What Belongs to God
Text: Matthew 22:15-22
In the aftermath of this past week’s federal election, of what has been described by some as perhaps one of the nastiest election campaigns, we’re still picking up the pieces. Sure, the landscape has shifted a little bit, but not much. If anything Canadians have told those whom we elect to government that the most important thing is to work together… the extremely low voter turnout, I think, betrays a sense of disillusionment with the system. One needs to remember that the governing party was elected by about 35% of the 58% of people who actually voted. The upshot is that just over 20% of those who were eligible to vote public voted for, 38% voted against, and 42% abstained from the whole process. Much of the media’s attention is now focused on this low turnout, and what it means for our democratic system.
So what is needed now? A reason for people to care? In the various speeches from election night, there was at least some voicing for the need to work together. It makes for good copy in news reports, but we’ll see how that turns out. I’m personally a political junkie, so doubtless I’ll be keeping up on it. Just don’t ask me how I voted. I’m not going to tell you, and no I’m not going to tell you how you should or should have voted either.
When the Men’s group began to put this morning’s service together, they had talked to me about a possible theme for the service. My comments about the recent election in some ways reflect the type of conversations that the Men’s Group have in their monthly get-togethers here at the church. Politically and theologically diverse, it’s an opportunity for people to get together and talk. As often comes up, the issues of religion and politics tend to be part of the conversation… I think that their hope was for me to bring some of that into my sermon today.
I guess the challenge is, we really tend to shy away from talking about religion and politics. It’s often said that they’re the two areas that should be avoided at the dinner table… but I think in the interests of peace and understanding in our world, maybe we need to actually talk about it more… but figure out some ground rules first. After all, this morning’s text would never make it as a dinner guest. It’s all about Politics and Religion… but it does at least give us some insight. So bear with me for a moment.
We have a series of stories where Jesus is engaged in debates with the religious authorities. Following a series of parables in Matthew, we see a group representing the powers-that-be get into a huddle. Talking back and forth amongst themselves, they come up with a zinger of a question… one that Jesus cannot possibly answer without alienating the people or attracting unwanted attention from the Roman occupiers.
They approach Jesus as a group, all wanting to lean in and see what he will say. They giggle amongst themselves, just waiting for the answer this stupid Galilean would give… they’re ready to pounce on whatever he would say… One of them steps out from the group, gives a bow of feigned respect. He begins to speak, barely hiding his contempt and sarcasm:
“Teacher, we know that you are honest. You teach the truth about what God wants people to do. And you treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are.”
An interesting preamble… but he goes on to ask, “So tell us what you think! Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?”
This is a good no-win question. If Jesus says “yes,” then they could use the words against him as being sympathetic to the hated occupiers, if he says “no” then they could tell the Romans that Jesus is inciting rebellion by refusing to pay taxes.
Jesus looks at them and narrows his eyes. He knows what they’re up to. He replies, “Why are you trying to test me? Why all this grandstanding, you pious frauds?” Not exactly a polite reply, to an outwardly polite question, but he gives it the respect he deserves.
“All right, I’ll take the bait… Let me see one of those coins used to pay taxes.”
Before one of the senior Pharisees can stop him, a younger scribe eagerly reaches into his pouch and hands Jesus a silver coin… a denarius… a full day’s wage for those who had income. It was like handing him one hundred dollar bill.
Jesus holds it up, looks at it, and runs his finger along its edge. Definitely a Roman Coin… Well refined, much cleaner than the local currency. “So tell me…” Jesus asks, “Whose image and whose name is stamped on this coin?”
The young scribe stammers out “the Emperor’s!”
Tossing the coin back to the young scribe, Jesus replies… “You have your answer… The coin belongs to the emperor. Give the Emperor what belongs to him, and give God what belongs to God!”
We are told that the crowd is dumbfounded… In point of fact, Jesus doesn’t really give an answer; he sidesteps the thrust of this trap, and deflects it with simple statement with a great depth of meaning. Jesus had turned this whole discussion about politics and religion into an object lesson: Give to the Emperor what belongs to him, and give God what belongs to God! In other words… Politics and religion… Don’t confuse the two… don’t give to political powers more than what belongs to them!
It should be noted that by the time of Jesus, the fledgling republic that Rome had once been had in recent memory given way to a line of Emperors. As absolute power the Emperors were to be officially acknowledged in some way as Divine. Tiberius Caesar ruled from Rome, part of Rome’s power came from this assignment of godly power to their ruler. Religion was a venire that served political purposes, but the Emperor’s increasingly believed their own rhetoric. The lines between politics and religion ended up being blurred… Somewhere they had crossed that line.
Politics and Religion… Don’t confuse the two.
Although ironically, now, we have learned at what great and terrible mistakes can be made when we make religion serve political purposes. The moment we forget that is when we get into some serious trouble. I do not intend to be specific about our neighbours to the south… as any nation that begins to blend politics and religion together risks creating an idol out of the state. It happened in the Roman Empire, it happened in Europe, it can happen here. The trouble is that line is not that clear… but is so easily crossed… and when we do, that’s when the opportunities for genuine peace and understanding are lost.
So we need to go back to Jesus in the temple… the frustrating part is that Jesus is not as specific as we want him to be. When asked about the Emperor’s tax, he doesn’t sit down with a list detailing exactly what belongs to the government and what belongs to God. There is something very profound in this short one-liner. In the story, Jesus is saying this while holding a coin that is stamped with the image of the Emperor. For those who knew their scripture well, Jesus was playing up on an image from Genesis… reminding us that we are created in God’s image… and therefore we ultimately belong to God. Money is a human construct… humans beings are not… and that’s something that all of us have in common on this planet. As my daughter once pointed out, everybody is born with a bellybutton. We are created in God’s image.
Politics and religion… don’t confuse the two… Give to the emperor what belongs to him, give to God what belongs to God…. but it’s no simple matter. When do we cross that line between a valid affection for and loyalty to the state and idolatry to the state?
In 1954, the Presbyterian Church in Canada adopted a subordinate standard called “The Declaration of Faith Concerning Church and Nation.” In it, there is this rather harsh sentence: “It is high treason against the Lord Jesus, and deadly both for the Church and for the Nation, to attribute to any [human], group, or institution, the total power that belongs to [God].” It’s rather harsh, but it emerged directly out of the ashes of the Second World War. Nazi Germany saw the German protestant churches giving divine sanction to the Third Reich. The government wanted Hitler portrayed as a “German prophet,” and went after the churches for that endorsement. For the most part they got it, and many Christians went along with it willingly, because that line between politics and religion was so intentionally blurred. In 1934, a small group of churches and church leaders spoke out against those government pressures that had subjected Christ’s church to the will of the Nazis. It was called the Barmen Declaration. You can find the text for it if you do a Google search on the ‘net. The churches that opposed this growing “state sanctioned” church became known as the confessing church. They stood in active and vocal opposition that the church cannot and should not become subject to the state. Many of their leaders, including a theologian by the name of Dietrich Bonhoeffer paid for it with their lives.
Politics and religion… don’t confuse the two… Give to the emperor what belongs to him, give to God what belongs to God.
Perhaps one of the worst sins is to give to government that which should only to be given to God. Presuming that our governments are somehow divinely anointed, we cease to exercise that necessary critical thought, giving those in power license to do whatever they want. Perhaps the greatest sin is not to care, to act as if there is no problem, no cause for concern… to assume that those whom we put in power can do no wrong. For Christians, we cannot afford to stand back and leave these as taboo subjects for the dinner table. If we are to seek peace and understanding amongst peoples, God calls us to consider, to critique, to bring judgment to bear when we think our leaders and our nation is wrong… and to seek to put right those wrongs. I don’t think Jesus ever intended for us to be polite company and avoid the subject, because our love for Christ is and must be stronger even than our affection for our country... but if we equate them to be the same thing, we need to go back and meditate on what Jesus says:
Give to God what belongs to God. Amen.
In the aftermath of this past week’s federal election, of what has been described by some as perhaps one of the nastiest election campaigns, we’re still picking up the pieces. Sure, the landscape has shifted a little bit, but not much. If anything Canadians have told those whom we elect to government that the most important thing is to work together… the extremely low voter turnout, I think, betrays a sense of disillusionment with the system. One needs to remember that the governing party was elected by about 35% of the 58% of people who actually voted. The upshot is that just over 20% of those who were eligible to vote public voted for, 38% voted against, and 42% abstained from the whole process. Much of the media’s attention is now focused on this low turnout, and what it means for our democratic system.
So what is needed now? A reason for people to care? In the various speeches from election night, there was at least some voicing for the need to work together. It makes for good copy in news reports, but we’ll see how that turns out. I’m personally a political junkie, so doubtless I’ll be keeping up on it. Just don’t ask me how I voted. I’m not going to tell you, and no I’m not going to tell you how you should or should have voted either.
When the Men’s group began to put this morning’s service together, they had talked to me about a possible theme for the service. My comments about the recent election in some ways reflect the type of conversations that the Men’s Group have in their monthly get-togethers here at the church. Politically and theologically diverse, it’s an opportunity for people to get together and talk. As often comes up, the issues of religion and politics tend to be part of the conversation… I think that their hope was for me to bring some of that into my sermon today.
I guess the challenge is, we really tend to shy away from talking about religion and politics. It’s often said that they’re the two areas that should be avoided at the dinner table… but I think in the interests of peace and understanding in our world, maybe we need to actually talk about it more… but figure out some ground rules first. After all, this morning’s text would never make it as a dinner guest. It’s all about Politics and Religion… but it does at least give us some insight. So bear with me for a moment.
We have a series of stories where Jesus is engaged in debates with the religious authorities. Following a series of parables in Matthew, we see a group representing the powers-that-be get into a huddle. Talking back and forth amongst themselves, they come up with a zinger of a question… one that Jesus cannot possibly answer without alienating the people or attracting unwanted attention from the Roman occupiers.
They approach Jesus as a group, all wanting to lean in and see what he will say. They giggle amongst themselves, just waiting for the answer this stupid Galilean would give… they’re ready to pounce on whatever he would say… One of them steps out from the group, gives a bow of feigned respect. He begins to speak, barely hiding his contempt and sarcasm:
“Teacher, we know that you are honest. You teach the truth about what God wants people to do. And you treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are.”
An interesting preamble… but he goes on to ask, “So tell us what you think! Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?”
This is a good no-win question. If Jesus says “yes,” then they could use the words against him as being sympathetic to the hated occupiers, if he says “no” then they could tell the Romans that Jesus is inciting rebellion by refusing to pay taxes.
Jesus looks at them and narrows his eyes. He knows what they’re up to. He replies, “Why are you trying to test me? Why all this grandstanding, you pious frauds?” Not exactly a polite reply, to an outwardly polite question, but he gives it the respect he deserves.
“All right, I’ll take the bait… Let me see one of those coins used to pay taxes.”
Before one of the senior Pharisees can stop him, a younger scribe eagerly reaches into his pouch and hands Jesus a silver coin… a denarius… a full day’s wage for those who had income. It was like handing him one hundred dollar bill.
Jesus holds it up, looks at it, and runs his finger along its edge. Definitely a Roman Coin… Well refined, much cleaner than the local currency. “So tell me…” Jesus asks, “Whose image and whose name is stamped on this coin?”
The young scribe stammers out “the Emperor’s!”
Tossing the coin back to the young scribe, Jesus replies… “You have your answer… The coin belongs to the emperor. Give the Emperor what belongs to him, and give God what belongs to God!”
We are told that the crowd is dumbfounded… In point of fact, Jesus doesn’t really give an answer; he sidesteps the thrust of this trap, and deflects it with simple statement with a great depth of meaning. Jesus had turned this whole discussion about politics and religion into an object lesson: Give to the Emperor what belongs to him, and give God what belongs to God! In other words… Politics and religion… Don’t confuse the two… don’t give to political powers more than what belongs to them!
It should be noted that by the time of Jesus, the fledgling republic that Rome had once been had in recent memory given way to a line of Emperors. As absolute power the Emperors were to be officially acknowledged in some way as Divine. Tiberius Caesar ruled from Rome, part of Rome’s power came from this assignment of godly power to their ruler. Religion was a venire that served political purposes, but the Emperor’s increasingly believed their own rhetoric. The lines between politics and religion ended up being blurred… Somewhere they had crossed that line.
Politics and Religion… Don’t confuse the two.
Although ironically, now, we have learned at what great and terrible mistakes can be made when we make religion serve political purposes. The moment we forget that is when we get into some serious trouble. I do not intend to be specific about our neighbours to the south… as any nation that begins to blend politics and religion together risks creating an idol out of the state. It happened in the Roman Empire, it happened in Europe, it can happen here. The trouble is that line is not that clear… but is so easily crossed… and when we do, that’s when the opportunities for genuine peace and understanding are lost.
So we need to go back to Jesus in the temple… the frustrating part is that Jesus is not as specific as we want him to be. When asked about the Emperor’s tax, he doesn’t sit down with a list detailing exactly what belongs to the government and what belongs to God. There is something very profound in this short one-liner. In the story, Jesus is saying this while holding a coin that is stamped with the image of the Emperor. For those who knew their scripture well, Jesus was playing up on an image from Genesis… reminding us that we are created in God’s image… and therefore we ultimately belong to God. Money is a human construct… humans beings are not… and that’s something that all of us have in common on this planet. As my daughter once pointed out, everybody is born with a bellybutton. We are created in God’s image.
Politics and religion… don’t confuse the two… Give to the emperor what belongs to him, give to God what belongs to God…. but it’s no simple matter. When do we cross that line between a valid affection for and loyalty to the state and idolatry to the state?
In 1954, the Presbyterian Church in Canada adopted a subordinate standard called “The Declaration of Faith Concerning Church and Nation.” In it, there is this rather harsh sentence: “It is high treason against the Lord Jesus, and deadly both for the Church and for the Nation, to attribute to any [human], group, or institution, the total power that belongs to [God].” It’s rather harsh, but it emerged directly out of the ashes of the Second World War. Nazi Germany saw the German protestant churches giving divine sanction to the Third Reich. The government wanted Hitler portrayed as a “German prophet,” and went after the churches for that endorsement. For the most part they got it, and many Christians went along with it willingly, because that line between politics and religion was so intentionally blurred. In 1934, a small group of churches and church leaders spoke out against those government pressures that had subjected Christ’s church to the will of the Nazis. It was called the Barmen Declaration. You can find the text for it if you do a Google search on the ‘net. The churches that opposed this growing “state sanctioned” church became known as the confessing church. They stood in active and vocal opposition that the church cannot and should not become subject to the state. Many of their leaders, including a theologian by the name of Dietrich Bonhoeffer paid for it with their lives.
Politics and religion… don’t confuse the two… Give to the emperor what belongs to him, give to God what belongs to God.
Perhaps one of the worst sins is to give to government that which should only to be given to God. Presuming that our governments are somehow divinely anointed, we cease to exercise that necessary critical thought, giving those in power license to do whatever they want. Perhaps the greatest sin is not to care, to act as if there is no problem, no cause for concern… to assume that those whom we put in power can do no wrong. For Christians, we cannot afford to stand back and leave these as taboo subjects for the dinner table. If we are to seek peace and understanding amongst peoples, God calls us to consider, to critique, to bring judgment to bear when we think our leaders and our nation is wrong… and to seek to put right those wrongs. I don’t think Jesus ever intended for us to be polite company and avoid the subject, because our love for Christ is and must be stronger even than our affection for our country... but if we equate them to be the same thing, we need to go back and meditate on what Jesus says:
Give to God what belongs to God. Amen.
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