This
is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give
their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe
taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor,
then honor. (Romans 13:6-7)
One of the things
God warned Israel about when they clamored for a king was taxes. God had set up
His means of supporting His social servants. If they got the king they wanted,
the king would tax them and take away their freedom. But, they wanted to be
like all the other nations. That sounds familiar, and it’s as bad an idea today
as it was then.
I don’t mind contributing to a government that is doing its job, but what do you do when your tax dollars are spent on worthless things, frivolities, or, worst of all, things you think harmful or wrong? What do you do when the government is a bully, or an extortionist, demanding money to commit crimes or to promote sinful behavior?
Maybe those questions never bothered you. I know some people who have problems paying taxes that will be used to fight wars or for the death penalty. I know others who have issues with paying taxes that will be used for gender-reassignments or abortions. I have at least some agreement with all those folks. I don’t think the people back in Paul’s day had it any easier. Some of their tax money was spent paying soldiers to kill the people who were paying the taxes.
This isn’t a new question, the Pharisees asked Jesus about it, and He said “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and until God what is God’s.” I’ve decided that if a special tax is imposed, separate from the normal taxes, and for the purpose of doing something I know to be wrong, then it would be appropriate to engage in civil disobedience even though it would mean jail time and the confiscation of all my assets. God has commanded me to pay the more general sort, and even though it is used for evil, God can cause it to work for the good of His people. If I give it in good faith, Having given it, it then becomes my responsibility to try to convince the people and the government it wisely, but not my responsibility if they don’t listen. At that point, as the Old Testament says, “their blood is on their own hands.”
I don’t mind contributing to a government that is doing its job, but what do you do when your tax dollars are spent on worthless things, frivolities, or, worst of all, things you think harmful or wrong? What do you do when the government is a bully, or an extortionist, demanding money to commit crimes or to promote sinful behavior?
Maybe those questions never bothered you. I know some people who have problems paying taxes that will be used to fight wars or for the death penalty. I know others who have issues with paying taxes that will be used for gender-reassignments or abortions. I have at least some agreement with all those folks. I don’t think the people back in Paul’s day had it any easier. Some of their tax money was spent paying soldiers to kill the people who were paying the taxes.
This isn’t a new question, the Pharisees asked Jesus about it, and He said “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and until God what is God’s.” I’ve decided that if a special tax is imposed, separate from the normal taxes, and for the purpose of doing something I know to be wrong, then it would be appropriate to engage in civil disobedience even though it would mean jail time and the confiscation of all my assets. God has commanded me to pay the more general sort, and even though it is used for evil, God can cause it to work for the good of His people. If I give it in good faith, Having given it, it then becomes my responsibility to try to convince the people and the government it wisely, but not my responsibility if they don’t listen. At that point, as the Old Testament says, “their blood is on their own hands.”
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