Well election day is finally over, you may or may not have liked the outcome of the presidential or legislature elections and you may or may not have liked the outcome of the constitutional amendments, but I think this is a good time for us to reflect on our obligations as citizens…and specifically as Christian citizens even after the voting is over. You may be celebrating that the voters got it right, or you may be unhappy and wondering why you live in a country that has gotten it so wrong.
In the reading from Matthew 22, we get a view of the political world of Jesus’ time. The Pharisees and Herodians have joined forces. Some historians characterize these two groups as political parties - the Pharisees were Jewish leaders who felt homage paid to the Roman king was an infringement on the homage due to God, while the Herodians were the party of King Herod of Galilee who owed his allegiance to the Romans.
You can imagine these two groups had opposite views on many issues of the day. However, though these two groups usually had conflicting views, in regard to Jesus and His teachings, they seem to have found common ground in the old adage “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
So, the two groups have gotten together, joined by their common goal of discrediting Jesus. This confrontation takes place in the last few weeks before Jesus is captured and crucified, but after Jesus has gone on the offensive- Jesus has been criticizing the church leaders- they have been the “bad guys” in the parables he has been sharing with the people for quite some time by the time of this story.
The Pharisees and Herodians together, were looking for a way to end Jesus’ criticism of them, and they lit upon the controversial Imperial tax as the answer to their worries. It is not hard to imagine the Jewish leaders meeting, debating, arguing, until they finally were able to come up with the perfect question- the question that- no matter how Jesus answers- will get him in serious trouble- the hardest question they could come up with. “Is it right to pay the Imperial Tax to Caesar?”
Now the Jews paid other taxes to Caesar - an income tax and a ground tax, or tax on their crops and products. The Imperial Tax is a “per head” tax for every man, woman, and child over the age of 14 and it was a controversial tax.
If Jesus said the Jews should pay taxes, the Jews would feel he was supporting Roman rule and he would be discredited in the eyes of his own people, if he said the Jews should not pay taxes, he could be reported as undermining Roman rule and he would immediately be arrested.
I’m sure that all those gathered were eager to hear the answer- each hoping that Jesus would answer in a way that supported their own views, while the leaders who posed the question were eager to see Jesus fail- to seriously upset one group or the other.
That kind of reminds me of the political debates what about you? We watched the debates, hoping our candidate would make a good showing- espouse the ideas we espouse and show their opponents to be wrong, or at least ineffective ...
We know the candidates spent hours and hours in debate prep, planning possible responses, planning how aggressive they should be, identifying their favorite key phrases. I can imagine the Jewish Leaders in the back rooms, doing their debate prep- searching and searching for the question that would cause Jesus to stumble. And here they are, they think they’ve done it- they have the highlight of the debate- should we pay taxes to Caesar?
But, once again the Jewish leaders were foiled- instead of falling into their trap, Jesus says- You hypocrites! Why do you try to trap me? Then, without any back-room debate prep, he gives a simple answer, Jesus ends the debate… Jesus says: “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs what belongs to God. “ A simple answer to what should have been an impossible question.
And isn’t that how it goes? Think of the hardest question you can ask God. Your biggest quandry, your impossible situations, your greatest worry, and think about how God might answer. For all those things we think are impossible questions, God has an answer.
In the old testament reading, Moses was fed up- Moses thought he was in an impossible situation, and he was ready to blame God for this situation. Moses had lead the people from Egypt, they’d survived many ordeals, fear, hunger, rebellion and just before this scripture reading, we know that while Moses was on the mountain conferring with God, the people were down in the valley building a golden calf, trying to replace God with an idol that they could control, and Moses had just about had it.
“Look, God, you’re the one that sent me here, you said I am special, but here I am…I don’t know any more about you and your plans than anybody else. These are your people and I did what you asked and led them away from Egypt, but I still don’t know what you want” Moses is worked up…he has hard questions, but God has a simple answer….”I will be with you” Moses had a hard question, God gives a simple answer.
God gives us this same answer, we only need to listen for it. When we ask our hardest question, give to God our toughest dilemmas, our deepest frustrations, our deepest grief, God answers, “I will be with you.”
Hard questions…simple answers
Jesus says “Give to the world what belongs to the world, give to Me, what belongs to Me.”
This question and Jesus’ answer gives me reason to pause and think, especially today. Though Jesus answered the question of the Jewish leaders in the context of that time and place, Jesus’ answer is still relevant today.
To ask this same question today, we could ask whether we should pay taxes, or maybe you would ask- how do I live in a country with a President I didn’t vote for- or what do I do now that the man I supported will be president, do I support my country whether or not the President or Legislature reflects my opinions…the question boils down to, should I be a good citizen in my country?
Jesus’ reply? Yes, be a good citizen, but also be a good Christian. It is okay to feel loyalty and obligation to the world, and your responsibilities as a citizen, or an employee, a parent, a leader, as long as you remember you are also a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Give to the world what belongs to the world, give to God, what belongs to God.
As citizens of the world, what responsibilities do we have? One thing I can assure you is that this pulpit is not a place to talk politics. However, Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees and Herodians tells me that we are obligated to carry out our civic and political responsibilities. As Christians, seeking to follow Jesus’ example, we must be citizens of this world- to fulfill our obligation and make our contribution as part of a community.
That includes paying our taxes, following the rules of our country, and of course, voting and honoring the vote, no matter the outcome. And if we believe our leaders, or our country or community is going in the wrong direction, working to cause change, to be a part of change of attitudes and actions. What would happen to our community or our country if good Christians failed in this obligation?
Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar- fulfill our obligation to our country
Give to God what belongs to God- fulfill our obligation to God
What is our obligation to God? Some of you may have had to memorize the Westminster Shorter Catechism- I still remember the question I studied in confirmation as a teenager…What is the chief end of man? The answer was and still is: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Our obligation to God is to give God glory in all that we do.
I hope that how we respond as citizens of our country …how we voted and how we respond to the outcome of the vote…what we support and what we protest…can be informed by the example of Jesus and gives glory to God.
However, how we individually live that out, how we voted, what we support, what we protest, all those things depend upon how we individually understand God’s call. If we accept that each of us here is a citizen of God’s kingdom and each of us here is listening for God’s call and seeking discernment, we must also accept that the vote or action of each of us here is an effort to respond to the call and glorify God…even if their discernment is different than our own.
But remember…no matter how hard our questions… and I know we all have a lot of hard questions… Jesus has a simple answer. The Jewish leaders hoped to trip up Jesus with the hardest question they could think of, but Jesus gave a simple answer. All those dilemmas we face, all those feelings with which we struggle, all those issues which require us to take a stand, all of those may seem impossible to us, but, from Jesus, there is a simple answer.
Give to the world what belongs to the world, give to God what belongs to God. To God belongs all glory.
Imagine how Moses must have been feeling- frustrated, maybe a little angry, surely afraid, yet he has the courage to ask God the hard questions-
These are the same questions we might ask if we only had the courage- what is your plan for me? What is your plan for these people?
With all the possible answers, the best…the simplest answer- the answer we most desire- is the answer God gives “ I will be with you”- no matter the plan “I will be with you.” . Another simple answer- for all those times when you struggle, when you aren’t sure about your next step, when you struggle with feelings you cannot handle,…in all those times, remember God’s simple answer…I will be with you… then step out and deal…deal with your problem, take action, seek help, knowing that God will be with you.
So as you go through the next few weeks…as you face hard questions in your life…remember these simple answers.
Jesus answers: Give to the world what belongs to the world, give to God what belongs to God
God answers: I am with you.
In all glory and honor to God the Creator, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen.
