Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. - Romans 13:1-10
Unpopular laws, corrupt leaders and unreasonable taxes are often cited as reasons why people don't follow their leaders in government. Certainly the Roman empire had been no friend to Christians, with bouts of official and unofficial persecution since before Jesus' time. In Paul's recent memory, all of the Jews (and the Christians with them) had been kicked out of Rome and only recently allowed back.
But Paul (along with Peter) followed a line of thinking that can be traced back to Jeremiah when it comes to living in an unsympathetic and sometimes outright hostile civic environment. It says that God has set up government for his purposes-even if that government is made up of crooked and evil mean and women. It is their job to reward good behavior and punish evil behavior and God holds them accountable. Jeremiah told his fellow citizens, forced to relocate to Babylon, ...seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. (Jer. 29:7)
It appears that Paul's audience particularly objected to paying taxes to the Roman government and giving respect before the various Roman officials. Again, Jesus had given clear guidance on this, saying Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's.
But then Paul takes that a step further: what if we thought of the taxes and the respect in the same way we thought about loving other people? What if we only loved people who we thought loveable or lovely, would that be truly love? Would we really be fulfilling the law of God? No. Love is proved when it is shown even to the unlovely. Again, Jesus' words guide us, If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? (Matthew 5:46)
Submitting yourself is hard. Loving other people is hard. Truthfully, paying taxes is a lot easier than loving some people. In doing the former, maybe I am being trained in the latter.
Amos 5:13 "Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil."
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