the Jewish government collected taxes per say from the Jewish people...and yes, it was a Theocracy and the religious leaders were the government....the Jewish people were upset that they had to pay taxes (via tithings and other rules) to their theocratic government and pay them to the Roman Government.... Jesus told them to basically do what the Romans wanted and pay the taxes.Jesus NEVER spoke out against gvt, not even against the Roman gvt, as the pharisees tried to trick him in to doing, thus his answer on taxes that have to be paid to the Romans...''give unto Caesar what is his'' .....Jesus was not about Gov't. in any way. From reading the Bible I am pretty sure that Jesus would not want you to put money into the Gov't. pot just to be spread out to the needy. Charity from individuals is what Jesus was preaching. What is wrong is people trying to use Jesus to justify socialism. Doesn't work.
And what is Caesers then? Anything he asks/demands? Was the Roman government handing out welfare to the poor? I don't think so. Christ's message is about personal salvation and what is in your heart, it wasn't about going around and forcing others to follow your beliefs of being benevolent to the poor, especially via a third party. It was about your own convictions of giving directly and helping directly those that had need. It was personal. If we use your argument, then everyone who pays taxes is following the words of Christ, even if it is not in their heart to help anyone. I don't know of any pastor that would affirm that you're doing what Christ preached about helping the poor by simply paying your taxes.
Do you think Jesus did not know what was in their hearts? Do you think He did not know how upset they were about paying these taxes to the Romans? He disregarded these ill feelings of theirs and them being upset, and told them to pay what was asked by the Romans.
We have a different government now than back then, we do not live under a theocracy along with the Roman Government, we live under a Democratic Republic and every one of us has representation that make those important votes on legislation....if we don't agree with our government we can vote them out and put in new...we do have a say in our country.
some times we as individuals get what we want, and sometimes we don't.
I never said that Christ would accept that having our government help the poorest is ALL we should be doing....but I know He would not be against a government that tried to help the poorest, because he was NOT against the Jewish gvt of the time doing such.
There are no words in the Holy Bible of Jesus or anyone, that speaks out against a government that helps the needy or the sick, absolutely NONE.
So, to me, this is something you and others have simply MADE UP.
do I think we have problems with waste in our government...yes, we do.....but so did the Jewish gvt during Christ's time.
Do I think that we have some people that abuse the system....yes we do...as I am certain there were some that did the same during Christ's lifetime.
I have no issue with trying to address these problems of waste and abuse within our government....
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