Because Of This You Also Pay Taxes

Romans 13:6 Paul advises Christians to obey authority and pay taxes, but what if the rulers are corrupt and taxes are used for evil purposes?

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“For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

When my God-driven random verse picker decided to throw Romans 13:6 at me, I could see that it was going to be a test by God. To be honest with you, my attitude about the way our taxes are spent by our “rulers” is out of sync with the bit of Scripture, so I initially wrote a long rant. Both Barb and the Holy Spirit worked on me, and the rant has been replaced with what you would expect from Heaven On Wheels — an apolitical devotion.

The apostle Paul wrote an epistle to the early believers in Rome while he was living in Corinth. In the first paragraph (verses 1 - 7) of today’s verse, he’s telling the flock in Rome that they need to not only be subjects of the Emperor (Nero at this point) and his government, but also pay taxes (tribute) as required. Here’s why:

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

When we see governing authorities who are corrupt, inept, or downright evil, it is difficult to for many to accept that we must be subject to their authority. Paul points out quite well in these verses that since everything is created by God, the political structures, laws, and leaders are also God’s creation. Resisting authority by flaunting laws, even those that are unjust or evil, only brings condemnation to Christians and the church.

Paul was dealing with the horribly evil and corrupt Roman Emperor Nero in his day, so that give us background on just how bad things were for Christians as Romans was being written. I found the entire first paragraph of Romans 13 to be very difficult — in my conscience, there are situations where one must stand up for God’s law rather than obey and support the law of the land.

While the Bible emphasizes obeying authorities and paying taxes in passages like Romans 13:1-7, there are instances where individuals chose to prioritize higher moral principles. For example, those who chose to hide Jews from the Nazis or fought in the resistance in World War II probably felt called by the Holy Spirit to actively oppose those in power.

In the case of evil leaders, such as Nero or Kim Jong-Un, there isn't a specific directive in the Bible. However, some Christians believe that if a government's actions are in direct conflict with God's moral laws, they may be justified in resisting or opposing such authorities while still adhering to principles of love and non-violence. It's important to note that interpretations of biblical teachings can vary significantly among different individuals and religious groups.

It always helps to see what light Bible commentaries can shed on a difficult verse like this. From Matthew Henry:

The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, and good subjects, but to evil-doers. Such is the power of sin and corruption, that many will be kept back from crimes only by the fear of punishment. Thou hast the benefit of the government, therefore do what thou canst to preserve it, and nothing to disturb it. This directs private persons to behave quietly and peaceably where God has set them, 1Ti 2:1,2. Christians must not use any trick or fraud. All smuggling, dealing in contraband goods, withholding or evading duties, is rebellion against the express command of God. Thus honest neighbours are robbed, who will have to pay the more; and the crimes of smugglers, and others who join with them, are abetted. It is painful that some professors of the gospel should countenance such dishonest practices. The lesson here taught it becomes all Christians to learn and practise, that the godly in the land will always be found the quiet and the peaceable in the land, whatever others are.¹

I highlighted three specific sentences here that provide some clarity to our verse. First, Henry points out that usually (most of the time throughout history), rulers aren’t out to terrorize the law-abiding citizens in their lands. Next, he points out that the citizens should work to preserve their government for the good that it does. Finally, regardless of what others are doing, the godly should be “quiet and peaceable”. Sadly, he doesn’t provide any advice as to what to do in the worst-case scenario (i.e., a Christian in current-day North Korea). I’d think that prayer — and a lot of it — would be in order, praying for those who uphold God’s laws to be victorious.

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Here’s another commentary on Romans 13:6 from Albert Barnes:

For they are God's ministers - His servants; or they are appointed by him. As the government is "his" appointment, we should contribute to its support as a matter of conscience, because we thus do honor to the arrangement of God. It may be observed here, also, that the fact that civil rulers are the ministers of God, invests their character with great sacredness, and should impress upon "them" the duty of seeking to do his will, as well as on others the duty of submitting to them.²

Note that both Barnes and Henry are Calvinists, viewing all elections or ascensions to power as predetermined by God. In the Calvinistic view, even the results of corrupt elections are already predetermined by God.

The bottom line? As much as possible, unless the laws of the land are specifically contrary to God’s law, Christians should always support those in power and pay required taxes. It’s in the situations where evil has the upper hand that Paul’s advice to the Romans is incredibly difficult to follow.

Here’s what GotQuestions.com had to say on the topic of when not to obey, and it seems to be a Spirit-guided response.

The guidelines for a Christian’s civil disobedience can be summed as follows:

• Christians should resist a government that commands or compels evil and should work nonviolently within the laws of the land to change a government that permits evil.
• Civil disobedience is permitted when the government’s laws or commands are in direct violation of God’s laws and commands.
• If a Christian disobeys an evil government, unless he can flee from the government, he should accept that government’s punishment for his actions.
• Christians are certainly permitted to work to install new government leaders within the laws that have been established.

Lastly, Christians are commanded to pray for their leaders and for God to intervene in His time to change any ungodly path that they are pursuing: “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1–2).

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Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:

Heavenly Father, You are the source of all power. Help me to show respect for the authority of government and to do what is good, so I may receive the approval of those who serve You in enforcing good order. Teach me to be subject, to avoid the punishment of the state and avoid Your wrath, but also for the sake of my personal conscience. Provide me with the integrity to pay taxes to those who levy them, show respect to those who are due my respect, and to honor those who deserve honor. As I subject myself to human authority, may that reflect my subjection to Your authority. Never let me resist Your will and receive judgement from You. I pray this in the name of Jesus, who has all authority. AMEN.

1. Henry, Matthew. “Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible, 1706.

2. Barnes, Albert. “Notes on the New Testament: Explanatory and Practical. Vol. IV - Romans”, 1834, Blackie & Son, Publisher.