On the 12th day of the U.S. and British bombing in Afghanistan, the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) Steering Committee, meeting in Harrisonburg, VA, approved a policy encouraging resistance to war taxes among its constituency reminded me of a parable I felt guided to write about the time of the Gulf War: ——————————–

Parable of the AK-47 Jim Foxvog 11/9/90

There was a man, Irving Roger Smith, who was possessed by demons. He went to the bank and borrowed $2000. Then he went and bought an AK-47 for $1200.

He went to a shopping center and shot hundreds of rounds into the crowd, killing, wounding and maiming unknown numbers of people, although one was a thief and one was a murderer. He gave the rest of the money to a food bank to help feed the poor.

Well, I know how he used the money, and he comes up to me and says, “Brother, may I have $4000 to continue my good works?” I hesitate, and he reminds me, “You know that Jesus said ‘Give to those that ask.'” So I give him the $4000.

(PS IRS is the USA equivalent of the ATO, Australian Taxation Office.)