The Christian and Taxes

First, let’s define our terms. Taxation is defined as a charge usually of money imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes. (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). Since the State is the single public organization that has a monopoly on taxation, the authority spoken of in this definition must be the State. But what is this thing called money that is demanded by the State for their exclusive use? Webster says money is: something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment. (ibid.) Money is a medium of exchange which is legitimately obtained only when we exchange it for something of value that we rightfully own, such as our labor (undeniably our property) or some other real property that is rightfully ours. In free commerce, each individual decides according to his own preference whether to exchange his property for money or vice versa. If both parties in the exchange agree, then the exchange takes place and both are better off since, by definition, both value what they have received more than what they have paid. In taxation however, the individual need not value what he receives as his property is confiscated for taxes because the State has a geographical monopoly on taxation, power and justice. So taxes are not usually paid because the taxpayer values what he receives in return for turning over his possessions, but are usually paid for protection from the power of the State, or more accurately to avoid the unsavory results of not paying. Because taxation is legalized by the State it is best described as legalized theft by force. So what does the Bible say about this kind of taxation? There are several passages in the Bible which mention taxes and the governing authorities. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

In Mat 17:24-27 (NASB) we read of Jesus’ teaching on the subject of taxation:
(24) When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?"
(25) He *said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?"
(26) When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt.
(27) "However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me."

The two-drachma tax mentioned in this passage was not a Roman tax; it was a Temple tax and was voluntary, as all taxes should be. Jesus paid the tax by a miracle that only God could perform, but not without a comment that the Son of God should be exempt from taxes paid for The Father’s Temple. Nevertheless, this passage says nothing about a coercive tax by the State.

A second passage often cited is Mat 22:15-22: (NASB)
(15) Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said.
(16) And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.
(17) "Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?"
(18) But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
(19) "Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius.
(20) And He *said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"
(21) They *said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He *said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."
(22) And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.

Of course the Pharisees and Herodians were trying to force Jesus to say yes or no to their question of whether to pay the Roman tax, but he confounded them by saying neither. He noted that the coin used to pay the tax had the inscription and likeness of Caesar on it, but did not say that therefore all such coins belonged to Caesar and should be given to him. He also did not say that they must pay this particular coin to Caesar, but that they should “render” or deliver it to him if it belonged to him. Again, this passage is not an endorsement of coercive taxation by the State nor is it a requirement under God’s Law that such taxation be scrupulously adhered to in the same way that our tithe to God should be.

So what should be our attitude toward the legalized theft of the State called taxation?

Rom 13:1-7 (NASB) says:
(1) 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.
(2) Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
(3) For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
(4) for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
(5) Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.
(6) For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
(7) Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

According to this passage, we should voluntarily pay taxes to governing authorities who bring wrath upon those who practice evil (such as theft and aggression against others), and who are servants of God. Judge for yourself whether the state in which you live conforms to this description. But what if the State is Godless? What if the State practices stealing from one person and giving the spoils to another? What if it adheres to the absolutely wicked plan of universal plunder for universal benefit, with the State as the only real beneficiary? And what should the sons of God do when their goods are taken by force and used for things that God has forbidden? This passage certainly does not give carte blanche to the State to collect any tax unless it is to be used according to God’s precepts.

So what should a child of God do about taxes, according to the Bible?

1Pe 2:13-20 (NASB) says:
(13) Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
(14) or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
(15) For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
(16) Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
(17) Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
(18) Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
(19) For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
(20) For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

To a certain extent, we are called to endure, but not to participate in, the evils of this world where it is possible to do so. Our Savior suffered for us and He promised us that we would also suffer, but there must be a limit to the evil that we are called to endure. The Jews resisted Pharaoh, Joshua fought to remove the evil men from the Promised Land, Gideon resisted the Midianites, David resisted Saul, etc. All of these were human institutions, authorities ordained by God. We are called to suffer, but we are also called to stop injustice both for our own sakes and for the sake of those who will inherit the horror of the Leviathan State apparatus that we have allowed to take form. Shall we wait until we are not just sheared like sheep but also slaughtered and our life blood devoured by that which claims to be our benefactor? As Thomas Jefferson wrote:

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. – Declaration of Independence.

This is not scripture, but was written by a wise man who also claimed Christ as savior. And I believe that Mr. Jefferson was correct on this point. In my opinion, and based upon what our Lord taught and what is also recorded elsewhere in scripture, Christians should pay the protection money called tax to the State while its evil is bearable, always acting to limit that evil through works of Christian love and charity. But we have a duty to resist any State when it becomes an abomination to God and to us, the people whose consent the State must have to exist. When we are reduced to spiritual and material poverty and surrounded by evil works on every side because of the State, may God help us to withhold that consent.

Pact with the Devil?

Pat Robertson is quoted as saying that "a long time ago in Haiti ... they got together and swore a pact to the Devil". Mr. Robertson said that because of that pact, the nation of Haiti has been cursed by various problems ever since.

First, Mr. Robertson does not know that every person in Haiti made such a pact. Maybe some did, maybe even a majority did. But to blame a specific disaster on specific sins of the past is an error. Nothing in creation can happen apart from God. He either causes events or He allows events, but the real God is really in control. Speculating on why He causes or allows certain events to happen is very dangerous business. We can say (because He said) that death is a result of sin. And while we know that God is Good, and we have His Word to guide us, we must be careful: the terible events happening in Haiti could happen anywhere that sin abounds. People of God, have mercy on the poor victims of this disaster and repent before something worse happens to your nation.

Roe v. Wade

37 years ago the Supreme Court ruled that it is a woman's right to sacrifice her children to Molech. So, if we now pass a law saying that a woman can only sacrifice her children to Molech under certain conditions or only if her physician approves, how does that help the situation?

The problem with abortion and all other sinful activities of mankind is not that there are insufficient laws to restrain us, but that laws are not enough to restrain us. There are stringent laws against prostitution and drug use, and yet they continue to be practiced.

One ancient idea is that a Strong Man (or government) will be able to make us into upstanding citizens and return us to being a great nation. This was the dream of Hitler and Stalin. It always ends in disaster.

Our need is not another law or the overturning of a law, and it is not more or stronger rulers.

We need a change of mind.

Don't be foolish, men and women of the united States, rule yourselves or you will be progressively crushed with tyrannical laws and rulers. This is the natural consequence of the habitual violation of the laws of nature and of nature's God. By the way, you can read about Him here: http://www.biblegateway.com/

Experience is an expensive school, but the fool will learn in no other.
(Paraphrase from Benjamin Franklin)