Valerie is a 42-year-old, single, Reformed Christian lady who lives in Baltimore. She doesn't remember a time
before she knew and loved Jesus, but she does remember accepting John Calvin into her heart in March of 2000.
Valerie is a member of Christ Reformed Evangelical Church in Annapolis.
Though her career aspiration is to be a housewife, Valerie has not yet found anyone suitable who wishes to hire
her for employment in that field (or, more properly, anyone suitable has not found her), so in the meantime she
earns her daily bread working in communications -- editing, writing, print design and website management.
Tax Collectors
I wonder if those of us conservative types who recognize and hate the idolatry that looks to the state as messiah should, when we hear the phrase "tax collectors" in Scripture, train ourselves to think of those who orchestrate the mass theft through taxation for the sake of their own power and affluence. Could we stomach the thought that left-wing politicians might get into heaven before their decent, hard-working victims? But idolaters and thieves need to repent, we squirmishly object. OK. So then let's embrace the idea that Jesus might actually want to save such folks, and think of them accordingly...with compassion, hope, and fervent prayer for an abundant harvest.
Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 9:19 AM
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1 Comments:
On February 24, 2008 8:36 PMAbrawrote... Even though my side of the family is frighteningly, conservative (my grandfather left his autographed copy of The Way Things Ought to Be to my dad when he died), somehow I managed to muddle through not caring too much about politics, one way or the other. I do scrunch my nose as I see the taxes we owe and mutter naughty words under my breath when I have to write the Comptroller of MD yet another check.
However, first off, I do think, Christian's especially, need to come to grips with the fact that the government has been forced to take over duties that have been abdicated by the church, private families and communities (indirectly, us). Somebody had to do the dirty work and the buck (wrongfully) stopped with them.
Secondly, the fact that we are dealing with abstract people can make it easy to become bitter. I think if I met them face to face, though, we wouldn't have the desire to let the air out of their tires. They are, after all, people, too. Schoolyard Bully kind of people, but people. :-)As you said, maybe they just need some love?
