A tricky scholar came up to Jesus one day in an attempt to trick the wise teacher. Knowing that tension with the federal government was at an all-time high, the scholar asked, "Is it spiritually and religiously all right to pay taxes to our overreaching, repressive government?" Jesus saw right through the question. The scholar wanted the teacher to say, "Heck, no!" and then report his answer to the governing authorities. Twas a twicky pwoposition. Jesus asked a question in reply, which he always seemed to do. "Does anyone have a quarter?" the teacher asked. I imagine a couple of bystanders snickered at his reply. Jesus wants a quarter? What, is he going to pay his taxes or something? Hmm... can I deduct that quarter if I give him one, you know, as a gift to charity?
After a few awkward moments, a bystander reached out with a silver coin but Jesus didn't reach out to grab it. Instead he reached out to point at it. "Whose image and name is on the quarter?" he asked the scholar. "Ceasar," the scholar answered, thinking, "No duh!" since everyone around knew who was on the common coin. The teacher shook his head in agreement. "Then give what belongs to Caesar to Caesar and what belongs to God to God." The scholar was speechless. The crowd just nodded and slowly shrunk away. Twas a good answer! But what did it mean?
A few days later, Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, paraded as the king of Israel. The same king who told his subjects to pay taxes to Caesar, whom they loathed. Last time they had a tea party, Caesar's governor sent soldiers in to kill and disperse the crowd. And they were to fund his reckless governmental operation with their tax money? Seems wrong. But the king said they were supposed to do it. And give their allegiance to God at the same time. Strange answer!
We who belong to the king, who are called by His name, are all dual citizens. We belong to the kingdom of heaven on one hand and yet we live in a kingdom on earth (or for most, a country). We are asked by our earthly government to do things for the benefit of that government and for its citizens. We are also asked by our heavenly King and His Father to do things for the benefit of the heavenly kingdom and its citizens. Loving our brother, for instance, and giving to the poor among us.
We are dual citizens and, thus, have to live a balance of responsibility. Yet these two institutions are not completely separate. The heavenly has established the earthly. When the King of heaven was standing before a governor of earth in John 19, He said, "You would have no authority if it wasn't granted to you from above." Such a gutsy statement considering that the King of heaven was bound and bleeding, one small proclamation away from His own death.
Heaven establishes earth. And while we live on this earth, we need to recognize this fact.
I think Romans 13 is the preeminent passage on the relationship of God and government in the New Testament. The apostle Paul writes, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." Just like Jesus, he was instructing people in subjection to an oppressive government who were wondering what their attitude should reflect. Were they to resist, hide, or run away? None of the above, Paul said, they were to obey. For God establishes governments, even when they fail to recognize His existence or mandate laws to repress His people. Part of obeying the government, he would later write, involves paying taxes and not speeding (umm... or the 1st Century equivalent). Honor those in charge, Paul writes, fear them and follow their lead. Tough to swallow for independent folks, but in doing so we actually honor the God who establishes governors and governments.
There are some caveats to this obedience, as spelled out in Acts 5, when Peter and John appeared before the Sanhedrin ruling counsel. They were commanded to refrain from proselytizing in the Temple courts but did it anyway. Their response: "We must obey God rather than men." Their point is that when God gives a command, we must follow, regardless of what the secular or religious authorities say. This is the "out" from obeying earthly authorities. But it is a narrow "out." God has spoken through His Word and given His commands. One such command is to pay taxes. And so, on April 15th, we pay them.
Heaven establishes earth but it never takes a back seat.
In Philippians 3, Paul writes that men of this earth (non-believers) are focused on things of this earth but Christians need to devote themselves to a different focus, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." We are never to forget that we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom, ruled by a just King, and worthy of our first attention and first devotion. You can wave your flags all you want but if you're not going to church, your priorities are out of whack. If you aren't praying to the Father, serving the poor and needy, carrying your brother or sister, and living a life reflecting grace, your life will be out of balance.
Our King wants us to obey our government and pay our taxes. Even if we don't like that government. It part of being a dual citizen of heaven and earth. But always remember that your allegiance lies with your King first, from whom all authority is given and taken. (Matt 6:33)
And that's my tax day lesson!
Be God's!
P.S. — People sometimes ask me if I'm a Democrat or Republican and I usually respond, "I'm a Biblicist." Upon seeing confused faces, I explain, "When God speaks in His word about a subject, I follow His lead. When He is silent or the issue is gray, I use my best discretion. I don't follow political parties or political ideology. I seek to follow my King." I believe (and have come to find out personally) that there are sincere believers all over the political landscape who are seeking God and doing what they believe is wise. This is a lesson I learned in college. And I don't "demonize" them based on their party or how they vote on a bill. To be honest, I'm more interested in serving my church and my brother than worrying about the upcoming midterm elections.
UPDATE: Add to the list of government mandates the 2010 census. Have you mailed in yours yet? It's fitting that the census forms and tax deadline fall in the same period of time. I guess God and government has been on my mind a lot lately.
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