Title: Show Me the Money
Text: Matthew 22:15-22
The Big Idea: “What’s in your wallet” is to be used as responsible citizens and to support God’s purposes in the world.
Introduction
On Thursday, September 18, 2008, Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden appeared on ABC Good Morning America. At one point, the interviewer spoke of how, under the economic proposals of his party, wealthier Americans would pay more taxes. Senator Biden defended the proposal saying, “It’s time to be patriotic… time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut.” (Douglas K. Daniel, Biden calls paying higher taxes a patriotic act, Associated Press, September 18, 2008)
In our culture, it seems to be a question of who gets tax relief… the wealthy and big business or the middle class? Pledges to lower taxes are welcomed and promises to raise taxes… not so much. Philosophically, one party calls the other the “tax and spend party” and the “tax and spend party” in response, labels their accusers the “borrow and spend party.”
Already some of us are squirming. Everyone knows that one never discusses politics or religion in polite company… However, whatever your political persuasion, Jesus does lay down a very basic principle that remains applicable in every culture and in every time and in every place.
The topic of our text today focuses on an issue that has pertinence in every era and every culture… the Christian’s relationship to government.
We begin with the understanding that religion and politics are political hot buttons.
1. Religion and Politics Are Cultural Hot Buttons
“Teacher, we know how honest you are. You are impartial and you don’t play favorites. You sincerely teach the ways of God. Now tell us, is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” Mark 12:14-15
Some say religion and politics do not mix because when they do there is an explosion.
Religious persons use politics to further their agendas and political persons use religion to further their agendas. I think that is a fair and objective statement. It was the way it was in Jesus’ time and it remains so today. However, today in politics it is a game of capturing the Christian Flag while in Jesus’ day it was about capturing the Jewish Flag. I don’t know whether to call it the politicalization of religion or the religionization of politics. How’s that for a couple of words of questionable origin?
The setting is that of a Town Hall Meeting where carefully prepared questions are posed to a person while a crowd of people look on and listen… the objective is not only to find out what a person thinks but to ask questions in such a way as to discredit the one answering the questions.
In the Presidential Candidate Debates and in particular the third, it was said, “one candidate was hoping to goad the other into an outburst or a mistake that would alter the shape of the next three weeks.” The political columnist capitalizing on the oft used references to the campaigners’ willingness to fight, continued, “For a punch to make a difference the punch needs to do something to the target – to rattle, to wound, or cause him to counter punch in a self-defeating way.” (Patrick Healy, McCain Attacks but Obama Steady, New York Times, Politics, October 18, 2008)
In our story today the religious leaders are trying to goad Jesus into saying something that would either get him arrested by the Roman governmental authorities or discredit himself with his Jewish community. I believe our text says they were laying a trap for Jesus in which they could get him to say something that would get him arrested.
They begin with a little flattery… they are hoping to soften Jesus up a bit then when he relaxed a bit, they would then give him the shiv.
“Teacher, we know how honest you are. You are impartial and you don’t play favorites. You sincerely teach the ways of God.” Mark 12:14
At least in some sporting events the contestants have the honesty to just skip all the pretense and get to it… they enter the ring or the octagon looking all menacing, lips curled like snarling dogs, and glowering to each other as if looks could kill. But not religious leaders and not politicians. They enter the ring all smiley.
They say, “It’s a pleasure to be here tonight and a tremendous honor to share center stage with you… my esteemed opponent.” Perhaps we should just chalk it up to at least, having the civility to begin civilly. But as soon as the gratuitous courtesy is out of the way, they let fly with a sucker punch. And here it is…
“Now tell us, is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” Mark 12:14-15
Now why was this a politico – religious hot button?
• The religious leaders or Pharisees in the story are devout Orthodox Jews… they believe God is their King and think of Judaism as a theocracy or religious-state.
• The Herodians are also Jewish people, but they are followers of Herod, who was the King of the secular state of Galilee and was appointed by the Roman Empire.
These are strange bedfellows in that they are religio- politico enemies… the Pharisees believed one may only pay tribute to the true King – God. The Herodians believed that when living in a secular culture it is okay to pay tribute to the earthly king. Despite their grave differences of opinion, they managed to set aside their differences for the sake of their mutual hatred of Jesus.
So in an effort to alienate and isolate Jesus and get him to make both a religious and political error… they hoped to either discredit Jesus with the Jews for supporting Herod or get him arrested by Herod for being traitorous toward the Roman Empire.
Hence the question, “Is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”
Jesus was onto the scheme… he knew it was a trick and he did not let religion and politics either ingratiate him to or alienate him from the people who were listening.
So he asked to see a coin.
Jesus said, “Show me the money (a Roman coin), and I’ll answer your question.” So they handed him a coin. Then he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they said. Mark 12:16
Jesus got it!
2. Every follower of Christ holds a dual-citizenship.
Jesus said, “Well then, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.” Mark 12:17 (“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.”)
In Ephesians 2, Paul spoke of how when we come to Christ, we are no longer strangers and foreigners. We are welcomed into the family of God. Paul wrote, “You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You belong to God’s family…” Ephesians 2:19-22
I like the word-smithing of the pastor who stated, “The Sovereign Lord rules over all, and within the sphere of His reign he establishes governments. Therefore, being part of Messiah’s kingdom does not abrogate responsibilities to earthly authorities. We hold dual citizenships which we are to exercise faithfully and simultaneously.” (God and Government, South Woods Baptist Church, December 5, 2004)
We hold dual citizenships which we exercise faithfully and simultaneously!
If you were to go to Pagosa Springs, Colorado you would come to where they say, “The pavement ends and the west begins.” There is where you would find a place called “Astraddle a Saddle” where you can dine on barbeque and prime rib in Astraddle a Saddles rustic cabin or ride “horse drawn wagons or take sled rides in the beautiful mountains of Pagosa Springs.” (www.astraddleasaddle.com)
The image of being astraddle or astride suggests one leg on each side as in sitting in a saddle astraddle a steed.
But I like the image of the Texas Longhorn Motel on Route 66 in Glenario, Texas, which is now pretty much a ghost town located half in Deaf Smith County, Texas and half in Quay County, New Mexico. In its day it was known as “the first and the last motel in Texas,” depending on which way you were traveling. When you spent the night at the Longhorn you were s sleeping in two states simultaneously… you were sleeping in Texas and you were sleeping in New Mexico.
When you are a Christian living in the United States of America, you are living in two states, so to speak, simultaneously. You are a citizen of the Kingdom of God and you are a citizen of the United States of America.
That is why Jesus said, “Well then, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.” Mark 12:17 (“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.”)
Jesus understood that the Jewish people who were living there in Galilee thought of themselves as the Children of God or God’s chosen people. Jesus understood that that God was their ultimate Sovereign Ruler and King. Jesus also knew that they lived in Galilee under the earthly rule of Tiberias Caesar and the Roman Empire.
For you and me this means, we can be both good Christians who are devoted followers of Jesus Christ and invested in the Kingdom work of God. And we can be good citizens of the country in which we live.
Jesus said, “Well then, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.” Mark 12:17 (“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.”)
Be it an onerous or patriotic duty:
3. Every Christian has obligations to the government… some might even say it is our patriotic duty to be good citizens.
Being a good citizen involves:
• Obeying the laws of the government God has put in place.
“Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land, are refusing to obey God…” Romans 13:1-5
The Apostle says obeying one’s government has two very distinct advantages: First, we escape being punished for breaking the law of the land. And second, we escape having a guilty conscience for disobeying God.
It is interesting that this was written to people who were living under an invasive, conquering world power that oppressed and controlled its subjects.
Contrary to the thought that Christianity and Christian values can only thrive when Christians control the government, in June of this year the Chicago Tribune ran an extensive article under the heading of Jesus in China: Christianity’s Rapid Rise.
The correspondent reporting from Beijing and the Chinese countryside reported in one church in Beijing, the pastor, Jin Mingri, addressed a standing room only crowd saying, “Please leave. We don’t have enough seats for others who want to come in, so please, only stay for one service a day.”
He wrote, in a country where Christianity has been repressed, marginalized, and in many cases illegal for more than half a century… it is now “sweeping the country.”
It is estimated that there are now 70 million Christians in China and the rise of Christianity “is not led by missionaries but my evangelical citizens at home.” (Evan Osnos, Jesus in China: Christianity’s Rapid Rise, Chicago Tribune, June 22. 2008)
It is possible to stand astraddle the kingdom of China and the Kingdom of God simultaneously. It is possible and even commendable, to strand astraddle the kingdom of America and the Kingdom of God at the same time and be good citizens of both.
Being good citizens also involves:
• Respectfully paying your taxes.
Paul went on to write, “Pay your taxes for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.” Romans 13:6-7
Taxation is a large and conflicting issue between the powers of church and state. The church wants to remain separate from the state and state control and cherishes its tax-exempt status. But the state perceives the church as, while remaining separate and tax-exempt, being very much interested in influencing if not gaining control of the government.
The fact of the matter is this: Christians need the state and the state needs Christians. And because, on the civic side of things, we benefit from the presence and influence of the state, we have certain obligations. One of which is to pay taxes.
• If we, as Christians, want an infrastructure that benefits everyone…
• If we want roads we can drive on and bridges that do not collapse when we cross them, and dams that generate power and reservoirs that collect water for consumption. The money has to come from somewhere.
• If we want a standing army and if being a powerful military presence in the world is important to us, then the money has to come from somewhere.
• If we want to care for the elderly and the infirm when they have exhausted their resources… if we want a safety net for everyone in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, then the money has to come from somewhere.
• If we want our children and our grandchildren and our great grandchildren to have a world class education that prepares them for life in a global world, then the money has to come from somewhere.
• If we want the police and the firemen to come when we call, then the money has to come from somewhere.
• If we want to be able to respond in tangible ways when Katrinas and Ikes sweep ashore and if we want to be agents for good in the world when Tsunamis reak devastation, then the money has to come from somewhere.
• If we want our resources to be secure when banks fail and if we want our economy to be under girded when the home loan and Wall Street industries collapse, then the money has to come from somewhere.
There was a time when I did not pay any taxes because I didn’t make any taxable income… Today, I am considered by the IRS as “Self-Employed.” I pay 15.2% of my income right off the top for Self-Employment Tax… part of which is for Social Security and part of which is for Medicare. In addition I pay income tax on what I make. Bonnie and I pay property taxes on our home and our cars. We pay sales tax on what we buy. And I am grateful to God that we can do so!
The government is not a “Praying Mantis” lying in wait to ambush to chew up and devour its prey. The government is not a “hemipteran”. An hemipteran is a type of bug or insect with a mouthpiece apparatus designed to suck the life out of prey. While it may be true of other places in the world… our government does not exist to chew us up or suck the life out of us.
We are fortunate to have a voice in our government and we have the great privilege of exercising our right to vote for candidates, political parties, and policies we believe to be in the best interest of the whole. However the Bible does not speak of those rights… it says, “Be a good citizen and pay your taxes.”
And if, as of yet, you are not feeling put upon… a third way we can be good citizens is by:
• Praying for those in places of governmental places authority.
“I urge you, first of all to pray for all people. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior.” I Timothy 2:1-3
I am not going to belabor this point… there is no picking and choosing of which authorities for whom we want to pray and neglecting to do so for others. The text does not say we can pray for one president and curse another.
Years ago, during a conversation with a brother-in-law and a nephew about the President of our country… I was deliberately not offering much up in terms of what I thought. Finally my nephew said, “You don’t like the President do you?” And I said, “It’s not a matter of whether I like the President or not… I do think he has made some poor choices, but he is still our President.” I do not have to agree with a President. I do not have to vote for a President. I do not have to support the policies of a President. I do not have to approve of the actions of a President. But I am obligated to pray for any and every President. And by praying for the President, I do not mean negative praying… I mean praying that God will be with and bless and guide the leader of our land so that we may all live in peace and quietness and godliness and dignity.
Conclusion:
During the Civil War, then Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase sent a letter to the director of the U.S. Mint. It read in part, “Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in the strength of his defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a devise to be prepared without unnecessary delay expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible, this national recognition.” In God We Trust began being stamped on our coinage during the Civil War and was declared the national motto by an act of Congress in 1956. (Wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust#cite_note-8)
If I were to ask you to show me the money and you were to hand me a coin from your pocket, and I were to read from the face of that coin, there would be two striking statements:
• In God We Trust
• Liberty
The Christian today is to exercise his citizenship freely and responsibly.
Our money reminds us that we are to rely on the goodness of a gracious God who provides for us and that we are free to be responsible and generous citizens and stewards of our abundance.
This is the Word of the Lord.
