Romans 13:6

NASB – For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

NRSVUE – For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s agents, busy with this very thing.

VOICE – Pay your taxes for the same reason because the authorities are servants of God, giving their full attention to take care of these things.

Tax Responsibilities

The taxes went to support the Roman government’s roads, courts, security, administration, and military presence. Christians were to be humble when it comes to their civic obligations. There can be importance to this obligation, but it’s important we keep within the realms of God’s will. God remains powerful over the rulers, government, and nations even with those groups don’t acknowledge or honor Him. Keeping civility puts away disorder, punishes wrongdoings, and gives structures for how life can continue.

The officials carrying the responsibility for collecting revenue, sending justice, keeping the order, and overseeing the needs of the community. Their work served the common good of society when it was executed with integrity. We are called to support that ordered by meeting the financial obligations honestly, showing that faithful service is ultimately given to God.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: This verse seems to support paying your taxes. What does that mean to you?

Why are Taxes Important as a Christian

Now as a tax preparer, this verse is scratching my brain in the best way possible. However, there were two topics that came mind with this: understanding how our income taxes work (or are supposed to work for us.) The goal of this is to recognize why it can be important to pay our taxes and why it’s important we keep the church accountable for their operations.

Understanding How Our Income Tax Works

I’ll have a link at the end of this section where the information came from, but this is an approximate current breakdown of how are income taxes are being used as of fiscal year 2024.

• 24% ($1.7 trillion) was sent aside for health insurance (programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the ACA marketplace health insurance subsidies.)
• 21% went towards Social Security ($1.5 trillion)
• 13% went towards Defense ($872 billion)
  • 95% of this budget goes towards the Defense Department for operations and maintenance; military personnel; procure of weapons; and research, development, testing, and evaluation.
• 13% went towards the interest on our national debt ($872 billion)
• 8% ($526 billion) went towards benefits for veterans and federal retirees.
  • 90% of the benefits available to all veterans are either disability payments or medical care, which is often to specialize in dealing with unusual conditions that military service may impose.
• 7% ($476 billion) went towards economic security programs.
  • These provide aids to individuals and families facing hardships (the refundable portions of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit)
  • These also include programs that provide programs like unemployment and supplemental Security Income
  • These also include SNAP, school meals, low income housing assistance, helping to meet home energy bills, and other programs like aid for abused/neglected children.
• Some other things that are included:
  • 2% for transportation
  • 1% for natural resources and agriculture
  • 1% for science and medical research
  • 1% for law enforcement
  • 1% for international
  • 5% for other

(Information from: https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go)

So, let’s put this is more tangible terms because we are looking at big numbers right here. If you having $1,000 of taxes taken out of your income, $240 goes to national health insurance programs, $210 goes to support Social Security program, $130 goes to support the national defense programs, $80 goes to support veteran disability payments or medical care, $70 goes to support tax breaks for low-income families, unemployment, food assistance, supplement income, energy assistance, rent assistance, and more. The remaining is spread among supporting transportation programs, natural resource and agricultural programs, science and medical research, law enforcement, and international programs.

Impact of Those Taxes in our World

When we look at this, what do you feel? Are you happy with this breakdown? Are you frustrated by this breakdown? There are many people all throughout the US are frustrated that the government is spending money on things not benefiting the majority of the general public. With the more stringent rules on unemployment and SNAP benefits, the loss of ACA subsidies coming soon – we are seeing wars (that majority of the people don’t want getting funded and the wealthiest among us seeing more money in their pocket).

It’s frustrating. It’s upsetting. It’s appalling. What do we do about? I know we are coming out of an election cycle, with what I’m hoping for positive change. Our civic duty to vote is one of the best ways to have our voices be heard through our representatives. It’s not a perfect process by any means, and we have seen MANY instances were politicians will say one thing to get our votes and then never follow through on them.

Our civic responsibility to pay our income taxes is helpful whether you want to see it happen or not. With the many conversations that have been around the socialist movement of universal healthcare, people are mad that there will be more money (potentially) taken out of our paychecks. However, as a Christian, we can view this as using our resources to help care for our neighbors. It’s a little “hallmark-ish” but it’s true. Social security is a program that extends care and compassion to our elders after many years in the capitalistic workforce. Veteran benefits are programs help out those that sacrificed their health to try and keep our country safe. SNAP, unemployment, and everything like that helps impoverished families keep food on the table, a roof over their heads, and lights on in their home. It’s something, but is it enough?

In my state (Michigan) alone there are 22 programs (per our MDHHS website) that help with economic security. With about 500,000 families falling under the federal poverty line, is there enough resources to go around? Is there enough support to care for all these families? The short answer is no. These 500,000+ families are about $40,000 short from affording the absolute basics (based on a family of four). When you combine these numbers, my state would need $20 billion in order to provide adequate support.

(Sources used: https://www.unitedforalice.org/introducing-ALICE/michigan; https://www.michiganfoundations.org/resources/alice-report-michigan; https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/other-help)

What does this mean for us? Christians are called to continue supporting families in the best way possible. Dedicate resources to families that provide food, rent assistance, utility assistance, rideshares to medical appointments, and more. This how we can be God’s hands and feet, and especially in an economically harder time than ever before. Churches are called to be beacons of lights for those that are in need. We are called to be a respite, a hospital, and a place for all to come in and receive what they are in need. For us, we need to speak up within our church to have these ministries available, and work with other churches to ensure these needs are being met. It’s ensuring that the community resources’ are being spent to care for those that may have been pushed out into the margins by the governments, societies, or other churches in general.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: With everything we learned about our taxes and the needs in communities, how do you move forward?

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