RE: Liberty, Freedom, Religion & Crypto: A Series: E.1 - Taxation is Theft & Unity - a Steemit CommUNITY Respectful Discussion. by garthfreeman

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· @garthfreeman ·
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.
👍  , ,
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vote details (3)
@barrydutton ·
### Wow man, that is one of the best things I could read in a response!

----

I was offline a lot of today dealing with things, now replying inline to things more or less in the order they came in.   

I think if you read the reply I gave here in the last few mins to the first comment in this thread, you will actually see my reply echoes much of what you said.  

Garth, your comments are so awesome today, and fulsome.   It was a treat to read your reply here my friend.  

## Thank you.
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@barrydutton ·
> 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.

----

- big thumbs up for this part by you for sure too.
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@barrydutton ·
Followed.   Thanks again.
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@garthfreeman ·
Hey, it's great to see some fellow believers on here who have some similar interests/beliefs!  I'm glad I found you.
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@barrydutton ·
##  Same brother.  

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWc1kGZuQ2gyyzx4boTCWZVWoQqfASR5SU47aoBWMRG4e/image.png)
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