Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood to Coptic Christians: Convert to Islam, or pay 'jizya' tax - Washington Times:
"The Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters have began forcing the roughly 15,000 Christian Copts of Dalga village in Egypt to pay a jizya tax as indicated in Koran 9:29, author and translator Raymond Ibrahim reported on Sunday. Jizya is the money, or tribute, 'that conquered non-Muslims historically had to pay to their Islamic overlords ‘with willing submission and while feeling themselves subdued’ to safeguard their existence,' Mr. Ibrahim explained."
The Bible says:
"Then went the Pharisees and took counsel on how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man; for thou regardest not the person of the men. Tellest thou therefore, What thinkest thou? Should we pay tribute to Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render, therefore, unto Caesar, the things which are Caesars, and unto God the things which are God's." (Matthew 22:15-21)
Jesus said this around 30 AD to the Jews who were under the civil rule of the Romans. What would Jesus say to Americans today, living under the rule of President Barack Obama? It's a fair question. Our government takes our tax dollars and gives them to Planned Parenthood so they can continue to murder millions of innocent (unborn) children every year. Our government takes our tax dollars and uses them to kill innocent civilians in other countries with drones. Our government takes our tax dollars and gives them to the Department of Education so they can pay teachers to tell our kids that they evolved from monkeys. (see my post, The Final Nail in Evolution's Coffin).
I think Jesus would tell Americans to "Render to Obama" - go ahead and pay your taxes - and pray that God will save his soul while you're doing it.
Having said that, I'm not so sure what Jesus would tell the Coptic Christians in Egypt, faced with the Muslim Brotherhood's mandate: "Convert to Islam, or pay 'Jizya' tax.'" I think Jesus would tell them (using the words of Dr. David P. Murray): "Be respectful. Give your reasons. But say, No!"
The Bible says:
"Then Peter and the other Apostles answered them and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men." - Acts 5:29
Recommended sermon
When Government Tries to Be God, by Dr. David P. Murray
Recommended reading (my post):
Christian Woman Given a Choice: Convert to Islam or Die!
