By Paul Dorr

The Bible does not grant the civil magistrate an ownership interest in our private property. Yet, if we fail to pay property taxes, the Sheriff can auction it off to pay those taxes.

This is called “ownership,” but it’s not ownership. It’s a means of social control. I’ve spent the last 35 years of my life fighting it and learning how to beat it, and I would like to teach you how to start breaking it in your local government, too.

R. J. Rushdoony chronicled how the 19th and early 20th century humanist view of progress has been greatly funded with property taxes. As the humanists executed their “progressive” vision, they ripped the heart out of our personal and ecclesiastical obligations to attend to the welfare and education of our families, church members, and neighbors. Worse, such “compassion” (Proverbs 12:10b) lost its guiding moral principles which had served to be restorative and Christ-honoring.

These social functions have long been neutered of their Christian character and now reward sinful conduct—a critical element to their statist dominion. When the public schools were launched, some Christian leaders warned that with their foundation in property tax funding, it would only be a matter of time before financially-plundered Christians, otherwise opposed to the government’s claim of Christ-less “neutrality” in education, would one day concede. Most did, letting the progressive Christ-haters then train the hearts and minds of their children. I want to rip those children and taxes back out of their hands and restore a vision of real progress centered on the Biblical doctrine of sanctification.

Years ago, a Christian farmer taught me that accepting illegitimate tax revenues in exchange for services the government is not Biblically authorized to be engaged in is receiving stolen property (Prov. 29:24; Psalm 50:18). His life’s testimony of service unto Christ, raising eleven children, and righteousness and freedom gained from not taking government funds changed my life.

We can’t effectively resist tyrants, even at the local level, until we repent of any personal legitimization of such theft. When we set about a course to do this in our lives, a power from God opens to us that few in a society of slaves have experienced. For example, we can be reconciled with even our enemies (Prov. 16:7) who come to respect our sacrificial obedience.

Such a testimony strips the public of their normal diversionary excuse to ignore us: “Who are you to question this tax when you’re taking the benefit of public schools, welfare, business subsidies, subsidized student loans, social security, etc.?” When they learn you are instead looking after the poor in your neighborhood, educating your own children, ministering to the elderly, providing your own healthcare (for example, Samaritan Ministries International), and more, they often are beguiled. How? How are you doing this?

So, I don’t start by stating, “God says property taxes are immoral. Stop levying county, city, school district and township taxes.” Even with an instinct that this is true, most will still scoff. Our first task is instead to delegitimize the use of these funds. Christians need to learn their financial structure, their “bureaucratese,” their alliances, and their legal rules. Then we can play these back against them. We have to overcome decades of local propaganda as to how over-worked and underfunded the bureaucrats are. I teach my clients how to set up low cost social media systems to delegitimize them. I’d like to teach you as well.

We are never on our own. We must serve either God or man, and we must give account to God for our service. From Obama’s perverted “transgender bathrooms” policy, to rampant local corruption, to exploding state/local bond debt (from $1 trillion to $3.7 trillion in the last 16 years!), God is bringing their systems under increasing public judgement. The middle class is more eager than ever to listen. In this environment, my clients have so far had success in defeating $3 billion in new taxes which needed voter approval. Christian communities are more than ever ripe to hear what God’s Word says on establishing an alternative social order.

We must have a multi-generational vision of victory, because it will take time. I have clients doing it already, and I will teach you how to do it for your community in Kerrville, TX, July 28–31, at American Vision’s God, Governments, and Culture Conference. From my years of experience, I have a long list of “war stories” that punctuate the teaching and application of these principles and should encourage attendees. I hope to meet you there, so register now.

Join us in Kerville, TX for the God, Governments, and Culture Conference 2016. Take advantage of our early bird discount registration—15% OFF for a limited time. Register Now.

[Paul Dorr is a Reformed Christian and political consultant. He has been married to his wife Deb for 40 years and is the father of their eleven children (with 17 grandchildren and counting). He is a former community bank owner, former bank acquisition consultant, former jail-bird with Operation Rescue, and is now a specialist in local government. With decades of experience and leadership, Dorr can boast a near-80% success rate in defeating local money and power grabs. Dorr is a graduate of Unity Christian High School, Orange City, Iowa, and Iowa State University. His website is www.RollBackLocalGov.com.]