A Tax on Sin…or Attacks on Sin?

In the financial world “sin tax” has been around for generations. This is basically a state tax applied to what are generally accepted as vices: alcohol, tobacco, gambling, etc. Due to the current financial state of California there has been a fair amount of talk to legislate a sin tax on prostitution. Before you can tax something, however, you must first make it legal.

Disturbing as it may be, this is a financial remedy rather than a moral dilemma for most people. As I’ve stated numerous times before, I seldom get into a political debate in my commentaries…so, once again, I’ll simply approach this on a more spiritual level.

First, let’s address some interesting facts. The legislature has already admitted—by using the “sin tax” label—that most vices such as drinking, smoking and gambling are sins. On the surface it seems that a tax on prostitution—what they also consider to be a “sin”—seems appropriate. After all, aren’t we supposed to be paying a penalty when we sin?

The questions which keep tugging at my soul, though, are: “If something is already accepted as a sin, why make it legal just so you can capitalize on its actions?”; “Does thinking that you’re “paying for it” simply make it a justified endeavor?”; “Is giving someone a choice to do something somehow better than demanding they refrains from it?” …I could go on with a thousand questions, but you get my drift.

Instead of trying to find answers to all this, there is one thing I know I can do…trust in what I do know. What I know to be true is God wants us to be holy and free of sin. Obviously we can’t reach that standard on our own and He knows it. Christ died…..excuse me, excruciatingly suffered and died…to free us of the penalty of sin. He didn’t say every time you sin you need to pay up. Own up, yes….but not pay up. God doesn’t believe in the “sin tax” in the sense that it’s OK to do it, as long as you pay for it. He says quite clearly “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom 6:23 NIV

Those who believe they can sin as long as there is a payment or consequence attached to it are simply deluded. No amount of “paying” will nullify the outcome. Hell it is. Spread the word.

Greg Morton
© January 23, 2009