizens as well. Barack Obama, for example, has proposed eliminating taxes for senior citizens making less than $50,000 per year. Thus far, none of the major Democratic candidates have suggested lowering taxes for the upper-class; in fact, some want to raise taxes for this demographic group.

Republican candidates also hope to cut taxes, but most of them do not specify which groups should receive tax credits or cuts. Candidates such as Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Ron Paul, and Fret Thompson are pledging to cut taxes across all income levels. They are also promising to reduce government spending.

Republican Mike Huckabee is currently the only candidate in either party who supports the FairTax proposal. The FairTax is a plan that replaces traditional federal income tax with a national retail sales tax. This means that everything purchased in grocery stores, shopping malls, department stores, restaurants, etc. will come with an additional federal sales tax on top of any state and local sales tax. Most states have a sales tax, ranging from 5-9% of the purchase price. The FairTax would likely be more than 20%.

Regardless of the angle each candidate takes, it’s likely voters will hear a lot more about tax issues before November 2008.

 

Discussion Questions

  1. What do you think about taxes? What kinds of programs and projects are supported by taxpayers’ dollars? How do tax dollars benefit or help you?

  2. What kind of tax plan would you propose if you were running for president?

  3. What are your thoughts about the FairTax proposal? Do you think it would work? Does it seem truly “fair”? Why or why not?

  4. Why do you think US citizens are required to pay a large portion of their income to fund state and local government?

  5. Should church members be required to pay a portion of their income to fund the ministries of their church? Justify your answer.

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, October 28, 2007.
(Text links are to oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22 or Sirach 35:12-17
Psalm 84:1-7 (5)
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Luke 18:9-14

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection
In today’s gospel text we find Jesus telling his favorite kind of story—a parable. This particular parable is about a Pharisee and a tax collector. In Jesus’ time you couldn’t find two people with less in common.

A Pharisee was a very religious man. He not only obeyed the laws, he went out of his way to do more than the law required. It was not uncommon, therefore, to meet a Pharisee who was bragging about his righteousness. A tax collector, on the other hand, was the scum of the earth. (Perhaps you know the story of one of the most infamous tax collectors, Zacchaeus.) Tax collectors in Jesus’ day were representatives of the corrupt Roman government. They would not only seize unjust taxes from citizens of occupied Roman territories, they would also take extra money for themselves. This unethical practice meant tax collectors were often financially wealthy, and spiritually bankrupt.

This parable gives us an inside peek at the prayers of these very different men. Both the Pharisee and the tax collector show up at the temple to pray. The Pharisee, justifiably, is proud of his good deeds and gives thanks to God that he is such a great guy. The tax collector’s prayer, on the other hand, is one of repentance. He asks God to show him mercy and forgive him of his sins.

In the end, Jesus turns this story upside-down and indicates that the tax collector, not the Pharisee, had found favor with God. Oddly enough, the sinner who repented was justified before God, not the proud Pharisee who had done everything right.

Today is the day when Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day. It is a time to give thanks to God for leaders like Martin Luther who called for church leaders to keep the gospel at the center of their preaching and teaching. Luther often mentioned how people are at the same time both sinners and saints. We are constantly pleasing and disappointing God with what we say and do, much like the two men in today’s parable. Therefore, as Pharisees AND tax collectors, God calls us to live holy lives and also ask for forgiveness when we mess up.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why was the tax collector—the one usually considered to be the bad guy—justified (seen as righteous, right, or law-abiding) before God?

  2. What do you think the Pharisee’s reaction was when he saw a tax collector praying in the temple?

  3. How would you feel if you were the tax collector in this story? The Pharisee?

  4. What does it mean to humble yourself before God? When you think about the culture and society we live in today, what makes it a challenge to be seen as humble?

  5. What are ways you can be humble at school… home… etc.?

Activity Suggestions
It’s easy for us to be like the Pharisee and thank God for not being as awful as some “other people”. With that in mind, ask each person to think of someone that is looked down on by others. It could be someone they know personally, or someone they simply know of. Give each person a piece of paper, and envelope, and a writing utensil. Ask everyone to write a letter of encouragement to this person. Remind everyone to be humble as they craft their letter. Students can put their letter in the envelope and send it to the person.

  Closing Prayer
God, help us to be humble as we try to live godly lives. Remind us that we are both sinners and saints along our journey of faith. Guide us in the path that you have set before us. Amen
 

Contributed by Erik Ullestad
Des Moines, IA

Permission to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ELCA Youth Ministries. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses to Faith Lens, e-mail:  rod.boriack@elca.org.

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