Taxes
Jesus gave an example of citizenship by paying taxes. It's in the Bible, Matthew 17:27, NIV "But so that we may not offend them, 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."
Jesus counseled us to pay taxes. It's in the Bible, Matthew 22:17-21, NIV. "Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, 'You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap Me? Show Me the coin used for paying the tax.' They brought Him a denarius, and He asked them, 'Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?' Caesars, they replied. Then He said to them, 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is Gods.'"
Christians should willingly pay their taxes. It's in the Bible, Romans 13:5-7, TLB. "Obey the laws, then, for two reasons: first, to keep from being punished, and second, just because you know you should. Pay your taxes too, for these same two reasons. For government workers need to be paid so that they can keep on doing God's work, serving you. Pay everyone whatever he ought to have: pay your taxes and import duties gladly, obey those over you, and give honor and respect to all those to whom it is due."
What does the Scripture say about owed taxes? It's in the Bible, Romans 13:7-8, NIV. "Give everyone what you owe him: 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 he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."
