If the argument has thus far been conducted from the standpoint of
the outsider, it is not intended to imply that the case against the
exemption of church property from taxation rests in any fundamental way
on the assumption that the teachings of Christianity or even the creeds
of the churches are false. On the contrary, every most material ground
for condemnation of the practice in question would continue to be
valid, even if the truth of the Christian doctrine were assumed as
a starting-point. "My kingdom is not of this world," is the express
utterance put into the mouth of Jesus by his biographer. This obviously
implies the principle of absolute religious liberty, so far as the
secular state is concerned. The Christ of the New Testament disclaimed
the intention of constraining the actions of unwilling followers. Even
the man who had resolved to betray him was suffered to go forth in peace
with the exhortation: "What thou doest, do quickly." In no part of his
teaching is there warrant for religious domination of the state, or for
control over the private actions of individuals. The only penalty for
disobedience was withdrawal from the privilege of communion with
him. Even the passage of dubious authenticity which smacks most of
ecclesiastical judgment of the individual, goes no farther than to
prescribe excommunication from the fellowship of the saints. "Let him be
to thee as the Gentile and the publican," involves at most no more than
an injunction to withdraw personal companionship from the unworthy. It
is by man's own conscience and by the judgment of God in another world
that Jesus expects evildoing to be punished. It never occurs to him to
make religion a state affair.
Nay, it is possible to come closer home to the present subject. Unlike
the church, which mutters "Lord, Lord," but departs from his teaching
and example whenever its convenience is promoted by doing so, Jesus
decided this very question on the side of honesty and justice. When
this exact issue was placed before him, he not only paid his taxes,
but plainly declared the duty of so doing, even though the existing
government was one imposed by aliens. That, unlike the church which
mocks truth by misusing his name to cover its utter antagonism to all
that was vital in his teachings, he was so poor that he must needs work
a miracle in order to obtain the tribute money, in no way touches the
point at issue. The fact remains that he refused to take advantage
of his exceptional position, but set the example of paying his tax to
organized society. If the Lord of the church recognized the obligation
of performing his civic duty, despite the fact that he was the
exemplification of the religious principle, by what right does his
church make itself more highly privileged than its master, and seek to
set itself above the state?