Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s

By Tim Gibbons: Published by High Plains View, September 26, 2008.

“And he saith unto them, 'Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, 'Caesar's'. Then saith he unto them, 'Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.” - Matthew 22:20-21
“All persons shall have full and free liberty of religious opinion; nor shall any be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious institution.” - Language proposed by Thomas Jefferson for the Virginia Constitution, 1776.
Freedom of religion, an interesting concept and one that has not been explored enough or with nearly the required amount of rational argument and debate.
We have long been taught, especially in religious circles that every man, woman and child has the right to worship and practice their religion as they see fit. But what happens when one man's beliefs cause hardship to another?
If one is looking for an example of this look no further than tax exemption for churches. Churches have long been exempt from taxes, however, it was the income tax laws and the exemptions for churches from these taxes in 1913 that have led to where we are now.
It was estimated in 2006 Congressional budget records that the exemptions for churches cost the government as much as $500 million in tax revenue a year, shifting much of that burden onto other tax payers. [Should Churches be Tax-Exempt? - written by Kathy Gill, About.com Guide to US Politics, March 25, 2008]
But this doesn't even take into account the taxes lost on donations to the church. Say an individual gives an amount of $500 to his or her church over the course of the year. If that individual is in the 30 percent tax bracket and writes off the contribution then that is $150 that the government doesn't get.
In other words, it could be argued that the individual gave the church $350 and the U.S. Government gave $150. Magnify this by the supposedly 159 million Christians who are estimated to live in America [American Religious Identification Survey 2001 – conducted by The Graduate Center of the City University of New York] and it doesn't take an Einstein to see that there is a lot of money floating around the steps of God's temple.
“And they came to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, 'Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves'.”. - Gospel of Mark 11:15-17
Under IRS tax code, churches are automatically considered tax exempt and unlike other 501(c)3 organizations, they are not required to provide documentation to this effect, nor are they required to reveal their finances. Want a perfect place to launder money and support terrorists, build a church.
Now, the government is not keen on losing money so who gets stuck with the bill? That's right, everyone dumb enough not to start their own church.
“If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way to do it would be to start his own religion.” - attributed to Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology.
The next question to be asked is what does the Holy Bible make of this, 'tax exemption'. Everyone who has grown up in Sunday School knows that we are to render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's. There are those who would claim that this statement is ambigious at best and that it could mean that believers are to render themselves and possessions to God and no one else, let the unsaved heathen support Caesar.
However, this doesn't take into consideration the first part of the passage in Matthew: “'Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?' But Jesus knowing their evil intent, said, 'You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax..' They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, 'Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?' 'Caesar's' they replied. Then he said to them 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.'” - Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 20, verses 17-21
Now, who's portrait is it on the one dollar bill? How about the five? The ten? Twenty? Fifty? Hell, let's go for broke, on who's face is on the hundred dollar bill. Is it Jesus? Nope, Benjamin Franklin.
“How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O, tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.” - Benjamin Franklin.
If Jesus did not consider his disciples above taxation, indeed one of his miracles involved providing the Apostle Peter with enough money to pay his taxes, then why does the Church feel that they can use the money of Uncle Sam to please Almighty God?
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves...This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are Gods' servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes, if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” - Book of Romans 13:1-2, 6-7 (NIV)
The Bible is very clear on this subject, the church should render to the government what is the government's, a.k.a., money. And as long as the servants of God continue to use the currency of an earthly kingdom they need to abide by that kingdom's laws.
The churches in this country use American roads, American schools, American utilities, American services and American tax breaks and exemptions. If God were willing to chip in with a grant now and then, I wouldn't argue the point as much. However, until He takes a break from killing Muslims in the Middle East and starts handling domestic issues, then should not His children show appreciation for the nation that provides for their needs and protects their sons and daughters from invasion?
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” - 1 Peter 2:13-14 (KJV)
American currency belongs to Uncle Sam. Humanity, created in the image and after the likeness of God, belongs to the creator or creative force, whatever your beliefs.
If one where truly zealous about promoting their faith, then they should journey into the deserts like John the Baptist, there to eat lotus flowers, honey and locust (yes, that's right, grasshoppers) and in their shelters constructed of God's earth and clothed in the skins of animals that God has provided they can be those pure voices in the wilderness, proclaiming, “prepare ye the way of the Lord!”.
Now that, ladies and gentlemen, is dedication to one's faith. If all the religious leaders in America gave up their tax free, government supported castles and retired to the wilderness where they taught those who came to seek them, “be perfect as I [Jesus] am perfect”, I might actually have respect for the them. Until then, they are just another group of petty tyrant carving their livings out of the backs of hard working men and women who have been duped into believing that paying taxes to Uncle Sam is evil, but using Uncle Sam's money to pay God is okay. Isn't this what is meant by, “robbing Peter to pay Paul”?
And what about those of us who practice our beliefs in private? Are we to be penalized because we don't give our hard earned American money to a religious aristocracy who exists aloof and separate from humanity?
Just like the dark ages of Europe, it is the hard working peasants who support the religious institutions.
I'm sorry, but didn't our Founding Fathers’ fight and die to overthrow a tyrant? It wasn't God who liberated America, ii was the dream of men. And our Founding Fathers were from a wide variety of religious beliefs: Protestants, Catholics and Presbyterians fought and died alongside Deists and Freemasons. All were united in the common goal of Freedom for all men regardless of faith.
“We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in.” - Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 4, September 11, 1777.
“When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not care to support it, so that its professors are obliged to call for the help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one.” - Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard's Almanac, 1754)
Caesar is calling God: maybe it's time to give back what you owe.