- Oct 4, 2016
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Also, please explain why the Lord commands us to pay taxes, but if we get permission, for our church, from the government, then we don't have to pay taxes: why is that?
Well that one is easy. Jesus didn't command us to pay taxes but to "Render unto Cesar, what is Cesar's...". Our government was set up for the freedom of religion, so in this case Cesar is saying "as an institution you don't have to pay taxes unless you are lobbying or doing political campaigning". And for most Christians that should be fine, because "our kingdom is not of this World".
Interesting enough on the general topic Jesus also said this
Matthew 17:24-27
New International Version
The Temple Tax
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
26 “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
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