Interesting and very insightful. I'm a believer and I always wanted to really understand what Jesus meant by "give Caesar what is his...". What is your take on Jesus' words there?

This is an interesting topic indeed.  The idea of submitting to government authorities in all matters because it appears to be what Romans 13 is saying is a very pervasive belief in Western Christianity.  

I have some thoughts and some questions on the issue, since you asked I'll play along:)

First, was it really Paul's intention to give commands for all Christians to follow for all time when he writes?  I think it's at least possible that he was addressing a specific people, in a specific cultural context, advising them on how they ought to live in their day to day lives.  Are we to take everything written in the epistles as laws?  Do we need to keep women from speaking in assembly or make them cover their heads?  

I would suggest that, no, the epistles weren't trying to give us lists of laws to obey: that would go against the entire point of the New Covenant.  IMO Paul was giving pastoral advise to the Romans specific to them in their cultural context.  

Next, saying that governing authority is ordained by God doesn't excuse immoral behavior at the behest of government.  We can see that clearly in Acts, when Peter and John refuse to stop preaching the Good News, Despite being ordered to by the authorities.  They still had a higher authority to listen to and so do we.  If the governing authorities are using tax money to wage immoral wars, support immoral programs of infanticide, and punish people brutally who haven't committed immoral acts, isn't paying those taxes an act of corroboration?  After all, Romans 13 specifically says that if you aren't doing anything wrong you shouldn't have anything to fear from the government, but that doesn't always match reality now does it?

Another thing:  I live in the U.S. where the supreme law of the land is supposed to be the U.S. Constitution.  If the current governing powers do not abide by the restraints placed on them by said Constitution aren't they in rebellion against the governing authorities?  

As for the Crypto thing, I think it's an entirely legitimate, non violent rebellion against the corrupt forces actually co opting the legitimate governing authorities in the world by controlling the monetary supply.  If there was legitimate money, i.e. honest weights and measures, then the governments of the world wouldn't be able to engage in all the immoral wars of conquest, and taxation wouldn't be so easy either.

A very interesting post dear friend @barrydutton, I will reflect on it

Upvoted and resteemed!! Sorry I've been mia friend. I've been sooo busy at work. 😊

From my perspective, Paul is saying that if you are going to play someone else's game, your are obligated to follow their rules.  In that sense, taxation isn't theft if you're using their currency to transact your business.  Fortunately, none of use are obligated to play anyone's game.  And, it is when God has a body of believers who see the game for what it is, and can not be made to play it, even at the expense of their own life, the "authorities that exist" will come to their end because their purpose will be fulfilled (see Rev. 12:10-12).

I think crypto is very important to the future.   I believe it's biggest problem currently is its fragmentation and the fact that fragmentation is increasing.

As far as religion...  I covered that in some detail over the last week and you likely already saw and perhaps even participated in those posts...
<ul>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/religion/@dwinblood/the-ultimate-questions-what-am-i-why-am-i-where-can-i-go">The ultimate questions: What am I? Why am I? Where can I go?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/speculation/@dwinblood/afterlife-i-was-asked-my-speculations-on-this-subject-also-a-little-on-reality-as-a-simulation">Afterlife - I was asked my speculations on this subject... also a little on reality as a simulation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://steemit.com/philosophy/@dwinblood/when-speculation-becomes-fact-you-ve-likely-seen-it">When speculation becomes fact... you've likely seen it...</a></li>
</ul>

That last one is a bit more aggressive than I like to write.   My first two I intentionally did not berate or bash any religion.   Yet I was challenged by a Muslim, and a Christian on the Afterlife one.   This is fine until it starts devolving to the "*You're either with us, or you're with Satan*" type of rhetoric.   That is what lead to that third post.   Again, I prefer not to target any specific religions as I fully support freedom to believe whatever you want as long as you don't force it upon others, and you do not pass laws based upon it that impact others in a non-voluntary fashion.

My first post was another on the topic of Deism which I find beautiful, simple, and without malice.    Yet this makes it a poor tool for control/manipulation and I wonder if this is why it is mostly a forgotten relic from parts of the past.   So occasionally I write about it.

This week there seems to have been a strange attractor related to religious topics as I was not the only one to write some of this genre.    Quite a number of us have.    The clustering effect of reality...    As the Deist would say Observe and use Reason.   I observe the strange attractors, aka clustering in many places and find it very interesting.

It's an interesting and challenging passage, as are parallel commands in 1st Peter and Titus. Note that both Peter and Paul tell us what government's responsibility is directly in explaining why we should obey. The question is begged, "Do we obey outside of these examples of state responsibility?"
The answer is not easy, as there is so much variance. I think (I hate saying that on doctrinal matters, but this one is not as cut n dry as many others) that the matter does get right down to the heart of the individual and the situation. Some would accuse me of situational ethics here, which I strive to avoid as much as possible. I suppose it could be considered that, but I really don't think so.
We are to protect our testimonies. To whatever degree we are able, we are to be at peace with all men. If we are to get in trouble with authority, it should be for obeying God.
Some ordinances are merely extortive in nature. They serve no purpose other than to provide income for the state. We _might_ break those without sinning, recognizing that we may have to pay a fee for having broken the ordinance. Paying the fee keeps us at peace.
There's also the fact that nothing in Rome compared to the overreach of today. Yes, their laws could be absolute and oppressive. But they could not record all your transactions, track your passport, etc. So, while I do consider the commands of God to be timeless, I also think that context must be considered so we can make a parallel application in a world that is in many ways much different than the first century church.
In the US the church has become too cozy with the state. Christians have been short-sighted in using the state to push a sort of social gospel through legislation. It's a form of abdication though, and is severely backfiring today, IMO. If the church would have focused on the gospel and not used the state to push morality, I think we'd find it far healthier and more powerful in really helping to change lives for the better, through Christ, rather than dealing with all this backlash.

I try don't pay taxes. 😎😎😎😎

Great post! But I had one question...
>Taxation is Theft

If taxation is theft, then of course the government shouldn't tax their citizens. But if the government doesn't tax their citizens, how will it receive the money necessary to run itself?
Thanks,
Max

I'd encourage you to check  out  http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/A_Free_Church_and_Free_Congregation_Report  Here is a short review;  The Free Church Report presents a unique path for the modern Church according the nature of the first century Church by explaining the duty and purposes of that institution appointed by Christ. While Rome declined under runaway inflation, corrupt government, martial law, and endless threats of war, the Christians found an alternative to the men who “called themselves benefactors but exercised authority one over the other.” 
The early Christian knew rights and responsibilities were indivisible. They sought the right to be ruled by God by taking back their responsibility, through the service of “called out” ministers who lived in the world, but were not of it. Their government benefits came through a divine network instituted in their hearts and minds by faith, hope, and charity under the perfect law of liberty as their Qorban of the unrighteous mammon failed the Roman society.  

Peace

![17362395_10155327530248690_7334551136316449871_n.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWS88QL8g6ohy7WhdUTDt4WA6MLQHwo5SaATSQfvjLB5E/17362395_10155327530248690_7334551136316449871_n.jpg)

Good points in this post.  Really appreciate you bring this to our attention. Cryptos will probably go through a more extreme pattern that bitcoin went though. High ups and high downs before it becomes stable.  We really need more insights in the market and previous investment results. This is quite an interesting website I found:  https://www.coincheckup.com Complete Coin analysis about the team, product, communication transparency, advisors and investment statistics.