Preachers or Tax Protesters?

Coming from an Atheistic background, I was once totally sold out on the idea that everything came into being and evolved simply by chance. For a period time after God saved me, I struggled with the Biblical account of Creation. I had a very hard time accepting it. After a while I just decided to try and believe it, even though I still had lots of unresolved questions.

My faith in the Biblical account of creation was greatly strengthened when I stumbled upon the teachings of Kent Hovind, founder of the ministry known as Creation Science Evangelism. Over time, all of my doubts and questions about the Genesis account of Creation were put to rest. I began seeing the absurdity of Darwinianism and I also began to see God's design and Sovereign hand in everything around me! I'm only guessing, but I imagine that I am not the only ex-Athiest to have had this experience.

Hovind is a controversial figure to be sure. Just Google his name and you will see many websites pop up that are dedicated to attacking him and his teachings. Despite his quirky ways, and questionable college degrees, this self-proclaimed "Independant, Tempermental, Fundamental, Right-Wing Radical, Chicken Eatin' Baptist" was no push over. I have downloaded a few of his debate videos and watched as he fearlessly and tenaciously debated brilliant scientists and professors with his power-point presentation and quick wit. Many scientists and university professors actually refused to debate him! Hovind even put up a standing $250,000 offer for "anyone who can give any empirical evidence (scientific proof) for evolution".

Dr. Hovind probably won't be preaching and debating much in the future, at least outside of some kind of prision ministry. That's because he and his wife have been arrested and convicted of Federal tax evasion charges. It seems that in addition to fighting Evolutionists, Hovind was also a tax protester. This was a battle I think he should have left alone. Now he and his wife are facing 288 and 225 years in prision respectively! (Kent Hovind is scheduled to be sentenced January 9, 2007.)

For the sake of time, I'll spare you the details of why Hovind has deemed it needful to do these things, but it appears to me that Kent Hovind has never read Romans chapter 13, nor Christs' command in Matthew 22:21, to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's". I'll admit it, I don't like paying income taxes either, but I pay them because it is what the Bible commands and what the government requires. Any attempts on the part of a Christian to justify becoming a tax evader cannot be supported by Scripture. God expects civil obedience not only to relatively good governments such as ours, but also to Godless pagan governments such as that of ancient Rome. As long as our service and worship of to God is not hindered, we ought to obey!

God has called us to proclaim the Gospel, not to evade taxes and steal from the government! I have read the entire Bible from cover to cover, and I do not see anything that leads me to believe God gives Christians a divine universal tax exemption just because we are part of His church. If we have strong feelings about governmental issues like taxes and/or tax reform, we ought to work from within the established government system in a manner that is becoming of Christians. All the while we ought to remember that our primary calling is to be "fishers of men" and not "fixers of government".

Soli Deo Gloria!