Legalidades: o que a Bíblia diz sobre leis e impostos
O cristão e o cumprimento das leis civis
A Bíblia orienta o cristão a cumprir as leis do país, pagar tributos e respeitar as autoridades, pois a ordem pública foi instituída por Deus para promover a justiça e conter o mal. Essa submissão só encontra limite quando uma lei humana entra em conflito direto com a palavra de Deus — situação em que a lealdade ao Senhor vem em primeiro lugar.
Ao escrever aos cristãos que viviam sob o Império Romano, Paulo explicou que a obediência às autoridades civis não deve nascer apenas do medo de punição, mas do dever de manter a consciência limpa perante Deus:
Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, so that he who is setting himself against the authority, has resisted against God’s ordinance; and those resisting will receive judgment to themselves. For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and do you wish to not be afraid of the authority? Be doing that which is good, and you will have praise from it, for it is a servant of God to you for good; and if you may do that which is evil, be fearing, for it does not bear the sword in vain; for it is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil. For this reason it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience, for because of this you also pay tribute; for they are servants of God, on this very thing attending continually; render, therefore, to all [their] dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honor, the honor.(Romans 13:1-7)
Esse princípio se traduz na prática em não deixar pendências financeiras nem judiciais com o próximo, mantendo a integridade no convívio social:
To no one owe anything, except to love one another; for he who is loving the other—he has fulfilled law,(Romans 13:8)
Pedro reforça a mesma orientação, ensinando que o respeito às leis humanas serve de testemunho para calar acusações injustas contra os que creem:
having your behavior right among the nations, so that whenever they speak against you as evildoers, seeing [your] good works, they may glorify God in [the] day of inspection. Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the LORD, whether to a king, as the highest, whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evildoers, and a praise of those doing good;(1 Peter 2:12-14)
Impostos, processos e deveres na prática
Quando questionado sobre o pagamento de tributos a Roma, Jesus estabeleceu a distinção entre os deveres com o Estado e os deveres com o Criador:
tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?" And Jesus having known their wickedness, said, "Why do you tempt Me, hypocrites? Show Me the tribute-coin." And they brought to Him a denarius; and He says to them, "Whose [is] this image and the inscription?" They say to Him, "Caesar’s"; then He says to them, "Render therefore the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God";(Matthew 22:17-21)
Em Cafarnaum, mesmo não tendo a obrigação pessoal de pagar o imposto do templo, Jesus optou por quitar a taxa para não criar escândalo desnecessário:
And they having come to Capernaum, those receiving the didrachmas came near to Peter and said, "Your teacher—does He not pay the didrachmas?" He says, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? The kings of the earth—from whom do they receive custom or poll-tax? From their sons or from the strangers?" Peter says to Him, "From the strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free; but that we may not cause them to stumble, having gone to the sea, cast a hook, and the fish that has come up first take up, and having opened its mouth, you will find a stater, that having taken, give to them for Me and you."(Matthew 17:24-27)
No Sermão do Monte, Cristo ensina a resolver desavenças e litígios com prontidão, buscando o acordo antes que o problema escale para os tribunais:
Be agreeing with your opponent quickly, while you are in the way with him, that the opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge may deliver you to the officer, and you may be cast into prison; truly I say to you, you may not come forth from there until you may pay the last penny.(Matthew 5:25,26)
O próprio cumprimento das normas do Império fez parte da história bíblica: o decreto de recenseamento civil emitido por César Augusto levou José e Maria até Belém, onde se cumpriu a profecia do nascimento de Jesus:
And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world be registered— this census first came to pass when Quirinius was governor of Syria— and all were going to be registered, each to his proper city, and Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, that is called Beth-Lehem, because of his being of the house and family of David, to register himself with Mary his betrothed wife, being with Child.(Luke 2:1-5)
E quando a fé cristã enfrentasse perseguição nos tribunais humanos, Jesus garantiu que o Espírito Santo daria a resposta certa diante de reis e governadores:
and before governors and kings you will be brought for My sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations. And whenever they may deliver you up, do not be anxious how or what you may speak, for it will be given you in that hour what you will speak;(Matthew 10:18,19)
O limite da autoridade humana diante de Deus
O respeito às leis e aos tribunais não significa que o poder dos governantes seja absoluto. Diante de Pôncio Pilatos, Jesus deixou claro que a autoridade humana só existe porque Deus a permite:
Pilate, therefore, says to Him, "Do You not speak to me? Have You not known that I have authority to crucify You, and I have authority to release You?" Jesus answered, "You would have no authority against Me if it were not having been given you from above; because of this, he who is delivering Me up to you has greater sin."(John 19:10,11)
O profeta Isaías lembra que governos, nações e seus decretos são pequenos perante a grandeza e a soberania do Criador:
Behold, nations [are] as a drop from a bucket, || And have been reckoned as small dust of the balance, || Behold, He takes up islands as a small thing. All the nations [are] as nothing before Him, || Less than nothing and emptiness, || They have been reckoned to Him.(Isaiah 40:15,17)
Nenhum obstáculo civil ou jurídico tem a palavra final contra a vontade divina quando Ele decide abrir o caminho:
for a door has been opened to me—great and effectual—and withstanders [are] many.(1 Corinthians 16:9)
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