News Sheet Blurb – Page 42 – Jamberoo Anglican

Income Tax (CREDIT TaxRebate.org.uk)

This week a major leak of documents in Panama showed how much effort people can make to try and pay less tax.

Whether it’s tax avoidance, tax evasion, or even downright money laundering, it’s clear that everyone involved in these schemes has been keen to reduce the amount of money they pay to the government so that they can increase the amount of money they keep for themselves.

Some would say that this kind of behaviour is acceptable because it is legal. Yet, there are many activities that are also legal yet are not morally desirable (such as prostitution).

The Bible is clear that we should pay to the Government the amount for which we are legally obliged. We should obey the tax laws as much as we should obey any other laws of our land.

Yet, is there a place to volunteer to pay more taxes than we owe? Should we try to maximise our tax rather than minimise it?

Well, given that a reasonable amount of our taxation goes towards providing universal access to healthcare, education and welfare, it might be a good thing for us all to volunteer to pay a bit more to help those valuable causes.

Or alternatively, maybe we Christians might consider paying come of the tax we ‘save’ in our refund directly into a charity that provides additional care for the more needy in our world, such as Anglicare and Anglican Aid?

Imagine if the money that was saved by the Panama tax avoiders was invested in helping support the resettling of Syrian refugees, or providing relief for those affected by the Ethiopian Famine?

Dorothy and friends at the last Moore Mission held in 2013 at our partner church Oak Flats Anglican

There are only six weeks until we welcome 20 students from Moore Theological College to join our church for over a week of mission to the communities of Oak Flats and Jamberoo.

Under the leadership of Moore College lecturer, Lionel Windsor, we will be engaging in a number of initiatives to bring the gospel of Jesus to our local region.

Over the two weekends of 14-15 and 21-22 May, we will be having guest preachers at all our church services, along with opportunities to hear about the way that knowing Jesus has changed the lives of the team members.

We’re also going to be doing ministry in the local schools, shops, as well as events on our own church grounds.

Please be praying that many of the people of our region who don’t know Jesus would hear of his love and follow his lead as Lord.

Pray that the Mission week would bring a great burst of evangelistic energy into our churches, as well as provide encouragement and training to the students of Moore College who are preparing for ministry.

Start thinking about who you might be able to bring along to one of the many outreach events over that week… and pray that God’s Spirit would do awesome things as people hear the word of God.

Are you paying too much tax?

Countdown to Mission Week