Writer Asserts That God Gives, Government Takes

Recently I contrasted God and government. Here’s more: God gives. Government takes.
God gave us life – plus plants, animals, mineral resources and a brain to enable us to use them to support that life. God also gave us guidelines, much like good parents give their children. Just as some ungrateful children resent their parents’ rules, some people resent God’s guidelines.
After people had many centuries to see how God’s guidelines would make life better for people, He sent a messenger, Jesus, who said that we should love others. If we do we’ll automatically follow the guidelines.
The earlier period might be considered a practice field, the latter one the game. Those who play the game according to God’s rules are to go to be with Him in a place called heaven. Others will be sent to hell to be with people we’d not want to be with even temporarily, let alone forever.
Government steals our money and time and it backs it up with guys with guns who can take your stuff, your freedom, even your life. Then it plays that it is God by handing out part of what it has stolen.
Previously I’ve taught with faculty members who seemed to worship government more than God. That baffled me.
After my previous letter was published, someone sent me an unsigned letter in which the writer castigated me and closed by calling me ignorant and a bigot. Because I don’t know the person’s gender, I referred to “the writer” rather than either he or she.
Again, God gives. Government takes.

Roger M. Clites
Johnson City, Tenn.