Raise the Hammer

Meredith >> The New Testament repeatedly urges submission to the governing authorities.

But that is not what YOU are promoting, you are not telling RTH readers to pay more taxes to the government, you are asking for more handouts from the government. You are arguing for the complete opposite of what the New Testament is suggesting.

>> Jesus himself paid the tax... and remember the good ol' "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's" line?

Mark 12:14-17 (New King James Version)

14 When they had come, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?"
But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it." 16 So they brought it.
And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's."
17 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
And they marveled at Him.

So this is what it comes down to, what does Caesar own and what does God own? If you believe that Caesar owns human beings, then anything that comes from human beings is his. If yo believe that God owns human beings, then anything that they produce is God's. Who do you think owns human beings, God, or Caesar?

>> there is nothing wrong in abiding by and benefiting from a system, and it's even specifically condoned on multiple occasions by Scripture.

Where in scripture does it condone petitioning government for free health care, education, welfare, public spaces, etc?

reuben >> i believe one of the ways God provides is through the government. is your God too small to pull off a feat like this?

What makes you think that God can't provide for you by relying on him solely, rather than through the government? However, if you truly believe that God will provide for you, you should have no problem giving away all of your money to charity today. If you have faith that God will provide for you, prove it to yourself by giving away all that you have.

If you can't do this, then you don't really have faith in God, but are simply rationalizing your desire to have free stuff from government. Only you know in your heart if your belief is in God, or not.