"I'm actually speechless (typeless) at that quote".
I am a weak person, I just can't help myself (from posting). Please Ran, put me out of my misery and give my access to someone else. You can even cash the check I sent you in Dec.
It is fairly dominant doctrine in contemporary Christianity that the fruits of our labor, our profits, wages, capital gains, etc. are not really ours but God's. Many of the bible churches teach that we are given these things by the Almighty and we should be careful stewards. First fruits- the 10% tithe- to the church are just the beginning in managing these God-given resources. To be good Christians, we are commanded to take care of the poor, the weak, the afflicted, regardless our feelings or beliefs on the size of the task or its futility. Charity, giving, and serving others in the larger community are becoming the primary topics of the message and the focus of the church.
In the past year I have heard Rick Warren do a three week series specifically on this subject. He discussed a new concept that he says several members of his church practiced, reverse tithing- living on 10% of gross earnings, and tithing to the church for its good works missions what is remaining after taxes. Todd Proctor and Mike Erre at Rock Habor Church is Costa Mesa, CA did pretty much the same sermon though it took them most of six weeks. David Daniels at Pantego Bible Church in Fort Worth just finished a four week series with a near identical emphasis.
Western society, particularly in Europe, is becoming increasingly secular. Government has incrementally assumed the role of the church as well as the family, and it should not surprise us that many people like Craig Sweet have adopted the position that it is the "taxpayers' " money that we earn individually, and that it is for government to decide how much we should be allowed to keep. In this frame of mind, someone reducing their taxable income through a deduction is at the expense of the "taxpayers", or more accurately, Government, the secular God to which we are now His supplicants.
The big difference with a supernatural god and a wordly one is that the latter has the temporal power to compel in real time, namely the gun. For those of religious belief, the former sees us as equals through his eyes, allows us to exercise our free will, and is infinitively forgiving of our many faults and transgressions. The God of the Bible loves the sinner but not the sin. He is even said to possess a sense of humor.
The earthly god has no similar orientation. Fail to pay the tribute, and unless you are Daschle, Geitner, Rangel, now Kirk, etc., you pay a hefty fine and may end up in jail. And as to favorites, "hell hath no fury as that of a protected class scorned" If you are a CEO or a person who questions the reasoning with the stimulus plan or the proposed budget, He has no patience for you, say nothing about love or even humor.
So, with this mindset, it is perfectly reasonable and acceptable to believe that even those who pay no FEDERAL INCOME taxes are subsidizing those who get to deduct the interest on their jumbo mortgages from their income subject to FEDERAL INCOME taxes. As the thinking goes, high earners and wealthy people are GIVEN their opportunities by society, the collective. Government, as the voice and will of the collective, giveth and it can taketh away. And so is written, U.S. Constitution, 16th Amendment.