Some Alabama Baptists believe reforming a tax system that is unfair to the state’s poor is an issue the Alabama Baptist State Convention should be concerned about.
“Jesus makes our response to the poor one of the primary ways we demonstrate whether or not we really know Him,” said James Evans, pastor of Crosscreek Baptist Church, Pelham.
Implying Alabama’s tax system is evil, Evans said the reluctance to recognize the potential for evil embedded in institutions and social structures is unfortunate. “For one thing, it represents an inadequate reading of the New Testament,” he said.
Evans isn’t alone in his call for reforming a tax system that he and others strongly believe is unbiblical.
Nick Foster, pastor of University Baptist church in Montevallo, has worked with Evans in pushing for tax reform. Calling the present system “regressive,” Foster said it places the greatest burden on those with the least resources to pay.
“A progressive system simply requires small taxes on small incomes and large taxes on large income,” Foster said. “Alabama’s system is just the opposite of that.”
Foster said Alabamians who are I the lowest 20 percent of the income bracket pay 11.5 percent of their in o e in state taxes, while those in the upper 20 percent pay no more than 7.3 percent in state taxes.
“It’s a regressive tax system,” Foster said. “It depends too much on the contributions from those who are least able to pay.”
“If we followed the principles that Jesus espoused, there wouldn’t be anywhere near the gap between the well-off and the not so well-off that we have in the state,” said Bill Raabe, a business professor at Samford University, “which is emphasized by the way the tax system works.
“This current tax system is everyone fends for himself and reality has no conscience about where that shifting of that income comes from and how else it could be used.”
Evans said the apostle Paul knew about the power of social forces when he wrote, “We do not war against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities, against evil in high places.” While many think Paul is talking about devils and demons, Evans said most scholars believe he is describing the political and economic realities of the day.
“Paul knew that the social forces which govern our lives exercise tremendous power and influence over us,’ he said.
Evans said there are also times when social institutions go awry.
“They incorporate within their organizations greed, violence and hate,” he said. “Whenever this happens, the very forces intended to protect us are found to be hurting us.
“When political and economic structures fail in their intended purpose, it is the responsibility of the faithful to confront the evil in our institutions.” Evans added, “and find constructive ways to recall them to their proper purpose.”
Birmingham attorney Lenora pate, a 1998 Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said Christians should be at the forefront of the issue. Alabama Baptists should be asking hard questions and studying the issue of tax reform – not to mention praying, said Pate, a member of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Homewood.
Stressing Baptists defeated a “hidden tax” in the form of statewide lottery gambling, Pate said Baptist should be just as concerned with a “seen tax” that exists in the inequity of Alabama’s tax system.
She said the Bible offers direction on addressing such an issue. “His Word is filled with instruction to us, first and foremost, to do justice,” Pate emphasized.
“How can we not in good faith look at similar issues of injustice?” she asked. “How can we not sztan together and talk about what’s not hidden, but is seen?”
However another Birmingham attorney – who led a 1991 effort aimed at reforming Alabama’s tax system – urged caution in framing the need for reform as simply a Christian issue.
“I think that we need to be extraordinarily careful I how we use our Christian faith in public areas,” said Thomas Carruthers, a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Birmingham.
The attorney said it would be wrong to say tax reform has to be implemented because it is Christian and that to not do so would be unChristian. “I think that’s a very tricky area,” he said.
Carruthers believes reforming the state’s tax system to make it more equitable is imply the right thing to do.
“I don’t think it requires much sense to realize that the present system on the taxing side is not fair and we ought to devote some attention to other ways of getting the needed revenue,” said Carruthers.
“To the extent that Christian views are relevant – and I think they are – those views would tend to support looking at the system” Carruthers said.
Foster believes a stand by Baptists will open others’ eyes to the situation.
“If Alabama Baptists simply stand up and make a statement, that will have an impact,” Foster said. “We have a huge voice in this state and that can be a force for good.”
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