As a citizen of Hamilton County for many decades now, it has been my privilege for the better part of my adult life (30 years to be exact), to work with the youth of our county. My God-given passion throughout those three decades allowed me to come alongside boys and girls in their most transformative years. Sadly, most of these youngsters, from inner city dysfunctional and/or broken families, had very little hope, if left to themselves. Yet, for some reason, God placed me in a position and role to intersect in the lives of literally thousands of boys and girls, teaching them useful skills, but more importantly, instructing them in the ways of God.
Today many of those boys and girls are adults. But while they may have acquired some useful instruction that enabled them to better their temporal lives, the thing I am most grateful for is this reality. Today many of those children became “children of God’s family” and are now walking in close fellowship with their Savior, Jesus Christ. This reality is of eternal significance and one for which I am most humbled and grateful to have been a part of.
We’ve all heard the saying, “Give a man a fish, and he will enjoy a meal. Teach him to fish and he will eat a lifetime.” In a way, this principle guided me throughout those years of working with these girls and boys from troubled homes. But if I’m honest, my passion was not about temporal matters — solely seeking to teach them how to study, or box, or get ahead socially or economically. Truthfully, my passion has been the same passion that Jesus shared with his disciples 2,000 years ago — to become a “fisher of men.” This is the only aspect of my life that will last beyond my final breath, and the final breath of each boy and girl I was allowed to touch. How easy it is to forget the eternal and elevate the temporal - exchanging that which will last forever for that which is gone in a few years.
When Jesus challenged his dozen disciples to become “fishers of men” it was perhaps the greatest mission to which any man or woman, boy or girl, could be called. And it’s perhaps the one mission which has been lost in the colossal debate our community has been engaged in over these last few weeks. As factions have formed, and political alliances have been made, we have seen the “worst of men” displayed. Anger has boiled, leading to words and actions that are unfitting of the citizens and leaders of this county. As we have bantered, argued, and spewed, the “Ones that Matter” — the children of our county, have sat silently by, wondering, questioning, and confused.
As I struggled with what thoughts I would share this morning, my mind turned to my closest friend, the One who said, “allow the children to come unto me.” Yes, Jesus, my Savior is the One I have turned to in order to seek His wisdom, His counsel, and His Truth.
It was Jesus who calmed the literal storm in the lives of his disciples. And it was Jesus who always brought clarity to any debate or discussion. And so, I reasoned, could not Jesus bring clarity to the struggle we are debating at this time in our county?
And so I have a message today, if not to those gathered here in this room today, at least to the “Ones that Matter” - the 45,000 children in our school system today. Perhaps my message today is just for them, since there is very little I will likely say to change the minds of the nine members of this commission who will cast their vote either in favor or against the tax increase.
So here is my message to the “Ones that Matter.”
There are better ways to resolve disputes than what you have seen displayed over the last few weeks in our community. When you face disagreements with friends, family, or even “enemies” in your life, name calling, anger, and quarreling is not how Jesus would want you and me to react. Rather, there are times when we are called to “lose” in order to win. We always win when we honor God in our actions, words, and attitudes, regardless of the political score.
I truly believe that someday all of us will stand before God Almighty, our Creator, to give account for everything we did, said and thought. And when that day comes, will I regret things I’ve said in anger? Will I regret “winning” some political argument, but losing a friend, a relationship, or even my reputation?
Finally, I want to share a story that many of us have read in the past. One day, some enemies of Jesus came to Him seeking to trap Him into saying something for which He could be arrested. They posed this question:
“Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
(No, I’m not looking to Jesus to answer the question that is before the Commission today.) Haha.
But Jesus understood exactly what His detractors were seeking to do, so Jesus, in His uniquely divine wisdom, asked them whose image was fixed on the coins they used? They replied “Caesar’s.” And Jesus offered one of the most powerful, but perhaps most misunderstood, answers to his enemies:
“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
Here is the truth I would like to offer to each boy and girl in our county, whether they are black or white, rich or poor.
Jesus told these men that since Caesar’s image was fixed on their coins, those coins belonged to Caesar’s and they were to use them to pay their taxes. But more importantly, Jesus then said to “render to God the things that are God’s.”
This begs the question, “what things have God’s image stamped on them?”
The simple response to our children in the county is this: “You have God’s image emblazoned on you. Unlike what your biology class might teach you, you did not evolve. You were created by God with the very image of God stamped upon you.” We know this from the first chapter of the Bible where it says that “God created man in His own image, male and female."
So if a coin bearing the image of Caesar was to be given to Caesar, what should be done with a life that bears the image of God?
The county Commission has voted in the past to establish taxes that each of us must pay. Period. We do not have the option to ignore these taxes. It is our obligation to give the county what belongs to the county.
But what about the obligation that Jesus informed us of, when He affirmed “Render to God the things that are God’s?” If God's image is stamped upon you, as a boy and girl, (or even the adults in this room), do you take your obligation to completely give your life back to Him? Do you and I take this as seriously as we’ve given to the debate over this temporal tax increase?
Our lives are not our own. They belong to God. And someday we will be asked to give account for whether we gave our lives back to Him to honor Him with each breath we take. Have we as adults honored God throughout this debate over the last number of weeks?
I was talking to a friend recently who was involved in another major tax debate that occurred 10 years ago. At the time, Mayor Littlefield was seeking to raise taxes in Chattanooga. This friend was passionate about stopping the Mayor and he threw himself entirely into trying to defeat that increase and even recall the Mayor. However, 10 years later, that entire skirmish has been all but forgotten, and the increase that was passed has been assimilated into the lives of everyone living in Chattanooga. The truth of the temporal nature of that tax increase has been affirmed as it’s no longer debated, discussed, or even remembered.
Likewise, 10 years from now, this little skirmish in our community will be forgotten. And, if we don’t learn to understand this truth, we will continue to spend the remaining years of our lives debating, fighting and alienating friends, family and fellow citizens. Meanwhile, our children will witness the worst we have to offer, and fail to learn the best of what God has to offer.
Clearly my message is a different one. It is not necessarily an effort to persuade the nine people who will cast a vote, as their minds are likely already made up. My message is perhaps not even to those of you in the room or community who either view me as a new ally, or a Benedict Arnold.
Rather, my message is ultimately to the "Ones that Matter” — the young hearts and minds of our county. You have God’s image stamped on you. While the "grownups" debate taxes, you can focus your mind and heart to honoring the One whose image is stamped on you. God is your Maker. He is your Creator. And Jesus Christ can be your Savior. Put Him first in your life, always. And everything else in your life will work out, maybe not always as you expect it to, but it will work out.
So, You Matter. God loves you. God can be trusted. He has never failed me. So bear God's image with the honor that is due Him, and you will never regret it!
Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God first, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Joe Smith
* * *
I read School Board member Joe Smith's "message to the County Commission" and was shocked to come upon the following passage:
"The County Commission has voted in the past to establish taxes that each of us must pay. Period. We do not have the option to ignore these taxes. It is our obligation to give the county what belongs to the county."
Our obligation to give to the county what belongs to the county? Are you kidding me? This turns on its head the relationship between government and citizens that is supposed to exist in a free republic.
Such a statement sounds like something a medieval king would have said about the relationship of his serfs to the Crown. "It is the obligation of our subjects to give the King what belongs to the King."
I went to school back when we still had to take subjects like American history and civics. The relationship between government and citizens Mr. Smith describes is nothing like the one our Founders envisioned for our country. They fought a war to avoid having to give King George what he said belonged to him.
I wasn't all that surprised to learn that a Hamilton County elected official felt this way. Sadly, all too many of our officials at all levels, from local government to Washington, DC, apparently feel this way, which is why our Republic is on life support.
What did surprise me is that he actually came out and put it into words published on a public forum. Has our society devolved to the point where someone who is supposedly a representative of the people can openly treat them with contempt and not worry about any potential backlash?
Does he think citizens aren't paying attention or that they just don't care? I guess we will find out at the next election whether or not he was right.
I would like to close by thanking the five commissioners who did the right thing for the taxpayers and said NO to yet another tax increase. No thanks to my own commissioner Donnelle "Chip" Baker for proving once again that he is a RINO (Republican in Name Only). Anyone who steps up
to primary him in the next election will have my support.
Joe Dumas
Signal Mountain
* * *
Mr. Smith, like you I claim to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that I pray will never be broken. While our hearts are filled with compassion and desires for our children to have everything and more than we had growing up, we cannot spare the rod and spoil the child.
I maintain that this tax increase issue was not entirely about money.
Society is suffering from moral decay right now at an alarming rate add the closeted and least talked about subject of the so called LGBTQ agenda that is written into the UnifiEd platform all of a sudden we need more counselors to help our children better understand what God calls abominable. Evil is called good according to last days prophecy.
If it were about the schools and the children why did the school board stop at .34 cents. We both know the answer to that.
Their is no law against those who feel they could better contribute to humanity by giving more of their financial resources to government.
Joe, the taxpayers demand fiscally responsible elected representatives and we had five. Commissioners Smedley, Fairbanks, Bankston, Boyd and Martin are to be applauded for making the right choice to say no to a tax increase.
The facilities management report will be telling I'm sure. These five wise commissioners will be held in high regard for holding out on this one subject alone.
Government needs to understand that they cannot go to the tax increase option every time. Had the .34 cent tax increase passed how long would it take to get .68 cents.
For our young impressionable UnifiEd supporters let me put it another way. These are per 100 dollar assessed value figures. Because we want better schools and better everything for the children is it right or wrong to now excise 68 dollars of that per 100 dollar assessed value. Yea a little overboard but my point is the sound mind said enough is enough.
Ron Ray
Lookout Valley
* * *
Joe Dumas, with all due respect, when a government body establishes a tax, that tax is due them. If you disagree, try not paying it. I’m sure you’ve heard of a tax lien. That’s a legal lien or encumbrance that is placed on your property because you failed to pay what you are obligated to pay. Refuse to pay it long enough and that government body will take what you claim is yours and they will make it theirs. This is well established law. So to assert that 100 percent of your money is “your” money, when a legally established tax makes it the government entity’s money is to ignore reality and the law.
And that’s precisely the point that Joe Smith was making, whether one agrees with the tax increase or not. And more importantly, this is the exact point that Jesus was making. “Render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s.” Or in this case render to Hamilton County that which is Hamilton County’s.
There is no virtue in claiming that your money is yours when a government, ordained by God, has legally established a particular tax rate. There may be a place to argue your point that such tax rate is too high, but it is actually defying God’s command and authority when we thumb our nose at a government that He has established. As Americans we are blessed to live with the freedoms we enjoy in America, but such freedoms do not give us the right to disobey legally established ordinances and laws, so long as those laws do not contradict a particular biblical command or principle.
I hope this makes sense but I welcome any correction if I’ve missed something here.
Mark West
* * *
Mark West, with all due respect, when a government body establishes a tax, the only way they can get that money is take it from our pockets! If you disagree, you don’t know anything about how Hamilton County government works. I’m sure you’ve heard of property re-assessment . That’s another encumbrance placed on property owners because the county wants more money. Opposing a tax increase that a government body claims they need is a cherished American tradition; it’s your money and they want make it theirs. There’s no established law that prevents opposition to a heavy handed tax increase. Go ahead and assert that Hamilton County should raise taxes as much as they see fit. Opposition will arise, it’s a reality you will not be able to ignore.
And that’s precisely the point that I’m making, it is your duty to oppose a tax increase if the current budget is not used effectively. And more importantly, government is supposed to be of, by and for the people. People do not exist to serve government; government exists to serve the people.
There is no virtue in the government claiming that your money is all theirs. There is and always will be a right to oppose such a high tax rate as the one recently proposed. As Americans we are blessed with many freedoms and we’re charged with keeping an eye on our local, state and federal governments taxing and spend habits.
Walter Howerton
* * *
Mr. West, with all due respect to you as a former head of the Tea Party, I have met you a few times when the Tea Party was first getting going back in early 2000 and thought of the Tea Party as a less tax and more money in private hands than in the government's pocket. Now that I see that you resigned being the top dog at the Tea Party, then you have turned your back on the very principles that the Tea Party was founded on. This government wasn't ordained by God, but by voters who put the politicians there and they can be voted out
Joe Smith is wrong on this in that we don't need to be taxed higher than 99 percent of the counties in Tennessee. If money was the solution then DC would have the best school system in the country, which it doesn't. We would have the second highest tax rates outside of Shelby County if the tax had been passed.
What you and the rest of the tax raisers don't understand if we didn't give businesses and the churches which don't pay a dime in property tax then there would be no need to raise taxes even higher. Government doesn't own the money in your pockets, it's you.
As you stated, Mr. West, "give unto Caesar what is Caesar's." How about you give all your money to the county government if you feel that way and this goes to all the people who was in favor of the tax increase. Just remember this next year, the school system will be crying out for more and more until they consume it all.
We need the roads fixed first and a lot of other things need to be done before the schools get any more money. We all have to live within a budget and some have to live within a tight one. We just had a 17 percent tax increase a few years back. Right now the school system has the biggest part of the county budget and the schools have been a failure since the 90's. It's not money that is needed but the kids have no discipline or desire to learn.
I remember back in the 70's, I had a friend of mine who was a junior at Brainerd and he was reading at a 3rd grade level. Heck, I was reading at a 12th grade level and I was only around nine or 10 at the time.
Mr. Dumas is right on this and you are wrong, Mr. West. It's time to stop the tax and spend habit and start living in a budget that is county can live with. Send a message to the commission and the school board. Time to stop calling or raising the taxes or this county will be a mass exodus to other counties where the taxes are lower and people can survive without a urban jungle that the county is slowly becoming.
Bobby Stanley
* * *
I am glad Mark West welcomes correction, because his letter is in need of it.
The Constitutional government of this country was established and ordained by the people of the United States (see the preamble of the Constitution of the United States). The government of the State of Tennessee was similarly established and ordained by the people of the territory.
I am particularly a fan of sections one and two of the Tennessee Constitution's declaration of rights: The first reminds us that "all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority... they have at all times, an unalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper". The second declares that "the doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind."
This is not to say that citizens are mistaken to hold a conviction that governments of the people are part of a divine order, as Thomas Jefferson argued in our Declaration of Independence. However, we should not forget that the people of this country established it, and we must keep its derived authority legitimate by maintaining a wellspring of support from the people. If we forget these founding truths of the American Republic, or if we rest our authority on divine right, we risk traveling the path to becoming servile subjects of something antithetical to our republican principles.
David Kelman
* * *
"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God" was a motto suggested, but not used, for the Seal of the United States. Jefferson eventually appropriated it for his own seal. The source of the motto is not known for certain, but may have originated with Benjamin Franklin.
Chuck Davis
Lookout Mountain