Every year, around March and April, most of us will get the usual messages to file our tax returns, which will determine how much income tax we need to pay.

The messages—and, probably, paying taxes itself—are likely to evoke different feelings in each of us. What’s more, Singapore is raising its goods and services tax amid global inflation—not exactly something to look forward to in the new year.

Some may wonder whether the government has a right to collect taxes. Others may ask whether one should pay taxes if they don’t like the way taxpayers’ money is being spent. Still others feel that giving money to a government that funds programmes they disagree with is the same as directly supporting those practices.

If any of these thoughts sound familiar,

The first-century Christian and Jewish communities, from Rome to Jerusalem, had similar problems. Taxation was a sensitive issue in these places, which were ruled by the Roman empire. The matter did not involve only the burden of taxation but also the question of whether it was right to use Jewish money to support a pagan Roman Caesar.

It is in this context that the religious leaders asked Jesus:

What makes the question even more intriguing is that it came from representatives of two opposing groups. Despite their differences, the Pharisees and Herodians had come together to test Jesus.

The Pharisees were champions of Jewish religious tradition and resented Roman rule with its paganism and confession of Caesar as lord. They also resented the idolatrous inscriptions on Roman coinage.

So, when they were asking Jesus whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, they had an agenda against Christ: if He were to say that Jews should pay taxes to Caesar, they could accuse Him of supporting Roman values and blasphemy.

The Herodians, meanwhile, were bringing another angle to the question. They focused on the political rather than the spiritual. They felt that the Jewish people should support the Roman-appointed, largely non-Jewish Herodian dynasty that ruled over the region.

If Jesus were to say that Jews should not pay taxes, the Herodians could accuse Jesus of treason.

Jesus showed how the people of God can live out their dual citizenship. Instead of choosing between God and Caesar, He acknowledged Caesar’s rightful role as governor under the higher rule of God. Caesar was owed taxes. But God alone deserved worship and ultimate loyalty.

Should we pay taxes even if the government uses the money for unjust or immoral causes? The apostle Paul left little doubt about our responsibility to pay taxes. He wrote:

Followers of Christ are to pay what the government requires. The Bible cannot be rightly used to support a tax revolt any more than it can be used to promote anarchy or disrespect for political leaders who do not support our beliefs or values.

Some of us might ask: Can we make our country a God-centred nation?

No matter how many Christians there may be in a country, it is not the present-day equivalent of ancient Israel. Nor has the church been entrusted with providing law and order for society.

Our mission is to influence society rather than control it.

When Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), He was acknowledging that He is a King. But He also taught that until He comes back again, His kingdom will not be a visible institution. Rather, it is the invisible rule of God in the hearts of those who willingly submit to Him (Luke 17:20–21).

It is only upon His return, that Jesus will establish a visible kingdom (Matthew 24:30–35; 25:31–46; 26:29–64). For now, He calls people of all nations to give Him the throne and rule of their hearts (Matthew 28:18–20).

We are not called to make the law of God the law of the land by forging moral voting blocs or political coalitions. Rather, we are to influence our society by our radical love, authentic example, and advocacy for those who need help.

The spirituality that Christ calls us to cannot be compelled at the point of a sword or by the weight of combined votes. The social morality of Christ can only grow voluntarily one heart at a time, as everyone gratefully learns that we owe Him our hearts.

Both the Old and New Testaments give us examples of how the people of God influenced—and engaged with—the pagan governments of their day:

In each of these examples, we see people who were clearly involved with their earthly governments, some in very significant ways. But, in each case, their earthly allegiances were secondary to their heavenly allegiance.

No earthly government is perfect. Christians dishonour the mandates of our Lord when we want to accept only the perks of citizenship without embracing the responsibilities that citizenship carries with it.

As we have seen, the Bible teaches that we have dual citizenship. We serve our earthly leaders with honour and respect even as we give our allegiance to the King of kings.

By giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God, we affirm the rightful authority and rule of earthly governments and Christ’s kingdom.

Read other articles about our citizenship on earth:

• Why and How Should I Pray for My Nation’s Leaders?
• What If I Disagree with Government Policies?

Extracted and adapted with permission from Discovery Series Citizens of the Kingdom: Responding to Government as Christians © Our Daily Bread Ministries.