Is taxation by secular governments approved by God

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  • #11851
    #11852

    For the paying taxes part i say read Mark 12:13-17. He says to be in this world, not of it. So paying taxes and living life(paying rent, eating, etc.) is being in the world, and paying tribute(giving to false gods), worshipping this worlds god(s), etc. is being of the world.

    #11855
    MrBob
    Participant

    Matthew 17:24-27 (WEB)
    When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?”

    He said, “Yes.”

    When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?” Peter said to him, “From strangers.”
    Jesus said to him, “Therefore the children are exempt. But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”

    This study makes a big deal out of nothing. This passage, along with the “render unto Ceaser what is Ceaser's, render unto God what is God's” record this study mentions, we can see that we are to pay taxes. As OneoftheLordsGenerals mentioned, we are to be in the world, but not of it.

    How are we to minister if we waste our time battling governments over taxation? If the first century church did not pay taxes, we certainly would have seen the fist of the Roman Empire in the Book of Acts–but we don't.

    #11857
    david
    Participant

    Canada is not perfect. We look to God's kingdom. However, there are some things to consider:

    Rom. 13:1, 5-7: “Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities [governmental rulers], for there is no authority except by God . . . There is therefore compelling reason for you people to be in subjection, not only on account of that wrath but also on account of your conscience. . . . Render to all their dues, to him who calls for the tax, the tax; to him who calls for the tribute, the tribute; to him who calls for fear, such fear; to him who calls for honor, such honor.”
    (No government could exist without God’s permission. Regardless of the conduct of individual officials, true Christians have shown them respect because of the office they occupied. For example, regardless of the use that governments have made of tax money, true Christians have made honest payment of their taxes in return for those services from which everyone could benefit.)

    Mark 12:17: “Jesus then said: ‘Pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.’”
    (So Christians have always recognized that they must not only “pay back” money in the form of taxes to the secular government but also fulfill the superior obligations they have toward God.)

    Acts 5:28, 29: “[A spokesman for the Jewish high court] said: ‘We positively ordered you [the apostles] not to keep teaching upon the basis of this name [of Jesus Christ], and yet, look! you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring the blood of this man upon us.’ In answer Peter and the other apostles said: ‘We must obey God as ruler rather than men.’”
    (When there has been a direct conflict between the commands of human rulers and the requirements of God, true Christians have imitated the example of the apostles by putting obedience to God first.)
    For example, in Canada, around the time of world war II, on July 4, 1940, the Canadian government banned Jehovah’s Witnesses without warning. It was illegal for us to hold meetings, go from door to door and talk about the Bible, or to bring people the good news of the kingdom. This is an example of direct violation of God's commands. So, in Canada, many were sent to prison for ignoring this command.

    Anyway, it seems that if a government told you to specifically break one of God's commands, to kill someone yourself, to steal, then a true Christian would of course refuse.
    But this is not the only scripture to consider and since we live in the world in which we must live (while being separate from the world and it's way, as mentioned) we must be balanced in our view.

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