Duty to Resist Tyranny
To the Editor:
There is a time when resistance to tyranny becomes the duty of every Christian. And by “Christian” I mean anyone who agrees with Christ that He is Lord of heaven and earth (Matt 28:18). It was Christians that ended slavery in the west by standing against those in government who wanted to protect it as an institution. It was Christians that ended the practices of gladiatorial games and infanticide in the ancient west by standing against the government that used those practices to control citizens. These evils were ended by Christians confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord and that Caesar is not. I believe the time has come for Christians in Fayette County to put an end to another form of evil tyranny.
On the 24th of May, I spoke to one of the appraisers from the Fayette County Appraisal District about the sinful rate of rising property valuations and taxes over the last two years. I called them on behalf of a member of the church I pastor who is deeply concerned about what these new valuations will mean for her and her husband who is currently very ill. If the Appraisers don’t repent, she will be forced against her will to sell the property her and her husband (retired Houston Policeman, shot while serving and protecting) bought years ago. This would disturb his “normal” at the very moment when he needs to be surrounded by what is familiar and calming… namely, his beloved 70+ year old high-school sweetheart and their home. While I type this letter, she is scrambling trying to make decisions on wether or not to sell their home because they can’t afford to pay the taxes any more. All because the State is demanding residents to pay more taxes…and our local government officials are cooperating with their theft by drastic raises the second year in a row.
When I spoke to the appraiser, she explained that it was the state of Texas who had demanded the appraisal district to raise property valuations. This is an account of our conversation: Me: do you think it is just for the state to demand the appraisal district to raise values like this?
Appraiser: No I don’t think it is right.
Me: then why don’t you stand up for the people of Fayette County? Why not do what is right by them, and refuse to raise our valuations so that people can keep their homes and property?
Appraiser: because the state would fire everyone in the appraisal district and put people in office who would do what they are told. Also the state would cut funds to the public schools in the county.
Me: you seem to be afraid of what the state will do if you don’t comply with their demands. Have you ever considered being afraid of Fayette County citizens and what they will do if you continue, as their neighbor, to rob them of their liberty, their money, and their property?
Appraiser: Actually, sir the way the system is currently set up, the state owns everything. Citizens don’t own anything. And if you don’t pay your taxes it may take a while but we will take your home and auction it off.
Behold the honest and unfiltered truth about the way local government views you and, what God’s Word calls “your possessions” (Exodus 29:17.) Brothers and sisters in Fayette County, our founding fathers fought a war for independence over far less than what our local officials have done to us. When we protest valuations knowing that it will mean paying more taxes they say “we are only doing what we are told, the commissioners court and city councils set the actual tax rates. Go talk to them.” The commissioners court and city councils do their part to raise taxes as much as is legal (relying on increased property values) … and get to blame the appraisal district when people complain - saying “we actually lowered your tax rate.”
This is bureaucracy at its finest. Blame shifting, barking up the wrong tree, take your concerns elsewhere….meanwhile real people are losing real homes. The bottom line is this: they raise our taxes because they believe big government is the answer and therefore our Liberty is the problem. If God is not Father then the State will be Big Brother. They just proved that they don’t care how their actions impact the people of Fayette County. The state of ‘Taxes’ is projecting a $32 billion surplus this year…which follows a $26 billion surplus from last year and an $11 billion the year before. Which means they are having to find creative ways to spend all the money they are stealing from us. This includes no raises for teachers, no property tax relief… instead, they just passed a historic budget increase for themselves and their offices. Enough is enough.
I’m asking the citizens of Fayette County as a neighbor and pastor: Do we the people still have the right to demand of those in government that they exist for the people and by will of the people and that they are required to do good to the people? Are Christian’s the only obligated party mentioned in Romans 13? Does a government who rejects God by becoming a terror to good conduct and not to bad still have the right to demand obedience from citizens? Forget Washington D.C., national elections, and even state-wide politics. Our neighbors in every level of local government are robbing Fayette County residents of their liberty, their property, and their happiness … all of which are unalienable rights bestowed upon all men by their creator. Jesus is the Lord of Fayette County. If He gives the people something, the state has no right to take that from them. To our local government I say “you are rebelling against your risen Lord when you oppress the poor and legislate injustice against your neighbors.” To residents I say “Christ is Lord, He died and rose to make men free. Why do we submit to those in government when they have renounced their divine purpose of rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked ?” (Rom.13: 3-4) So what should we do? I believe it is the duty of every Christian to resist them. I was told recently that the American War for Independence was sparked by a mere three percent of the population in the colonies who refused to comply with unjust demands … the remaining 97 percent wanted to keep the peace and just comply. May God be forever praised for the three percent that stood against tyranny and won Liberty for their over-complacent neighbors. To us, this means that in a county with around 13 thousand households it would only take around 300 households of free people with backbone, to stop allowing those in local authority to threaten us and take our stuff. Want to change the world? Then refuse to pay your property tax and refuse to leave your home. Let our good Sheriff and his deputies prove their worth and purpose by using their “sword” (I think he is a Sig man) to protect citizens from anyone who would do violence to ourselves and our property … especially if that “anyone” is from the government.
Some will say that we just need to protest valuations and hope for the best. But I say, imagine a bully who keeps stealing part of your lunch money and every week he continues to demand more and more of what your parents have given you. The moment you approach him reasonably, asking him to not take quite so much, you are telling him loud and clear that the only problem with his theft is the amount he is stealing. Bullies need a different message. Our bullies in local government need to hear that we are not afraid of them. They need to hear that any theft whatsoever will no longer be tolerated, and that if they persist in their efforts to steal from us they will be met with the fiercest resistance that we the people can muster…For years now we have sent the same message to our bully state “We are afraid of you, please don’t take so much … but if you demand more, we will will give it.” In the name of Christ, let us send a new message: “Our lives are God-given, our Liberty is God-given, and our property is God-given… God gave them to US not the government. We will protect all three if you try to come and take them…with our lives if necessary.” Our forefathers, in imitation of Christ, gave their lives to give us Liberty. We dishonor them, and the Christ they loved, if we submit again to this yoke of taxation slavery.