In this episode, Taylor walks us through the timely topic of taxes. Yep it's that time of year again! But don't worry, no IRS forms to fill out here!
Instead, Taylor and Denver discuss Jesus' teachings on taxation in the first century (found in Mark 12 and Matthew 17), and what they show us about Jesus' relationship to earthly kingdoms. Explore how Jesus navigated this tricky political question and what it could mean for modern Christians facing similar political dilemmas.
The conversation sheds light on the importance of understanding the broader context of scripture, the distinction between God's kingdom and worldly governments, and the role of the church in embodying kingdom ethics today. Tune in for an insightful discussion that challenges conventional perspectives and offers practical wisdom.
Helpful Books:
- Ballot and the Bibleby Kaitlyn Schiess
- The Bible in Politics by Richard Bauckham
- Kingdom Conspiracy by Scot McKnight
- Reading Mark by F. Scott Spencer
00:00 Welcome Back to Learning Laborers00:37 Discussing Taxes in 202501:06 Jesus' Teachings on Taxes03:50 Setting the Scene: Jesus and Roman Taxation07:08 The Trap: Pharisees and Herodians Question Jesus09:13 Jesus' Savvy Response15:55 Implications of Jesus' Teachings21:11 Exploring the Temple Tax25:47 The Temple Tax Debate27:28 Jesus' Unique Response29:27 Implications of Jesus' Actions32:33 Worldly Kingdoms vs. God's Kingdom35:31 Political Conversations and the Kingdom of God38:09 Jesus' Public Witness and Strategies41:10 The Church as a Political Body43:51 Reflections on American History and Taxation48:10 Concluding Thoughts and Final Remarks
