To a leading question about paying taxes, Jesus Christ answered with the principle: “Return the things of the emperor to the emperor, but the things of God to God. (Matthew 22:21) Therefore, the Christian has a certain obligation to judge. Authority. But Jesus Christ's recreation of "the things of God" shows that discernment is necessary to determine exactly what Christians owe the government and why.
In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul wrote the following about the obligations of the Christians to the authorities: “Give back all your rights to the one who demands tax, tax; for those who pay homage, homage; for those who shout fear, so much fear; who asks for glory, that glory. "- Rom. 13: 7.
As regulators perform important services to ensure the safety and well-being of their substances, they are entitled to compensation. Christians should look at paying taxes and fees as paying a debt. How the state authorities use the money received is not the responsibility of the Christian. Leaders' abuse of tax revenue or taxes does not give Christians the right to refuse to pay their debts. In today's perspective, the Christian can not do without government services and must therefore pay what is necessary with a clear conscience. When it comes to paying off a debt to a person, misusing that person's money does not cancel out your debt. No matter what the government may do, the Christian will not be released from the responsibility of paying taxes and fees.
There are also good reasons to show a healthy fear of authority. The apostle Paul said: “Those who lead are feared not because of good works but because of bad things. So you do not want to be afraid of authority? . . . He does not carry the sword without a target. because he is the servant of God, an avenger, who expresses his anger against the one who does evil. Therefore, a Christian must behave in a way that is not against the law. You must be careful not to ignore the life and death authority of the government.
It is also correct and appropriate to show honor or respect to lower officials and civil servants. But some may ask: How can a person honor or respect someone who may be morally corrupt? The problem is not the moral position of the leader or the employee who is as a person. Instead, it is the position you take. The honor or respect shown must correspond to the person's role.
How the apostle Paul treated Roman officials is a fine example of how rulers are like a people. The ancient historian Tacitus described the Roman prosecutor Felix as someone who "believed he could commit any evil with impunity" and who "practiced and practiced all kinds of barbarism and lust," a king on the head of a slave. But out of respect for Felix's position, Pablo opened his defense with the words: "I know very well that this nation has judged you for many years, I like to speak of myself in my defense of things. In the same way that he met the Apostle Paul incestuous King Herod Agrippa II, with respect: "I consider myself happy to have defended myself before you today," especially since you are an expert on all customs and controversies among Jews. Paulo spoke to the idolatrous Governor Festus and called him "Excellency ".
However, there may be times when governments need a Christian, which, if understood, would mean that they do not surrender the things of God to God.So what?
The Jewish prophet Daniel faced this situation under the command of Darius, the fears. Darius signed a law ordering the death penalty for anyone who "asks a god or a man in thirty days" except the king himself.If Daniel followed this law, it would mean he would be in thirty days. long stopped praying. What did Daniel do? He ignored the law that contradicted the worship due to God and then experienced miraculous deliverance.
Likewise, the apostles did not comply with the demands of the Jewish Supreme Court, the Sanhedrin, to end all statements of “good news” concerning Christ. The apostles replied, "We are to obey God as head before men." (Acts 5:29)
However, this does not mean that Christians have the right to participate in revolutionary activities or to challenge laws that restrict them but do not prevent them from fulfilling the requirements of pure worship. The words of Ecclesiastes 8: 6, 7 provide guidance in this regard. We read, “There is also a time and judgment for every endeavor for the woes of mankind abound in them. Because there is no one who knows how it will be, because who can tell you how it will be? ""
The most demanding person realizes that for “every business” there is the right timing and evaluation or form of management. This will prevent you from acting provocatively. Life is already full of "bad luck" enough without adding problems to outbreaks. Plus, no one can be sure what the future holds. Even the rule of the tyrant cannot be continued indefinitely. Remembering that the future is uncertain and that big changes can happen quickly helps to have patience to endure an uncomfortable situation.
Those who recognize the importance of acting at the right time and with the right sense will take the good advice of the biblical proverb: "To change, do not disturb those who are.Why will your disaster be so sudden that anyone is aware of the extinction of those who will change?
Following the Scriptures and the example of first-century Christians, God's servants today are required to pay all taxes imposed on them and to show governors and officials the reverence and honor their positions deserve. This involves addressing them by honor and in no way preventing them from carrying out their duties. But when the demands of the ruling authorities contradict true worship, the Christian "will obey God as a ruler and not as a man."
do not forget that god limits the maximal taxation. after the slaves leaving egypt, god specifies the taxation system. they cant harvest the edges of the fields, as those belongs to roamers, homeless, poor people, guests from other countries. those people can harvest it with their bare hands and consume them (but without using tools to harvest the edges).
once in every 7th year, they cant harvest or take care of the field, because then all the yield of the field belongs to the wild animals, and to the nature itself. in every 7 years , there is taxation of objects: like, if someone has more than 10 chairs in his homes, he have to give one tenth of chairs to the state, and so on... besides this, they collect taxation in animals: they publicly fry goats, lambs, birds, and other animals on special occassions (for example in the case child birth happening). the meat of these sacrafical lambs then are being shared by the priests, for themself, for the homeless, to the poor people, to the sick people, and to the army itself.
curing sick and injured people is also the role of the priests, who feed the sick people from these sacraficial animals, and they give the object to the soldiers. this is how god ordered the taxation, and this is the only legitimate way of taxation. taxation of money is not possible according to the bible, but donation of money and gold is possible to the state - but its always voluntarely.