taxes

Good evening/morning friends,
This is a helpful and challenging passage that deserves its own sermon. On the one hand, Paul reminds us that Christians and government generally serve the same goals and so we can work together. He also reminds us that it is our duty as citizens to obey those in authority. That's a good reminder that there is a bigger picture than our convenience; the community has needs that we ought to take account of.

What Paul doesn't say, but we know from his life, is that there are times Christians can't obey both God and those in authority. When the religious leaders ordered Peter and John not to preach about Jesus, they replied that they had to obey God, not human authority. The same held true for civil rights activists sitting in at segregated restaurants: when the law violates God's law, we sometimes have to disobey it. In all things we are called to follow Jesus who was faithful to God no matter what the cost.

God bless,
Sam

Romans 13:1-7

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; 4for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.


6For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing. 7Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.