1300. Does Your Master Pay Tribute?
Does Your Master Pay Tribute?
"For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing" (Rom_13:6).
In these days of diverse and divergent ideas, it becomes us to consider well our duties toward the authorities and powers under which we dwell.
Children of God have a citizenship which is in Heaven. They are called out from the world and its system; they are called into God's ecclesia, His Church, His separated ones.
We believe that the Church should not seek to dominate and run the government. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ must guard its separation from the state. It should not be continually memorializing legislatures, and demanding legislation in line with its creed, or with its conceptions.
On the other hand, the state has no right to enter the Church and seek to dominate it as to its doctrine, or as to the conduct of its affairs.
There are, however, certain things which believers should grant the "higher powers," the authorities of the state.
1. They should be subject to these authorities. The Bible says: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation" ("judgment," A. S. V.) (Rom_13:1-2).
The rulers of this world are not a terror to good works but to the evil. They are the ministers of God unto the saints for good. Into the hands of the lawmakers God puts a sword that they may be a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. For this cause saints, above all the people on the earth, should be subject to the laws, for their conscience' sake.
2. They should pay tribute to the state. "For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour" (Rom_13:6-7).
The believer should owe no man anything but to love him. The one who is dishonest with his government in his taxes, is dishonest toward God. He breaks his testimony and spoils his joy.
3. They should pray for kings and for all that are in authority. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1Ti_2:1-2).
We fear that many of us have failed God in this injunction. We are not only to pray, but to intercede. We are not only to intercede, but to give thanks for the men who hold the eminent places in the civic world.
If ever there was a set of men who need our prayers, it is this group. Particularly is this true today. Nations are facing questions that are momentous from every viewpoint, A wave of crime and of lawlessness is sweeping over the land that demands the keenest efforts of the state. There is a spirit of war in the earth.
Let us not forget to pray for our President, for our Governor, for our national and state lawmakers.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR