Should We Pay Taxes?
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000
Should We Pay Taxes?
(This is especially for those in the United States, but those of other
countries can still benefit from the principles here taught.)
"What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? ...
Jesus ... said ... Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are
Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:17--21)
"Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for
conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are
God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render
therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to
whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." (Romans 13:5-7)
If the question were asked of Jesus today (in the USA), I believe it
would be something like this: "Master, what do you say? Is it right
for us to pay taxes to the ungodly government(s) of the USA?" I also
believe that Jesus might answer something like this: "Whose image
appears on the dollar bill?" We would have to say, "Why, George
Washington's". Jesus might further say, "Give to Washington the things
which are Washington's; and give to God the things that are God's".
"But, look at all the wickedness for which they use our money!"
After it is paid, it is no longer OUR money; it is then the responsibility
of the governing powers before God to do what ought to be done with it.
The Romans of Jesus' time were not the "goody two shoes" type
by any means; yet, Jesus still told those under their rule to give to
"Caesar the things which are Caesar's".
What if we can get out of paying taxes legitimately? Consider the
incident of the tribute money (Matthew 17:24-27). The tribute collectors
of Galilee asked Peter, "Does your master pay tribute?" They caught him
off guard, and he said, "Yes". Jesus took him aside alone to correct him --
Here is a lesson in how to reprove and correct those that are mistaken,
but not flagrantly rebelling. Also, here is a lesson in keeping our word
even if the law or strict justice would not require us to do so.
The lesson: They did not have to pay it by law, for this was a tribute
that was imposed on strangers (or foreigners) not on the citizens of
Galilee.
Jesus would not have paid it, but because Peter had given his word, Jesus
said that they should pay it in order not to offend them. This Scripture
lesson also supports our avoiding any appearance of "cheating" on our tax
returns, because the Lord Himself would not take an "exemption" or
"deduction" which was His right to take that would result in putting
questions in the minds of the authorities and the public. Our testimonies
and examples before men must be kept above unnecessary reproach.
Therefore, my understanding is that we can and should use every clearly
legitimate way of reducing our tax burden: take all deductions that we can
take with a clear conscience, vote for leaders in government (congress,
senate, at state and federal levels, governors, presidents, etc.) that would
try to lessen the size of government and the size of the tax burden. But,
we
should not evade paying the taxes that we are legally bound to pay, and we
should be careful to avoid "gray" areas when filling out our tax returns.
Some believe that the income tax the US government is imposing upon us
is unconstitutional and therefore illegal. If such believe that they are
right to
conscientiously object to paying income tax, they should be like the three
Hebrew children and be respectful in their civil disobedience and
submissively
take any punishment the government may try to impose upon them.
But, I submit to you that in Jesus' time there were very zealous Jews
who believed that the Roman authorities were ruling over them without right.
It was in this time and climate that Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar the
things
which are Caesar's". Jesus Christ the Son of God has the power and
authority
to tell us what to do. And though He has no fear of the authorities that
are over
us on earth, He tells us to pay them!
Ephesians 1:20-22 speaks of Christ that the Father "set him at his own
right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power,
and
might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world,
but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet,
and
gave him to be the head over all things to the church,". Now this is the
One
Who is telling us to pay tribute, taxes, to the civil authorities.
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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