From the Pastor |
With so much going on in our world… in our nation these days… we are facing challenges many of us have never had to face before. No matter what side of the political spectrum you fall on… you have to admit… we… as a nation… are in a dark place. I personally have never been so frustrated and angry by what I see going on around me as I have been this year. Politics, economics, race, gender, religion… these are the things dividing us more and more each day.
As we strive to navigate the stormy waters that are drowning our nation… as we try to face some extremely challenging issues, the question of where we place God in our lives and our priorities may seem fairly insignificant… especially for those of us who have faith. We have faith… we have come to know our God… we need to focus on the turmoil that is all around us. However, as we begin to dig a little deeper, we discover that where we place God in our lives may very well be one of the most important questions for us to consider today. It was the question Jesus was looking for an answer to in our reading from Matthew. No, he did not come right out and ask “Hey… where do you place God in your lives?” … but when we look at this short question and answer exchange, it seems pretty clear that that is exactly what he is asking. It is the final days of Jesus’ ministry… he has triumphantly entered Jerusalem… He cleansed the Temple of the moneychangers… and he has spent his time teaching in the Temple “Then the Pharisees… laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth… Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” Now, this really was a pretty good trap they just laid out for Jesus because no matter which answer he gives… he is going to be in trouble. I feel the need to point out that this passage is not about taxes in general… but a very specific tax. The tax in question was the Imperial tax… the tribute paid to Rome to support the Roman occupation of Israel. That’s right: first-century Jews were required to pay a tax to Rome that went to cover the expense of their own oppression. This was the tax they came and asked Jesus if it was right for them to pay. Now even for the Jews, this was an incredibly divisive issue… Those put in power by Rome… and those who enjoyed wealth… supported the Roman occupation… However, the nationalists and the devout Jews did not… and that was the trap… the problem… If Jesus answers ‘yes’ it is right to pay the Imperial tax, it would alienate him from the oppressed people who despised the Roman occupation… they would view him as a traitor. However, if he answers ‘no’ he would demonstrate himself to be an ‘enemy of Rome’… It was a no win situation… But Jesus is not so easily trapped. Instead of a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer Jesus asks for one of the coins used to pay the taxes… after he is given one he poses a question in return… whose image is on the coin? Whose inscription? … When they identify both to be Caesar’s, Jesus replies “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Huh!!! This was not the answer that either side expected to hear, but it was one that neither side could argue with. Since Caesar’s image was on the coin… it belonged to Caesar… But what about God? What belongs to God? Well… Genesis 1: 27 specifically tells us that “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” So… If we are created in the image of God… The items stamped with God's image is… us! We are to give God ourselves… our whole selves… because we belong to God. And to take it even further… Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;” Therefore… everything… everything belongs to God. WOW! Jesus avoided the trap that was set… even though the question was political… his answer wasn’t… Jesus never openly spoke out against the Roman occupation… Jesus did not come to topple a government or to rally together a rebellion that would fight the system. (Much to the dismay of the Jews who were looking for a Messiah who would do just that.) Instead… Jesus simply declares that Caesar is owed what bears his image and name… the coin. Jesus did not allow himself to be drawn into a massive debate between church and state. Instead, he acknowledges that being a citizen of Heaven does not exempt you from being a citizen of the state. But it does mean that our higher duty… our priority is to give God what belongs to God. If we are created in the image of God… we belong to Him. We must give ourselves to God and do our best to live as God wants us to do… Jesus’ life and ministry demonstrates exactly HOW we are to live and work within the systems and confines of government and country in ways that will bring a lasting change. The government during Jesus’ time was about as corrupt, oppressive and bureaucratic as one could get, but Jesus successfully navigated it… all the while ministering and teaching… preaching the truth of God and serving those in need. Sharing love for God and neighbor everywhere he went. We are called to do the same. Living as citizens of this nation while striving to never lose our identity as the people of God… but always giving God what belongs to God… ourselves and our love… Loving God and loving our neighbor must be our main priority…working for justice, peace and the well-being of all people. Caring for this world that God created… Caring for one another… feeding the hungry… healing the sick… offering kindness and compassion to all we meet because they too belong to God… They too are created in God’s image. Jesus’ response to this question about taxes reminds us that as Disciples of Christ we are to do TWO things: First… We are to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s… in other words… we are to give our commitment to live as good citizens, in support and service of this country we live in… and our voice to challenge what is unjust within it as we also support and strengthen what is good, and just and peaceful. And second… we are to give to God what is God’s. There is no question that followers of Christ are called to be “salt and light”… we are called to “witness to Christ” in the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no question that we are to be set apart from others by the very presence of God in our lives… by the way that following Christ defines how we live and love. Let’s face it… There is so much division… anger and hatred within our society… tearing apart our nation. It never seems to end and love seems to be in short supply these days. I really think the problem stems from the fact that… as Christians… We have spent so much time focusing on our citizenship of this world that we have forgotten that, as citizens of the kingdom of God… we belong first and foremost to God. As followers of Christ Jesus… it is time we refocus our hearts and minds on what is important… we need to reevaluate our priorities. Let’s face it… Lashing out at one another in fear and anger is not the way… Trusting in the ‘Caesars’ of the world… the rich and powerful… the politicians is not the way. Giving our love and trust to God… giving ourselves and our lives to God and then living as God calls us to live… THAT is the WAY! Even though we may disagree with the things that happen within our own political arena, as followers of Christ, we are to always try our best to live and serve as Jesus did... as those who belong to God. When we remember whose image we bear… when we remember to whom we belong… when we live and speak and act as those who are reflections of God… that is when we are able to begin to tackle the challenges of this world with love and hope… trusting in God’s Spirit When we remember that it is through our faith, hope and love that we are truly able to give to the Lord what belongs to the Lord… namely everything… including our very lives, our love and our commitment… then we are able to reflect the image of God to the world around us… It is then that we will see changes coming to fruition bringing justice and peace to a world in pain. Amen.
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Yeon Shin
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