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1. Ed Enochs  •  Apr 26, 2009 @8:51 pm
   

   Jesus and Taxes: Why Christians Must Obey the State in this Regard

   “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.”

   Matthew 22:15-22

   I have read some comments made here with a great deal of interest and some bemusement since it is just not in accordance with historic Christian teaching to somehow even consider that believers in Jesus Christ have the option to pay their taxes or not. This radical notion that paying taxes to the secular state is not mandatory for the Christian is contrary to sound teaching and is in fact what caused the famous creation science teacher Kent Hovind to be thrown in to jail for supporting an ill advised “don’t pay your taxes scheme”

   For more info on the tragic case of Kent Hovind’s tax fraud case see:

   http://www.religionnewsblog.com/16451/kent-hovind-dr-dino-guilty-on-all-counts

   In recent years there has arisen within conservative Evangelical Christian circles, a particular perspective, largely influenced by conservative limited government and libertarian political ideology, that maintains that Christians are justified in not paying taxes to pagan secular governments. Now, throughout the annals of Church history, certain segments of the historic Christian church has legitimately struggled over the issues of paying taxes to secular governments that often are openly hostile to Christians and do not have the best interests of the Christian Church in mind. Yet, it is the clear and sound teaching of inspired Scripture that every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is to be dutifully obedient to the secular government irrespective if they manifest benevolence to the Christian Church or not. The infallible Scriptures encapsulate the mind of God regarding a Christians relationship and duty to government in respect to the question of whether we should be paying taxes or not and they declare as Jesus Christ did to His apostles in the affirmative in paying taxes: we are to “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s”

   The following text in Paul’s inspired epistle to the Romans should settle the question once and for all when we read,

   Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

   Thus it is clear from Scripture, the believer in Christ exclusive authority on all matters pertaining to Christian faith and practice that believers in Christ are to be obedient to the secular government and obey their taxes irrespective if they support Christianity or not. The Roman government of Jesus and Paul’s day was overtly pagan in its ideological reference point and both our Sovereign Lord Christ and His Apostle declare emphatically that we are to pay our taxes dutifully as good citizens of the state. To somehow suggest the paying taxes to the state is optional it surely contrary to the explicit teaching of Christ and the Apostles as revealed in Holy Scripture. Now, we are not to obey the government if they command us to renounce our faith in Christ (See chapters Acts 2-4) but paying taxes is not one in the same as renouncing Christ even if the funds go specifically to things contrary to our faith. God commands us to fear God and honor the king (1 Peter 2:17) and pay our taxes in obedience to God and the government that God has placed us under.

2. Ned Netterville  •  Apr 25, 2009 @1:48 pm
   

   Yes, indeed, as the Psalm (#24) says, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” That leaves Ceasar exactly nothing. And that is as it should be, for Caesar (and all states) takes taxes by force or coercion, which is exactly the same as extortion, which is stealing, which violates God’s unequivocal command, “Thou shalt not steal.” Jesus would hardly condone stealing.

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