Absolutely! When the governing authorities run contrary to the Word of God, we ABSOLUTELY do not obey them, however, the IRS in and of itself is NOT contrary to the Word of God. It is the false application due to ones ignorance of the governing statutes at large that govern the IRS that runs contrary to the Word of God. Take notice, Paul is writing to those living in Rome, not Judea.
Rom 13:1 Let every being be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ... 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God attending continually to these duties. 7 Render therefore to all what is due to them: tax to whom tax is due, toll to whom toll, fear to whom fear, respect to whom respect.
I know most Christians like to say that God ordained this nation as some sort of refuge, even to go as far as calling it a 2nd ‘Israel’. Nothing could be further from the truth as NO WHERE will one find this in His written Word. The US is but another nation and in that nation there resides those who are of the household of God. The Word of God through Jeremiah defines these members of the household of God living in the nations as those who “Build houses and dwell in them, plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and bring forth sons and daughters. And take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, and let them bear sons and daughters, and be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have exiled you, and pray to YHWH for it, for in its peace you have peace.’[Jer 29:5-7] After verse 7, the Word of God through Jeremiah goes on to specifically define who the false prophets (priests/preachers/teachers) are and how we are NOT to listen to them.
As far as you saying that the Word of God instituted a ‘flat tax’, I think you better go back and read your bible because the Word of God did not call it a tax, He called it a ‘tithe’ and its purpose was specifically associated with a legitimate & operation Priesthood of Aaron serving in the Tabernacle/Temple of God. It had NOTHING to do with taking care of roads, retirements, medical care (pharmakeia that is drug sorcery Dt 18:10, Rev 18:23), etc.
Amo 9:9 “For look, I am commanding, and I shall sift the house of Israel among all the gentiles, as one sifts with a sieve, yet not a grain falls to the ground.” ... Isa 49:1 Listen to Me, O coastlands, and hear, you peoples from afar! YHWH has called Me from the womb, from My mother’s belly He has caused My Name to be remembered. 2 And He made My mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid Me, and made Me a polished shaft. In His quiver He hid Me. 3 And He said to Me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I am adorned. ... 6 and He says, “Shall it be a small matter for You to be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to bring back the preserved ones of Israel? And I shall give You as a light to the gentiles, to be My deliverance to the ends of the earth!†... Luk 2:30 for my eyes have seen Your deliverance, 31 which You have prepared before the face of all the peoples, 32 a light for the unveiling of the gentiles, and the esteem of Your people Israel.â€
Do you see that? The man, Simeon, who was at the Temple in Jerusalem was quoting from Isaiah 49 and proclaiming that the Christ child IS Israel and therefore, ONLY those in Christ have been and will be part of Israel. And so if one does not understand or apply to their lives, the Word of God as it is written, they are subsequently going to fall for the adding to or the taking away of the Word of God, which is nothing more than the removal of Christ’s authority over their lives, thereby, ignorantly removing Christ from their lives.
And so it is clear that you do not actually know or understand God’s system of ‘tithing’ as God is not a dictator that requires taxes, He is a God of mercy who allows us to make the choice of serving Him or not serving Him. Also, if you want to literally equate ‘tithes’ to taxes, then how about Lev 14, the poor bring less than those who are richer? Or how about Lev 27? Or Num 3?
You are relying on what is written in Genesis 14:20 “And Abram gave him a tenth of everything” to support your stance on your taxation to a government of a nation that is not under the direct authority of the Word of God. And although Abraham lived in the land of Canaan, he was never a citizen of the land of Canaan, he was but a sojourner and the 10th that Abraham gave was not to the government of Canaan but to the service of the priesthood of Melchizedek. [Heb 7:1-4; Ps 110:1-4 (v. 4); John 1: v.v.1, 10-13, 18; John 3:13 and Gen 15:1 where after receiving the ‘tithe’ the Word of God made a covenant with Abraham, the same Word of God that is written of in John 1 & 3]
Shalom
I totally agree. The history of Israel is much like any other great nation that rises and falls. This is in accordance with God's will. Why He does this is part of the deep mystery of His will. We only know it to be so. America is not so far behind the decline of other nations including the decline of nation of Israel. The only reason the nation of Israel has resurfaced is because of God's will.
You're right that God did not call it a tax but a tithe. In effect it is the same thing. It was mandated by God. I would disagree that it didn't have to do with roads, medicare, etc. In addition to looking after the care and feeding of the Levites and the support of His temple, the Levites also checked buildings for contaminates, inspected people of illnesses, etc. So there were some group benefit for the whole in the paying of the Levites that were beyond priestly ceremonial duties.
I don't basis my flat tax views on Abraham "giving ten percent" as I think this is a bit legalistic and misses the point. God requested a certain percentage be given by everyone-rich and poor. And that's the point-everyone was to give an equal share based upon the percentage of their income to the support of the institution. There could not be a fairer system in play. If everyone had to pay the same amount for government while receiving the same benefit, taxes would take on a new way it is viewed.
The man, Simeon, who was at the Temple in Jerusalem was quoting from Isaiah 49 and proclaiming that the Christ child IS Israel and therefore, ONLY those in Christ have been and will be part of Israel.
Again you are absolutely correct. You certainly won't get in an argument over that from me who has consistently stated the same thing. Paul even calls us "Israel". Israel consist of those believers in God through His Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ.