This is Authority From God?!?!

I have been thinking a lot about our government and how it operates. Personally, I think it could be run a lot better. I have said before that I could do it better. Really though, it takes one heck of a strong person to sit in that office and take all that criticism and not lash out at the country; along with all the other pressures they have on them. They have an ENTIRE country to run! You think running that store or office is tough, try the country. So people talk all this junk about how they could do better and just what they would do...that's fine (you'll never understand) but what about all the people saying they are going to stop paying taxes because the government is robbing us blind. (Keep in mind we let these people get elected or we voted for...just saying) Well here's thing, do you know how much money it cost to run a government?? I don't.


My REAL question is...What does the Bible say about paying taxes and how we should react towards our government?


I looked at Romans 13:1-7 and Mark 12:1-17


Romans 13:1-7 says:

Submission to the Authorities

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 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 he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.


Mark 12:1-17 says: 

The Parable of the Tenants

12:1-12pp -- Mt 21:33-46; Lk 20:9-19

1 He then began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed. 6 "He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 7 "But the tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 "What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven't you read this scripture: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 11 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes' ?" 12 Then they looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

12:13-17pp -- Mt 22:15-22; Lk 20:20-26

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. 17Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.


I am unsure how literally we are suppose to take this considering our government's history in the last several years. However, I know that Jesus NEVER changes and His Word still stands firm today. With that being said, I believe that when it states we are subject to the governing authorities, I take it literally. We may not fully agree with what our government is doing but we have ways to change that. When was the last time you really prayed for our government and the people actively running it? I mean really prayed, for their wisdom, their heart, their salvation, or their safety? We just expect that the government is going to do what is best for me....I...all 311 millions of us. Like that is going to happen. The fact of the matter is that we should be wanting the government to make decisions in the best interest of God and His will. Then maybe we wouldn't find it so hard to be subject to the government and to pay our taxes. The Bible clearly states that we are not to resist authority and that we should give Caesar (the government) what is his and God what is God's (which is everything we are!!) 


The parable in Mark is the perfect example. The man set up the vineyard, he did all the initial things and asked other to look after it. But the tenants did not want to give that made what was due to him...sound familiar?? In the end the tenants will be destroyed an others will take their place.


Even if we choose not to be subject to our government, there will be someone that will. If many of us do not, we will end up like all the other civilizations in the past...destroyed and read about in history books.


The same goes for our faith in God. Even if we choose not to follow God, others will. They will give the glory that is due to God. We should want to be a part of that...glorifying God for the things He has created for us and given us.