The Decree

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world....And everyone went to his own town to register," Luke 2:1, 3. It didn't matter how old or young you were, you were to register to be taxed. Just think if everyone in the U.S. had to go to their town of birth to register so they could be taxed. How many would go? Things are quite different now than they were. I can't imagine back then how demanding that would be without means of travel. Jesus advocated paying what was due the government in Matthew 22:21: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." People didn't have a choice and they accepted their duty regardless. We're so lax today that some Christians don't even vote, much less be honest with their taxes. Shame on us.

This art is based on a playing card on which I adhered ephemera and painted figures and stippled with black paint.