October 21/22, 2017

Rev. Mark Ball

Is there room for both donkeys and elephants in heaven?

Is there a political party that has a holier platform?

Do we get the Gospel truth while watching CNN or Fox, or is there a newspaper that tells us the real story?

How much does the current situation in our nation concern you? How afraid are you of the threats around the world?

Are you worried?

Are you angry?

Or are you starting to become numb?

For me personally, I avoid political conversations like the plague. I don’t want to offend and I don’t want to set myself up to ruin relationships with those who see what is going on in the world much differently than I do.

I can’t think of moredivisive topic right now than politics.

So, let’s give this a try and see who I offend!

(pull out a coin) This is a denarius. In Jesus’ time this would have been about a day’s wage for typical workers.

Do you know how much the average Israelite hated handing over hard earned money to a Roman government that had forced itself on them?

That’s what made it the perfect catch question when Jesus’ enemies surrounded Him, hoping to trap Him in His own words.

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to paytaxes toCaesar, or not?

If Jesus answers “pay your taxes” than to His fellow Jews he is a traitor.

If Jesus says “don’t pay” then he is a revolutionary, a radical, a clear threat to those in power.

Leave it to Jesus to find a way to offend both sides with one answer.

Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.

In this response Jesus is saying that the faithful action is to honor those who are in authority.That’s not pleasant news for the Jewish people who felt like they were being taken advantage of. It’s not music to the ears for those who are at odds with our government.

For a Christian in America this means we have responsibilities, like:

  • Paying taxes
  • Obeying laws
  • Respecting military service
  • Participating actively in elections
  • Praying for our leaders
  • Speaking out against injustice

These are fourth commandment responsibilities. Honor Your Father and Mother extends to all those who God allows to have authority over us. While a Christian citizen doesn’t need to be a political junkie, we do have to be actively engaged.

The things of this life do matter. They matter to God. Christ’s blood was shed for today and today’s problems. As Christians we can’t see the political process as beneath wherever it serves tocare for the poor, execute justice, make laws, and protect the vulnerable. In the same manner,it is perfectly alright for a Christian to disagree with another Christian about how to achieve those Godly goals.

We engage with the world not as much out of obligation, as we do in love.

Jesus’ response was not cool for His Jewish audience to hear. Maybe it is tough for some of us.

On the other side of the coin what does it mean to give to God what is God’s? (FlIP COIN)

Well, what isn’t God’s?

I think this may hit at the heart of some of the hysteria of our time. This might touch on why politics has become so polarizing, so volatile.

Part of the issue behind the dilemma we are in is that we have become too comfortable identifying ourselves as something other than God’s.

We are Democrat or Republican, Conservative, Liberal, Progressive. We are quicker to identify politically, professionally, or even by sports team. Go Bills!

When we do this, we aren’t giving God what is God’s – and that’s us. All of us.

Jesus’ call on us is nothing less than to have all of us. He wants all of us, and He wants all of us.

Hear these two verses:

Matthew 22:37 –

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Jesus wants all of us.

And 2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promiseas some count slowness, butis patient toward you,not wishing that any should perish, butthat all should reach repentance.Jesus wants all of us.

Jesus’ call is for all of us. He doesn’t want a part of your week, a piece of your personality, a portion of your attention.

Just like He doesn’t want a section of New York State, a slice of this Country or a hemisphere in this world.

The Gospel speaks clearly – God’s love is for all and for all of you. Jesus’ epic sacrifice and triumph are meant to speak in a way that transcends all time and all other possible barriers.

Giving God what is God’s is first identifying as His creation, a child of God, a follower of Jesus. This identity supersedes where I live, how I vote and who I cheer for. My first energy, my best ability, my most prized possessions are given back to God for His guidance, for His use.

This isn’t done as one being oppressed, but joyfully knowing that God loves me so wildly I can’t possiblyout love Him.

And if God wants all of me, there is no pressure to hide any part of me. Even the parts that other people might criticize.If God wants all of them, than it is on me to love and care for them too.

Giving to God what is God’s then makes giving to Caesar a little more bearable, because I know ultimately who I’m looking toward for direction and saving. I’m not rushing to hear the nightly news.I’m looking up. I’m looking inward.

At their best, our political leaders can work to help find solutions to the problems of the day. However, not a one of them will ever be THE solution.

The leaders of this world serve at the whim of my God. I will support them up until the point when what they ask of me violates my conscience as a Christian, what I know to be God’s will for this world.

Too often we let what is going on around us have too big of a claim on our lives. You are God’s. You are the creation of our most powerful Heavenly Father, a freed follower of Jesus Christ and a living dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but that’s not your primary identity, your greatest hope, or your ultimate trust.

Give to God what is God’s. He wants all of us, and all of us.

AMEN