When it comes to government spending, what is appropriate and who is entitled?
In his book, Well Versed – Biblical Answers to Today’s Tough Issues, Dr. Jim Garlow makes a thought-provoking point regarding how the government should use our tax dollars:
“Scripturally, government is to only take that which is needed for it to perform its fundamental, biblical role of executing justice against evil-doers and encouraging the growth of good (Romans 13:4). How much of the annual federal budget would fall into either of these two categories?” (emphasis mine)
Since appropriations and entitlements make up most of the federal budget, let’s briefly scrutinize them.
Appropriations
Appropriations, unlike entitlements, are discretionary, meaning Congress must create and pass a budget each year in order to fund the various tasks of the federal government. Appropriations are projected to fund 30 percent of the federal budget for fiscal year 2023. Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution states, “No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law …”
When considering what we fund, does anything overstep or violate government’s purpose of punishing evildoers, praising those who do good, enabling us to live quiet and peaceful lives, and defending our rights? (1 Peter 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:1-3, Proverbs 31:8-9)
What about how we fund our government? God gave the authority to tax, but not to oppress with excessively burdensome taxes. Jim Garlow, drawing from Ronald Reagan, cautions, “When the government becomes irresponsible in exercising its power to tax, all personal freedoms are at risk, including our duty to adequately provide for ourselves, our family, those who are less fortunate.”
And don’t forget the question of how much should be allocated. Are we living within our means, or incurring ever-increasing debt . . . and leaving it for the next generation to pay? God makes it pretty clear in scripture:
“The wicked borrows but does not pay back …” Psalm 37:21a
Thinking biblically about government’s purpose helps us decide what should be prioritized and where we need to make cuts.
Entitlements
Entitlements are payments to individuals who qualify for some form of public assistance based on a formula set by existing federal law. Unlike appropriations, which must be renewed each year, most entitlements continue unless a new law is passed. They make up roughly 63 percent of the federal budget!
Entitlement programs are divided
into two main categories: insurance-based programs (financed from federal trust
funds) and needs-based programs (those paid for out of general revenue).
Insurance based programs, which include Social Security and Medicare, benefit only those who have paid into the programs. Needs-based programs benefit those meeting certain criteria, none of which include payments into the program. These programs include Medicaid, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, food stamps, child nutrition, and other social services. In operation, these are income redistribution programs.
Needs-based entitlement programs have two problems:
- They discourage the responsibility that individuals, families, or the faith community have to the needy.
- They are functionally broken. Even the Government Accounting Office states that they have “high administrative costs, fraud, waste, and payment errors” and that “data and reporting deficiencies make it difficult to determine the system’s net effects or the consequences of proposed changes to it.”
When these systems go unchecked, they ultimately harm the very people they were intended to help.
A Matter of Stewardship
iVoterGuide is passionate about equipping you to be informed about what your candidates believe about many issues, including how they plan to spend your tax money.
If we want to have a government that stewards our tax dollars in a way that honors God, then we must steward our vote in a God-honoring manner!
