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M
[h=1] On the topic of paying taxes (or fines) for things you don't agree with...also on the topic of government in general-
Romans 13:1-7New International Version (NIV)
[/h] [h=3]Submission to Governing Authorities[/h]"13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. [SUP]2 [/SUP]Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. [SUP]3 [/SUP]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 you will be commended. [SUP]4 [/SUP]For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. [SUP]5 [/SUP]Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. [SUP]7 [/SUP]Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
That's kind of a hard pill to swallow because the governing authorities DON'T exactly have the good of the people in mind (I should say SOME authorities- politicians, particularly). But even so, we are to follow the laws of the land and pay whatever we owe according to those laws. The Bible doesn't say "Follow only the laws that make sense to you" or "Pay only what you FEEL you owe".
It's kind of a raw deal, sure. But there are more important battles for us to fight than thumbing our nose at government/authority that simply wants us to do ridiculous things. Why make trouble for yourself over something that's so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things? Why not wait to stand your ground against something that actually effects your spiritual welfare and goes against God's word?
Romans 13:1-7New International Version (NIV)
[/h] [h=3]Submission to Governing Authorities[/h]"13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. [SUP]2 [/SUP]Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. [SUP]3 [/SUP]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 you will be commended. [SUP]4 [/SUP]For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. [SUP]5 [/SUP]Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. [SUP]7 [/SUP]Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."
That's kind of a hard pill to swallow because the governing authorities DON'T exactly have the good of the people in mind (I should say SOME authorities- politicians, particularly). But even so, we are to follow the laws of the land and pay whatever we owe according to those laws. The Bible doesn't say "Follow only the laws that make sense to you" or "Pay only what you FEEL you owe".
It's kind of a raw deal, sure. But there are more important battles for us to fight than thumbing our nose at government/authority that simply wants us to do ridiculous things. Why make trouble for yourself over something that's so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things? Why not wait to stand your ground against something that actually effects your spiritual welfare and goes against God's word?
swing by! i'll hook you up. : D
ok, seriously, i was once travelling and had a fancy thing to go to and was sort of out of luck. i ended up wearing a black skirt (one of like six things i had along with me) and buying a men's white button down shirt, and dressing it up with jewelry and my hair up-pish and the black boots i had along.
using the black and white scheme added a level of implied formality and by doing something with my hair, i skated on that.
everyone has a black skirt. be creative. if there's anyone i know who could cook something up, that'd be you. : )
i love those life hack opportunities. they are so fun. and i sort of believe in the fact that if you wear something with enough conviction, no one will dare question you, ala the emperor's new clothes. : D
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Ravi Zacharias has a cool elaboration on that passage.
"[There was] the man who came to Jesus trying to trip him up, and looked at Jesus and said, 'Is it alright to pay taxes to Caesar?,' and I've always said I wish Jesus had answered that question differently. It would be wonderful if Jesus said, 'No, you just do not pay any taxes to Caesar,' then when April 15th comes around you could look like a martyr while disobeying the government at the same time. Jesus looked at the questioner and said, 'Do you have a coin in your pocket?' The man took a coin out and Jesus said, 'Whose image do you see on this coin?' The man sprung to his answer and said, 'This is the image of Caesar.' Jesus said, 'Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's, and give to God that which is God's.' The disingenuousness of the [man's] question was exposed immediately because he ought to have had a follow-up question saying something like this: 'What belongs to God?' 'If I'm to give this coin to Caesar because it belongs to Caesar, what is it that belongs to God?'
You know what Jesus would have said? 'Whose image is on you?'"
"[There was] the man who came to Jesus trying to trip him up, and looked at Jesus and said, 'Is it alright to pay taxes to Caesar?,' and I've always said I wish Jesus had answered that question differently. It would be wonderful if Jesus said, 'No, you just do not pay any taxes to Caesar,' then when April 15th comes around you could look like a martyr while disobeying the government at the same time. Jesus looked at the questioner and said, 'Do you have a coin in your pocket?' The man took a coin out and Jesus said, 'Whose image do you see on this coin?' The man sprung to his answer and said, 'This is the image of Caesar.' Jesus said, 'Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's, and give to God that which is God's.' The disingenuousness of the [man's] question was exposed immediately because he ought to have had a follow-up question saying something like this: 'What belongs to God?' 'If I'm to give this coin to Caesar because it belongs to Caesar, what is it that belongs to God?'
You know what Jesus would have said? 'Whose image is on you?'"
I actually don't believe that applies to this situation. I would call that just a bit melodramatic given the circumstances. There is wisdom in choosing your battles. When we're talking about paying taxes, the issue really is that you don't want to give the government more money, and understandably so. But to paint it out to be a matter of tyranny and injustice, that trivializes the real issues of tyranny and injustice that exist in the world. I think if we all counted our blessings before our tax liabilities and compared our circumstances to those of others in the world, we would find ourselves humbled.
Given what Miss Cris posted above, I would go even so far as to say that the government taxing people who do not have health care coverage is not even a moral issue while our obedience to God's word is. In an issue like this that really just comes down to money, God gets far more glory out of humility than rebellion.
Given what Miss Cris posted above, I would go even so far as to say that the government taxing people who do not have health care coverage is not even a moral issue while our obedience to God's word is. In an issue like this that really just comes down to money, God gets far more glory out of humility than rebellion.
honestly, when it comes to politics, i'm done with wanting and expecting legislative accomplishments via laws and sane choices.
i'm at the point where i don't really believe in the idea that most (or all) politicians are blessed and burdened by:
bright and intelligent insight
desire for laws that are "for the people"
anything more than corruption, corruption, and more corruption
intention of serving more than the political machine
and the existence of parties mean actual, real differences instead of homogenization within inches of separation
as a rosy-glass-viewed, unabashed optimist who longs for ideals in a rather un-ideal world, it truly pains me to say that.
and that's why i just want them to stop being in charge of anything. i'd not even give them control of the senate radio station if i could help it.
strip them of their power, take away their ability to control my choices and let me sort it out for myself. i don't trust you to make a right decision, government, because if you do, it'll probably be for the wrong reason anyway. and that annoys me.
because now, it just feels like we're all on the hee haw bus riding to the crazy-place listening to dueling banjos playing the tune in deliverance. and the ones in straightjackets and talking to themselves are in charge.
i'm at the point where i don't really believe in the idea that most (or all) politicians are blessed and burdened by:
bright and intelligent insight
desire for laws that are "for the people"
anything more than corruption, corruption, and more corruption
intention of serving more than the political machine
and the existence of parties mean actual, real differences instead of homogenization within inches of separation
as a rosy-glass-viewed, unabashed optimist who longs for ideals in a rather un-ideal world, it truly pains me to say that.
and that's why i just want them to stop being in charge of anything. i'd not even give them control of the senate radio station if i could help it.
strip them of their power, take away their ability to control my choices and let me sort it out for myself. i don't trust you to make a right decision, government, because if you do, it'll probably be for the wrong reason anyway. and that annoys me.
because now, it just feels like we're all on the hee haw bus riding to the crazy-place listening to dueling banjos playing the tune in deliverance. and the ones in straightjackets and talking to themselves are in charge.
M
I do have a black skirt, but it's like...I dunno, something I bought in a hurry from K-Mart about 10 years ago, and it's like this gnarly nylon thing and it's cut weird. But!
I totally want to raid your boot collection.
Since I can't actually do that, I'll wear my own boots, and the stuff I just bought. Kind of excited because I got this like...extra long, burgundy, thin cardigan. And black leggings. And a sort of shimmery charcoal top for under the cardigan...because...shiny stuff. Oh!! And the hair thing- that's one thing I've discovered is Awesome about curly hair; it doesn't take much at all to kinda dress it up.
And I think I have some sparkly jewelry around here somewheres. Uh...I should check that out.
...wow, girly overload.
I totally want to raid your boot collection.
Since I can't actually do that, I'll wear my own boots, and the stuff I just bought. Kind of excited because I got this like...extra long, burgundy, thin cardigan. And black leggings. And a sort of shimmery charcoal top for under the cardigan...because...shiny stuff. Oh!! And the hair thing- that's one thing I've discovered is Awesome about curly hair; it doesn't take much at all to kinda dress it up.
And I think I have some sparkly jewelry around here somewheres. Uh...I should check that out.
...wow, girly overload.
oh gosh, curly hair is the best for easy. i seriously can't believe i spent like, almost 10 years straightening it. kind of goofy now. because of that. supereasy.
sounds pretty! i'm sure you'll look great.
p.s. yay for girly overload!!! since you're also tall, what kind of shoe size do you have? i wear 10s and 11s.
why? are you afraid of being stoned for bringing it up? ; p i never throw rocks in cc. maybe a water fight or two. ; p
or that i'm going to break a slate over some dude's head? ; p
um, seriously, thanks for bringing it up. because i've been looking for a way to vent some of my caffeinated-mildly vibrating-angst all morning. : D
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M
I wear 10 or 10 1/2. So I could totally steal your boots! Ha.
I spent the better part of my teen years trying to make my hair be straight. For prom, I straightened my hair with a blow dryer and round brush, which took an hour, and then...curled it.
Yeah. Super silly.
I finally figured out that all I have to do is wash it, comb it, mousse it, and maaaaybe curl my bangs or pin parts of it up at random- 15 minutes, tops. So much wasted time before! Girls do goofy stuff.
I spent the better part of my teen years trying to make my hair be straight. For prom, I straightened my hair with a blow dryer and round brush, which took an hour, and then...curled it.
Yeah. Super silly.
I finally figured out that all I have to do is wash it, comb it, mousse it, and maaaaybe curl my bangs or pin parts of it up at random- 15 minutes, tops. So much wasted time before! Girls do goofy stuff.
I hate my bed frame. I'm organizing my room, and I decided to clean underneath my bed, only to find out I can't, because everything under my bed is supporting my bed at the moment. Now, it's fixable, and it'll be easy to fix, but it won't be very convenient to fix. I have to take off the mattress and box spring and make sure the screws are tightened, pu the slats back on, and then put it back together. It'll be fine, it's just I have to take a bunch of stuff out of my room and then put it back.