It is quite clear when Jesus spoke in Matthew 17, that while we should not have to pay extortionate taxes to the government so they can buy things that we don’t believe in – but while we are not completely free in this world, we should pay our taxes (what ‘belongs’ to the worldly powers that be) lest we offend offend them.
So yes we should pay taxes – as in neither two scriptures in The Bible that refer to paying taxes he never says you’re not right to pay taxes. And not only that – it’s not worth it! Granted if you are locked up you will always be able to do God’s work inside ministering to other inmates but in cannot be right to get yourself incarcerated necessarily – this is hardly a good witness! How can you raise your family or care for your fellow brothers and sisters in the church whilst in prison? Jesus said;
“Render unto Caesar what is Caesars”
But he added (paraphrase): “you’d better not forget to render unto God what is Gods'” In other words who cares about the bankers and the government and their silly taxes with some banker’s face on it, let them have and take their ‘printed out of thin air’ money that has no real value anyway to hell with them!
So in other words; you draw the line at something like outlawing the preaching of the Bible, or saving souls or caring for the sick – i.e what IS God’s! If you have to go to prison for any of those things so be it, but do not go to prison for not paying taxes. The Devil would be pleased indeed if you were stupid enough to go against what Christ told us to do regarding taxes and be taken out of the battle! Pay your taxes (what is Caesars’ to him) and do God’s work.
