Is this Christianities way of giving nod and wink to oppressors?
Kinda saying ....we'll screw them at one end.
You screw them at the other.
And we will meet in the middle.
2007-03-22 17:20:30 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This statement was made in response to a question about paying taxes. I believe Jesus was simply saying that Christians are citizens of a country and should do what is expected of all good citizens to make their country as good as possible and that includes paying taxes.
2007-03-22 17:24:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's from Matthew 22:21. Jesus was asked if it was lawful for Jews to pay Roman tax. He answered, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."
On a basic level it simply means, "Be a good citizen. Pay your taxes." Looking at it a little more deeply, though, it can be taken to be a warning not to worry too much about the bad things that are inevitable in this life, but to remember that the true reward is in the next.
Even Christ knew nobody gets out of paying taxes.
2007-03-23 00:33:45 · answer #2 · answered by srsmith413 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A better interpretation:
Jesus said to the Pharisees and the Herodians, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.”
Their great failure had not been in the first area but in the second. They had paid their Roman taxes, though reluctantly, but had disregarded the claims of God on their lives. The coin had Caesar's image on it, and therefore belonged to Caesar. Man has God's image on him—God created man in His own image (Gen_1:26-27)—and therefore belongs to God.
The believer is to obey and support the government under which he lives. He is not to speak evil of his rulers or work to overthrow the government. He is to pay taxes and pray for those in authority. If called on to do anything that would violate his higher loyalty to Christ, he is to refuse and to bear the punishment. The claims of God must come first. In upholding those claims, the Christian should always maintain a good testimony before the world.
2007-03-23 01:47:34 · answer #3 · answered by Ask Mr. Religion 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No the question raised to Jesus is was it lawful to pay Roman taxes.
Jesus answer to them was Yes.
It applies even today.
Christians are obligated to pay taxes.
We are also under obligated to pay Jehovah what is due him, that is our exclusive worship.
2007-03-23 00:30:30 · answer #4 · answered by Here I Am 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually it was one of the first documented cases of an advocation of the seperation of church and state
2007-03-23 00:23:10 · answer #5 · answered by Cocked F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually, it has both carnal and spiritual meanings...carnally it means to pay taxes, homage, and/or respect to whatever king(dom) you belong to. spiritually it means to pay tithes (to give of yourself), homage, and respect to GOD. in the carnal you obey the laws of man (so long as they dont contradict the laws of GOD) in the spiritual you obey GOD.
2007-03-23 00:29:48 · answer #6 · answered by Tammy M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋