What Jesus says about paying taxes and separation of church and state – Q & A Oct 2024, Part 3

In light of upcoming ballot measures in some states, is Matthew 22:18-21 actually arguing for a separation of church and state? Is it acceptable for a Christian to vote one way on a measure, not because they think it is biblical, but because they think it should be a function of government? Are there other good Bible verses to understand that further?

Three questions there, all about religion and government. In this post, I’ll try to answer the first question. The next two questions will be in tomorrow’s post.

First of all, what does Matthew 22:18–21 say? 

“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax 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 image is this? And whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. Then he said to them, ‘So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”

What the Pharisees are doing here is trying to create an impossible situation for Jesus.  If he answers that the Jews should not pay the Imperial Tax, he would be expressing loyalty to the Jews, and he would be implying that it is okay to break Roman Law.  If he says that they should pay the Imperial Tax, he could come across as disloyal to the Jews.  Of course, he gets out of the tricky situation by saying that it is important to both be generous to God and pay your taxes, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.”

Is Jesus here arguing for a separation of church and state?  It does not seem to me that separation of church and state is what this passage is about.  I think Jesus is saying that taxation is not enough to justify rebellion or civil disobedience.  Pay your taxes.

What if you disagree with how the government spends its money, or if you disagree with the taxes it imposes? Not all taxes are good taxes. Some taxes are unjust. When you disagree with taxation, use the appropriate channels of government, voting and the justice system, to try to make changes. 

But we haven’t answered the question: what about separation of church and state? Is it good? Bad?

This question reminds me of the passage we studied in 2 Samuel last week when God gave David victory as David and the army of Israel conquered all of Canaan.  I talked about how Israel was a covenantal theocracy. As long as Israel kept the terms of the covenant, God would bless and protect them.  If they broke the terms of the covenant, God would allow them to face curses.  They chose rebellion, broke the covenant, and God removed his protection.  But things changed with Jesus. God entered into a new covenant through Jesus’ blood, through his death and resurrection. So God’s new covenant is not with any geographical region or ethnic people group.  Contrary to ideas of manifest destiny, the USA is not special in God’s eyes.

Consider how different the new covenant is from the old.

In the Old Testament, through the Old Covenant, there was no separation of church and state.  When I mentioned above that ancient Israel was a theocracy, it was a nation formed and governed by a religious system, with God as king.  In the New Testament, however, God’s new covenant is not with any nation or ethnicity. God’s new covenant is an invitation for all people, all nations who choose him.

This is why I believe Christians can see separation of church and state as vitally necessary.  Every time throughout history when Christians have attempted to harness the power of the state for the mission of the kingdom, it has gone very poorly.  Separation of church and state is a very good thing. 

I believe our American forefathers were wise when they enshrined freedom of religion in the Constitution.  The state, the nation, the government, needs to be a place where all people can freely practice religion without fear of recrimination.  Therefore Christians are not nation builders, we are Kingdom builders, because our hope is not in earthly leaders, but in Christ.  We usher in the Kingdom of Jesus, conveying the Good news and good deeds of that Kingdom through the use of the Fruit of the Spirit. 

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash