Living a Life of Witnessing for Christ II – SS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Civic responsibility is the duty of a Christian, as a member of society, to obey the laws and the government, respect leaders and pay taxes.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain why Christians should obey the laws and leaders of their society;
2. state Paul’s teaching on civic responsibility in his letter to the Romans;
3. explain why Christians should pay taxes, rates and levies;
4. describe how Jesus and his parents obeyed civil authority;
5. give examples of how Christians can show civic responsibility in daily life.

What is civic responsibility?

Civic responsibility is the duty a citizen owes to the society and government of the country where he lives.

• Laws and orders: structures put in place to govern society.
• Without law and order: members of society are open to misbehaviour and disorder.
• Christians: they are also members of society, so they are expected to obey its laws and orders.
• Constituted authorities: the people lawfully placed in power, such as the President, governors, local government chairmen, the police, traditional rulers and school principals.

Why should Christians obey those in authority?

Christians obey those in authority because the authorities serve God and because obedience is right.

Paul taught this in his letter to the Christians in Rome (Romans 13:1-7).

• Every believer is subject to the authorities: each Christian must obey the leaders in the place where he lives.
• Allegiance is not for God alone: believers also respect their leaders and give loyalty to the government on earth.
• God knows every government: no government exists without the knowledge of God.
• Leaders are servants of God: Paul asks Christians to respect their leaders and see them as God’s servants.
• Rulers punish wrongdoing and praise good conduct: those who do right have nothing to fear from them.
• Rulers are God’s servants to help us: they work for the good of the people.
• Wrongdoers have reason to fear: leaders have the legal power to punish, and they will use it.
• Unpatriotic acts bring judgement: resisting lawful authority can attract the judgement of God.
• Obedience is right: Christians obey the government because it is the right thing to do, and also to avoid punishment.

Why should Christians be taxpayers?

Christians should pay their taxes, rates and levies because the authorities are ministers of God attending to the well-being of the people.

• Rulers work for God: Paul taught that they give all their time to the work of ruling.
• Taxes pay for public services: examples are roads, schools, hospitals, water and security.
• Honour is due to leaders: Paul advises believers to give honour to whom honour is due.

“Render therefore to all their dues: a tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:7-8)

What are taxes, rates and levies?

These are the payments a citizen makes to the government and local authorities.

How did Jesus obey civil authority?

Jesus obeyed civil authority by paying taxes and teaching others to do the same, and his parents obeyed the law before him.

• His parents: before Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary obeyed the order to go to their city to be taxed (Luke 2:1-5).
• His teaching: he told the people to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God (Matthew 22:21).
• His own example: he paid the temple tax at Capernaum (Matthew 17:24-27).

What happened at Capernaum?

1. Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum.
2. The men who collected the two-drachma temple tax asked Peter, “Does your teacher pay the temple tax?”
3. Peter answered, “Yes, he does.”
4. Peter went into the house where Jesus was. Before Peter could speak, Jesus asked him, “The kings on the earth get different kinds of taxes from people. But who are those who pay the taxes? Are they the king’s children? Or do other people pay the taxes? What do you think?”
5. Jesus told Peter to go to the sea and cast a hook.
6. Peter was to open the mouth of the first fish he caught and take the coin inside, to pay for them both.

“…go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up, and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” (Matthew 17:27)

What should believers learn from Jesus about obeying civil authority?

Believers learn that they must obey constituted authorities, as Paul and Peter both instructed.

• Obey the leaders: Paul and Peter told believers to carry out their responsibilities in society.
• Pay what is due: Jesus paid his tax and taught others to give what is due to the government.
• Do not pray for the death of leaders: believers should not join those who wish evil on their leaders.
• Pray for leaders: Paul urged Christians to pray for kings and all in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

How can a Christian show civic responsibility in daily life?

A Christian shows civic responsibility through honest and law-abiding conduct in everyday life.

• Obey the law: keep traffic rules and the rules of school, work and community.
• Pay taxes and levies: pay them honestly and on time.
• Respect leaders: speak politely of those in authority and do not insult them.
• Vote: take part in elections peacefully and honestly.
• Protect public property: do not damage roads, schools or public utilities.
• Pray for the nation: ask God to guide the leaders.

Evaluation

1. Why should Christians obey the laws and leaders of their society?
2. According to Paul, why are rulers called servants of God?
3. Why should Christians pay taxes, rates and levies?
4. Describe how Jesus paid the temple tax at Capernaum.

Assignment

Discuss Paul’s teaching on civic responsibility and show how we can apply three instances in our daily living (SSCE June 1988).