The proud conservative

The musings of another confirmed conservative. "Change is not always good."

Name:

I am a dentist, living in Ohio. I am a boomer in more ways than one. I ride a motorcycle, lead singing in church, hunt and fish, ride a bicycle, take long walks, like to read,,,,, and I am proud, yet not snobby of my heritage

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Christians in a Bad Light

The controversy over the termination of the assistant librarian as posted at Patrick Henry College is a good example of Christians acting as bad examples. Discourse between Christians seeking obedience to God is a good thing. The Ethiopian eunuch consulted Philip about the meaning of prophesies in the Psalms. When a Christian terminates the employment of another Christian over the question of the importance of baptism in salvation and the forgiveness of sins it is sad. Let us consider Jesus exhortation for Christians to be the light of the world. What kind of light shines from this public squabble between Christians? A flashing red light? The president of Patrick Henry College should have considered more the great similarities bettween his employee and himself rather than the one difference between them. I am not saying that their disagreement is insignificant and is not worthy of sincere discussion and discovery. I am saying that because of their common faith in and love for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Mr. Michael Farris, president of Patrick Henry College, should have welcomed this young man into his community and encouraged peaceful coexistence with him. Can Mr. Farris not see that there is a far greater enemy to be defeated than one young man who, in my opinion, correctly believes that baptism is integrated into God's plan for man's salvation? The unsaved, unrepentant world looks at arguing Christians and finds it easy to excuse Christianity as something to be avoided. When are Christians going to get this? For centuries we have been at each other's throats while the forces of secularization have captured our culture. "why can't we all just get along" has some real Biblical utility for us. Christians should do better.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Tax code Tramples Freedom

The buzz concerning the need for massive reform if not the virtual annihilation of our crippling tax code is welcome. If our nation was founded on principles regarding individual freedom, serious questions come to mind when we consider the relationship between citizens of the United States and their government, viz-a-viz the tax code and its enforcement arm, The Internal Revenue Service. As free people, we acknowledge that our collective needs require government and that the government needs to be funded by the people, the consumers of government service. So far, so good.
When the people become disconnected from government so that government services and the costs of providing for them are served up to the people without the perception or reality of consent, freedom for the people becomes more illusion than reality.
When the government presents its bill to the people for services rendered, what we commonly refer to as taxation, and that bill cannot be understood by the average citizen because of the intricacies and vagaries of the tax code, freedom becomes more illusion than reality.
How many of us would tolerate an invoice for services rendered that required the hiring of a consultant to make sure that we did not pay more than we than we should? That is what we are forced to do when we are confronted with our tax bill. We have to hire accountants, experts in the tax code, to prepare our returns so that we are sure that we do not pay more than our fair share of tax. This is not freedom. This is not government serving the people. This is a people serving a bloated, all powerful government.
Excessive taxation is strangling our country. The ability of a people to afford the services of their government presupposes the economic vitality of that people to fund government. Taxation imposed by profligate legislators who have no qualms about spending other people's money will finally impede the exercise of sufficient commerce to provide the treasure to fund government.
A formerly free people will find that they now work for the government and not themselves.