From the desk of Pastor Ben

A Lesson on Government and Taxes – Part 4

“Go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”         (Matthew 17:27b)

Christians do have the right to help change unjust laws or governments as opportunities present themselves. But especially in democracies, major wrongs never derive primarily from bad laws or governments, but from sinful people who disrespect both human and divine law. It’s useless to strive for the reform of evil laws or the removal of corrupt leaders without first seeking to transform the wicked hearts of people in the society.

Like the submissive wife who wants to see her unsaved husband come to Christ (2 Peter 3:1-2), effective witnessing starts with submission. The best example of godly submission is Jesus Himself, who “also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
(1 Peter 2:21-23)

Jesus committed no sin, in thought or deed, yet He submitted to ungodly religious and political authorities. He accepted unjust abuse so he might better win sinners to Himself — Christ is the role model for everyone who calls Him Lord.

If you are a citizen of God’s kingdom, that does not exempt you from responsibility to human kingdoms, including their tax requirements. By being a good citizen, you demonstrate that you love God as well as your country and fellow citizens. Such testimony compels the watching world to consider the supreme power that makes such love possible.

Ask Yourself:
What are some of the most effective ways to deal with the wicked hearts and corrupted minds of our generation? How can we be praying? Where can we be working? What can we be boldly doing?

From the desk of Pastor Ben

A Lesson on Government and Taxes – Part 3

“Go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”         (Matthew 17:27b)

Christians must exercise civil obedience willingly, “not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake” (Romans 13:5). The early church experienced increased persecution and oppression from the Roman Empire, yet the New Testament letters commanded believers to be loyal, law-abiding, helpful citizens. They could easily have mounted an organized opposition to corruption or slavery, but the Spirit made slavery related terms, such as slave, bond-slave, bondage, servant, into symbols of Christian dedication and submission.

God also providentially used the Roman Empire to spread the Greek language so His New Testament could be understood far and wide, as well as building an extensive, quality network of roads over which His messengers could carry the gospel. Rome’s relative peace also allowed the apostles to travel safely. These factors all converged to set the ideal stage for Christ’s earthly ministry.

There are obvious limits to a Christian’s obedience to authority. When the Jews forbade John and Peter from preaching the gospel, the apostles refused and said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). The believer’s first duty is always to obey God (Matthew 22:35-38). When human directives oppose God’s law, His law must prevail.

Ask Yourself:
Even when things seem the most out-of-control and beyond hope, the sovereign Lord of the ages is working all things in accordance with His eternal purposes, turning them to His desired ends. What kind of peace and contentment can that give you in the troubling times of your life?

From the desk of Pastor Ben

A Lesson on Government and Taxes – Part 2

“Go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”         (Matthew 17:27b)

God has chosen Christians to be citizens of His kingdom, His priests specially called to minister to the unsaved world around them (1 Peter 2:9). Before we believed, we were outside of the divine mercy, but now we receive it in abundance (1 Peter 2:10). That’s why Peter exhorts us: “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12).

Concerning the matter of the Christian and government, and despite the godlessness of Rome, Paul wrote: “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. . . . For because of this you also pat taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them; tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:1, 6-7).

Most human laws are not godly or just, but God has ordained government for social and civil order, thus His people must respect and obey its laws, even though they’re imperfect.

Ask Yourself:
What are some of the matters that concern you the most in today’s legislative and judicial debates? What are believers to do in regard to those issues that contradict the clear teaching of Scripture?

From the desk of Pastor Ben

A Lesson on Government and Taxes – Part 1

“Go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”         (Matthew 17:27b)

This was the only time we know of that Jesus supplied tax money miraculously. He told Peter “to go to the sea,” apparently to any place along the Sea of Galilee that he chose. There the Lord would provide a fish with the necessary coin in its mouth.

Usually two Jewish men paid the temple tax together since there was no two-drachma coin. They would use a shekel, equal to a pair of two-drachmas, to pay the tax for each man. The coin in the fish’s mouth was that exact amount which Peter and Jesus needed to meet the tax obligation.

Although the tax was primarily for support of the temple, the Jews no doubt misappropriated a large portion of the total for other purposes. Some of the money Jesus and Peter paid also went to support Rome, its army, rulers, and pagan religions.

Even with the negative aspects involved, we can derive a positive principle from this account. Jesus wants us to be good citizens of this world. Even though all human governments are to varying extents corrupt and believers are ultimately citizens of heaven, we must obey the governing authorities while we are in this life. The only exception we can claim is when government edict would cause us to directly disobey God and His Word.

Ask Yourself:
Have you ever come up against an issue where strict obedience to an order challenged your conscience, forcing you to choose between God’s directives and the present authority? How did you handle this situation? What might have happened if you’d handled it differently?

From the desk of Pastor Ben

Peter and the Tax Payment

“When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, ‘Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?’
He said, ‘Yes.’”        (Matthew 17:24-25a)

Rome allowed the Jews to collect the two-drachma tax so the Jews could fund the operation of their temple. “Two-drachma” commonly denoted the Jewish temple tax and equaled the half-shekel, the amount required to cover the tax.

When the Israelites first built the tabernacle, God made an annual assessment of half a shekel on every male 20 and older for the tabernacle’s maintenance and operation. The money was used “for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the sons of Israel before the Lord” (Exodus 30:16). Because the temple tax was due by Passover, collectors went throughout the region ahead of time. It was collectors such as these who asked Peter, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?”

The way the tax collectors asked the question suggests the Jewish leaders had instructed them to challenge Jesus on the subject of paying taxes. They likely might have reasoned that, because He claimed to be Messiah, He would have considered Himself exempt from taxation. If that were so, the leaders would have had another accusation to make against Jesus.

Peter didn’t have to ask Jesus for the answer, because he already knew He had always paid His taxes, whether to Rome or the Jews. He therefore simply answered “Yes,” implying that Christ had a God-oriented view of the believer’s relationship to earthly governmental authorities.

Ask Yourself:
Christians are sometimes accused of being too other-worldly (so heavenly minded they are no earthly good), not placing enough value on current events, human need, or the earth itself. Jesus obviously was aware of His real-time obligations. What have you found to be the best ways to honor both, to maintain a balance?

From the desk of Pastor Ben

Peter Instructed on Taxes

“Jesus spoke to Peter first, saying, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?’ When Peter said, ‘From strangers,’ Jesus said to him, ‘Then the sons are exempt. However, so that we do not offend them…’”     (Matthew 17:25b-27a)

Jesus’ tax question was rhetorical, and the answer was obvious. It would be nonsense for a father to collect revenue from his sons who were dependent on him. Such an action would amount to self-taxation. Here the term “strangers” is a general word identifying people outside the king’s family, namely his subjects.

Peter’s answer — “From strangers” — prompted Jesus to give the corollary truth on taxation, “Then the sons are exempt.” In those days, rulers’ families, represented by the sons, were excused from paying taxes. Had the Lord ended the instruction with this, believers could easily argue that, as children of God, they too should be exempt from earthly taxation. But there is more to Jesus’ teaching.

As Lord of all the earth, including the temple that was built to honor His Father (Luke 2:49) and whose sacrifices and offerings were directed to Him, Christ could have exempted Himself from any temple tax obligation. After all, He had declared Himself as greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6). But when He set aside His divine glory (Philippians 2:7), He also relinquished the obligation to it. So, to avoid offense to the authorities, Jesus told Peter to pay the tax. If God’s Son claimed no tax exemption, but said it should be paid willingly, how much less can His followers claim an exemption?

Ask Yourself:
Have you sometimes done things, not because you were forced to, but simply because complying served the purpose of setting a good example, going above and beyond? Where have you been the most tempted lately to do only the bare minimum, just enough to get by?

From the desk of Pastor Ben

Jesus’ Death Was Within God’s Purpose

“While they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day,’ And they were deeply grieved.”
(Matthew 17:22-23)

Jesus was neither helpless nor passive in going to the cross. He willingly accepted the cross so that “all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished” (Luke 18:31). He willingly laid down His life (John 10:15, 17), which no one could have taken from Him without His consent.

In His willingness to give His life as a ransom for many, Jesus submitted Himself to the evil plans of men and to the righteous plan of His Heavenly Father (see Acts 2:22-23). Because of His willing submission to wicked men, He was “going to be delivered” by the treachery of Judas, “into the hands of men.” Also, because of His willing submission to wicked men, the Jewish and Roman leaders would “kill Him.” But because of His willing submission to His righteous Heavenly Father, He would “be raised on the third day.”

The disciples needed this reminder that Jesus’ suffering and death were in God’s plan, that these events would not destroy the Messiah’s work. The crucifixion did not catch Jesus of His Heavenly Father by surprise; it was the reason the Father sent Him to earth and that He willingly came.

Ask Yourself:
Jesus’ obedience even to death is our gold standard, the most complete example in history of perfect faithfulness to the Father’s will, no matter the cost. How does His example inspire you? Where is God calling you in particular right now to follow Him entirely, without wavering?

August 30
From the desk of Pastor Ben

The Power of Faith – Part 3

“Truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”         (Matthew 17:20b)

What is Jesus referring to here? Is He talking about moving a literal mountain? The expression “able to move mountains” was a common figure of speech in that day, which represented the ability to surmount great obstacles. So Jesus was talking about mountain-sized difficulties and problems, such as the disciples had just experienced in not being able to cure the demon-possessed boy.

The promise “nothing will be impossible to you” is conditional, valid only within the framework of God’s will. Mountain-moving faith is faith in God. Jesus’ point was “nothing will be impossible to you when you prayerfully and persistently trust in Me.” The disciples could not heal the demon-possessed boy because they did not persist in dependent prayer.

19th century Christian leader George Mueller provides a good example of persistent prayer. Early in his ministry, he began praying for 5 friends. Five years later one of them came to Christ. After 5 more years, 2 more became Christians, and after 25 years the 4th man was saved. He prayed for the 5th friend until the time of his death, a few months after which the last friend came to salvation. For that friend, George Mueller had prayed for more than 50 years!

Ask Yourself:
How have you seen this “nothing will be impossible” promise misinterpreted to mean something much different, much more self-serving than Jesus’ assurance of His own unlimited power in the submitted, believing heart? What makes us want to turn this into a magic lamp?