the 'tax' in Matthew 17:24-27 was not a Roman tax. it was a temple tribute 'for sanctification' -- and Jesus didn't pay it: He taught Peter that the children of kings are exempt from taxes, and instructed Peter to go catch a fish, in which he found a coin that covered both Peter's & Christ's 'temple tax' -- 'so that they would not give offense'
if you look at the Torah where this tribute originated from, Exodus 30, it is not at all clear that this was supposed to be a recurring fee for Jews -- it was to be collected "for atonement" when a census was taken. remember David taking a census? and getting in trouble over it? think about it.
so this isn't an example of Christ paying taxes.
the other place you may be referring to, 'render to Caesar what is Caesars' -- Jesus didn't have a coin. He asked that someone show Him one.
now, am not saying He taught against paying taxes. but to say, the message of these two things is not about paying taxes and honoring governments. it is something much deeper.
besides that -- 'voting' is not a requirement of the law. so you do not break a law by not voting. which is to say -- i don't see that you have a point at all by saying this? it doesn't answer the question. Jesus did not involve Himself in worldly politics. His apostles did not either. they did not advocate nor work toward political change nor did they seek political power. Jesus shirked political power. the apostles, well they didn't really have that opportunity lol -- although one could point out, Paul was on his way to a seat in the Sanhedrin, and he gave it up to pursue evangelism.
our citizenship is not of this world.
i believe, we ought to act like it is true.
so i am not a democrat, and i am utterly disgusted by Christians thinking the Republican party is the party of Christianity.
here is my view: Trump is a vain liar. the GOP manipulates the Christian church in America to equate itself as 'their party' and Trump pandered to them in order to gain votes in the SE states. every GOP candidate since Jerry Falwell has done exactly the same thing. the group of evangelical influencers who met with Trump either lied or were deceived when they said they thought Trump was a 'baby Christian' born again but showing no fruit and having no confession of faith and openly denying repentance. they were either somehow coerced or they were convinced that 'the greater good' of having a GOP-affiliated president who would probably nominate at least one conservative-leaning supreme court justice outwieghed the evil of lying to the church / misleading the church about Trump. their influence and the corresponding influence of thousands of pastors across the Bible belt who parroted their urging that all Christians 'must vote for Trump or else our country goes to hell' had a considerable influence on the vote. i think this is despicable, and it makes me sad to see people still under this spell.
my only advice is don't lie with your vote.
your vote means this is the person you respect and wish to be your nations leader and primary representative to the rest of the world.
if you don't truly respect him, and you are only voting 'against' someone else or 'against' some other perceived ideology - not literally 'for' a candidate -- in my view you should not vote at all; you are casting a lie.
this is the same advice i have given for 30 years. it has nothing to do with party or individuals.
i do not respect Trump, though i respect the office he currently holds. i do not trust him, i am ashamed that he leads our country. i will not vote for him. i will vote for whomever i think is honest, and who puts others before themselves. if i find no such person, i will not vote.
that's just me. make up your own minds.
"openness"