Why Social Security is Un-Christian
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Why Social Security is Un-Christian
You heard me correctly. If we take a look at the basics of Social Security it is definitely Un-Christian. Further, most democrats support this Un-Christian government program.
The supporters include Obama and the following senators Reid, Boxer, Dodd, Durbin, Hagen, Dorgan, Murray, Cantwell, Kerry, Rockefeller and all the others. We expect the Republicans to support Un-Christian government – “of, by and for the rich and greedy”, but not the Democrats.
First let’s look at what Jesus says.
Matthew 22:37-40
37And He said to him, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
38"This is the great and foremost commandment.
39"The second is like it, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'
40" On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
If you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you want him treated (to pay the same taxes you do) the same as you when it comes to taxes. The rich and poor are treated entirely differently when it comes to Social Security Taxes (FICA).
Matthew 7:12
GOLDEN RULE -
12 “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
If you were one of the over 10 million Americans who get only their Social Security payments (average payment is $1,000/month) would you want the rich to pay FICA taxes on all their wages to help out the system?
James 5:1-6 Warning to Rich Oppressors1”Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.
2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.”
Maybe he is speaking about the over 400 American billionaires and the over 5 million American multi-millionaires who avoid paying the FICA tax on 90% or more of their wages while the minimum wage workers at Wal-Mart pays the tax on 100% of their wages.
Luke 12:15
MONEY & GREED
15”Then He said to them, Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
Luke 16:15
15”And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men (money and possessions) is detestable in the sight of God.”
PAUL in 1 Timothy tell us to “charge” the rich to help the poor
1 Timothy 6:17
17 “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they may not be highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all thing to enjoy”
Social Security is almost broke because we have an entitlement for the rich that exempts them from paying the tax on all their wages. The FICA is limited to the first $106,000 in wages. Every dollar, or should I say the millions the rich make, is exempt an entitlement.
Brain Williams anchor at NBC has a salary of $8 million per year and he paid the FICA tax on just over 1% of his wages while the minimum wage worker made about $11,500 ($7.35 X 30 hours X 52 weeks) and paid the tax on 100% of their wages. Is this really fair? Is it Christian? Is it even humane? If you are a Christian can you support this?
Mr. Williams won’t be doing any stories on this “government entitlement program” for the rich. He and his bosses like it just fine the way it is with them getting out of paying their fair share. As an aside this is just one of over 100 government entitlements for the rich and greedy we will look at in coming days.
PAUL tells us in Romans the following:
Romans 15:1 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves.”
Some, if the percentage is linear, 80% of the CEOs in America call themselves Christians. All the CEOs of the 2249 companies listed on the NYSE and their buddies make a lot more than the FICA limit, but the $50 million per year CEOs just can’t afford to pay their fair share when it comes to FICA taxes.
This exemption, entitlement for the rich and greedy, is UN-Christian and those who protect this entitlement are acting against the teaching and instructions of Jesus Christ.
We must make Social Security a Christian system by treating all the same, equal justice, and tax all wages for the FICA tax.
Please email you elected representative and let them know what you think.
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
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Mark,
Many people follow the "the rules" according to the Commandments. But many get lost in the moment and fear, greed and other emotions push many, not all, to forget their true values.
By the way I think many who don't call themselves "Christians" actually live a Christian life because they live according to "Love you neighbor and you love yourself" and "Do unto other as you would have them do unto you."
I also separate the common man from most politicians. For a politician to survive they must trade their belief in Jesus for a commitment to the party and its values.
They must cater to those with the money who drive an agenda.
Thanks for your comment…
The OASDI system is unChristian because it is based on force. Though the SSA will tell you (if you ask the right question) that SS is voluntary, in practice it is enforced by most of the people you have commercial contact with. Try to get a job. Try to contract. Try to open a bank account (even if only to get rid of out-of-town checks). No bank account? Check-cashing services require "your" SSN. Try to get a Driver License (only 1 state will issue a DL w/o SSN). Without a SSN.
It is possible but difficult, especially without years of preparation, to live without a SSN, but the noose is tightening. Things that did not require a SSN years ago (I got a passport in 1984 - there wasn't even any place on the app. for a SSN) now are unobtainable w/o a SSN (unless you are a foreigner). Even if the law doesn't yet require a SSN, the bureaucrats refuse to accept your app. w/o a SSN. Everything you try to do is a fight. Even getting your newborn child out of the hospital is a confrontation. The personnel will refuse to check you out if you don't check the box on the birth certificate (which is put up as collateral for the national debt). They will check the box if you don't. They will check it when they enter the BC into the computer.
So have your children at home. Virtually illegal in many states - may get your child and children taken by the CPS.
ME,
You provided a lot of info. I am not sure what your point is.
Thanks for reading and for your commnets...
I agree completely, thank you for writing this. My mother earns something like 22k a year, paid taxes, and then owed the government $1300. The only way this is fair is if the rich get taxed just as much or hopefully more.
hb,
We can only hope congress eliminates the cap on wages at $107k and taxes all wages for FICA. That is the only fair thing to do and it is what JC would do.
Thanks for reading and taking time to comment...
@jcrevalator
While you won't find me defending the rich and greedy, there is a slight flaw with your logic.
The Social Security system is actually designed to create a floor for seniors who otherwise would be unable to sustain themselves.
Many of the individuals that you cited would actually not collect Social Security, or will collect far less than they pay into the system when it is their time to collect.
I agree that the cap should be raised. To what extent I can't say definitively. But our current Congress will never tax ALL wages. And even if that miracle would ever happen, there would be loopholes left in the process specifically for the rich to exploit.
tt,
The Wal-Mart worker who makes $15,000 per year pays SS taxes on 100% of her wages and she is supportiung three kids.
The CEO who makes $50 million in wages pays the tax on $107k. one days wages. Is this fair?
Thanks for reading and for your comments...
I don't think a lot of things are fair. But the reality is that the CEO who makes $50 million is far less likely to receive what he's put into the system. I believe that the cap should be raised, and then indexed to Cost of Living for the the future.
From the standpoint of being un-Christian, the Bible provided a system to ensure that widows and orphans could at least eat. It would be best if we view Social Security as such. Yes the worker making $15K may pay more into the system proportionally speaking, but she will also reap more benefits proportional to what she paid in.
tt,
Thanks for reading and for your comments...
Congress accommodated the Amish and similar groups that have an established record for taking care of their won who are needy, disabled, sick, elderly. However it is very restrictive. The Amishman exempted from Federal INSURANCE Contributions Act premiums (called a tax, but the law is titled INSURANCE, so they are premiums) must either be independent (the IRS calls "self-employed" to bring independent people into its "employee" category) or must work for a boss who is also exempted.
If "Christians" would live up to their profession in this one area, Congress would be pressured to extend the exemption to all Christians. But, NO! "Christians" plan on living off the backs of the working people, Christian or not. They hope to collect more than they "paid in" FICA taxes/premiums, just like any gamblers.
Today, "Christian" pastors and counselors imagine they are doing their "Christian" duty by helping needy people apply for free money, food, apartments, etc., from "Caesar," in whom they trust.
The Christian who will not apply for "benefits" is looked on by his "Christian" brethren as strange, looney, and if he has a family, neglectful if he trusts in the Lord and his "Christian" brethren.
I do not ignore that Christians do give a LOT to the poor and needy in many circumstances from personal poverty to wars, famines and disasters. This is highly commendable. However, Christians should not be yoked to Caesar in any way they can avoid. Caesar ALWAYS pressures or even forces those who are yoked to "him" to compromise their (or, according to the Bible, should be their) faith.
ME,
Very interesting. You must worship a different JC than I do. My JC says, love your neighbor, as you do yourself and do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. My JC said, as you treat the least among you (the old and the sick), so you treat me also. I'm not sure what your JC says about the least among you?
Thanks for reading and for your comments...
the jcrevelator2, "My" Jesus Christ does not call on me to use violence against my brother to get him to help those in need. Under His rule charity is VOLUNTARY, not forcible. I really doubt that you believe what you literally wrote. Or do you believe that Christians will not give one dime to the needy if they are not forced? I doubt that you believe any such thing..
Neither Jesus nor His inspired ambassadors ever encouraged or approved forcing Christians or anyone to help the needy.
Force by the state is the use of any degree of violence up to and including deadly force to compel compliance or to subdue the noncompliant. It cannot be otherwise in this world. The state must be ready to force the violent to be peaceful if they will not submit by the use of any less severe means.
However, Jesus' kingdom is not of this world. It is an heavenly kingdom. Though Christians are IN this world they are not OF this world.
You wrote:
"My JC says, love your neighbor, as you do yourself and do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. My JC said, as you treat the least among you (the old and the sick), so you treat me also."
Surely "your" JC does not say, "Love your neighbor but FORCE him (at gunpoint if that's what it takes?) to do unto others as he would have others do unto him."
Surely "your" JC does not say, "Treat the least among you as you would be treated, or I will FORCE you to so treat them."
It cannot be found in the New Testament that Christians should try to use the civil state (men's government) to force both Christians and unbelievers to contribute to the aid of the needy, either by lobbying, voting or seeking public office.
No, Jesus Christ and His ambassadors teach us to VOLUNTARILY treat others as we would be treated, and to so treat the least among us.
NEXT: The FICA tax, which supposedly funds OASDI (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) or Social Security is a flat tax (with a cap) on wages, salaries and other compensation for labor. Labor is not work, or the expenditure of energy. Labor is TIME. Whether the worker labors in a salt mine, sweating and straining all day long, or in an easy chair at a desk in an air-conditioned office, or does nothing but be present in service of another, his labor is time of his life. That is, his labor is the part of his life spent to benefit another for compensation.
Taxing one's compensation is involuntary servitude. If the servitude is voluntary, what would be called a "tax" is a voluntary donation. Taxes are always compulsory, not voluntary, even if the taxpayer is happy to support the state with his taxes.
The US Constitution nowhere authorizes the federal government to enslave anyone. And being an instrument of enumerated (specifically listed) powers and not a general grant of power, if it isn't mentioned in the Constitution, the federal government doesn't have the lawful power to exercise a power. Then, the Tenth Amendment emphasizes this principle of limitation of powers to those enumerated, reserving all nonenumerated powers (except those prohibited to the states) to the states respectively (individually), or to the people. Finally, the Anti-Slavery Amendment prohibits all forms of slavery or involuntary servitude (two ways of saying the same thing) except as punishment duly convicted. Those lawfully convicted of crime can be enslaved, either directly or by confiscating their assets that they may have acquired as compensation for labor.
So, not only is the Social Security/FICA system immoral and unChristian, it is unconstitutional and thus unlawful under the supreme law of the land.
The Social Security Administration practically admits that the SSA/FICA system is unconstitutional:
The Social Security Administration on the Constitutionality of Social Security/FICA:
http://www.ssa.gov/history/court.html
This book may be available in a law school library:
Constitutionality of the Social Security Act. Opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States together with the separate and dissenting opinions in the cases involving the constitutionality of the Social Security Act
Why not get rid of social security and return the care of the poor to the non-government charity organizations? If I didn't have to to pay social security each week and had an extra $100 or more from my paycheck, I would certainly give more to the poor. This would also force all the lazy people who are cheating the system to get a job, I'm not saying everyone on social security is undeserving of their benefits but there is a lot of waste in the system.
Mark Knowles 2 years ago
But you seem to be saying that no one who claims to be Christian actually follows the rules. You know - with the killing and the screwing over the fellow man.
Sounds rather like any other political system. "Do as I say, not as I do,"
Read any history book and you will discover it has been that way for 1800 years.
You could be forgiven for discarding the entire idea of god once you understand the truth. ;)