"The Cost of Loyalty to God and Government"
Remembrance Sunday Nov.10/02
Mt.22:15-22; Rom.13:1-7
Two Constants - and God's Consolation
It's been observed that, however many changes there may be in life, there are two things you can count on, two constants that are just part of the human existence. Those two things, we're told, are -- death and taxes! Now there's not much inspiring about that, it sounds like bad news. But thank God for the Gospel, Jesus' Good News that has something transforming to say even about such "downer" subjects as death and taxes. Scripture explains that God intends order and freedom in life to be protected by government, so taxes are necessary and right. We can pay them not out of fear of being fined if we don't, but as an act of respect and for the sake of conscience, wanting to do what's right, return what we owe. And, as far as death is concerned, our ultimate freedom to exist before God is underwritten by His creation of us as persons and Christ's redemption of us as sinners; so life is to be lifted gratefully as a gift, a prelude to eternity with the One to whom we belong. All of life is a matter of stewardship, of being entrusted with something we'll one day return. Believing that by Christ's grace we belong to God and are special to a heavenly Father frees us to live for Him and by His help, with honourable motives and true meaning.
A Deadly Trap: Taxes or Treason?
The popularity and power of Jesus Christ among throngs of people made enemies for Him amongst the rulers of His day. The Pharisees were the prominent party in the Sanhedrin, the ruling Jewish council. They viewed Jesus as a dangerous heretic and wanted to trap Him in something He said; but they knew it wouldn't be easy. So they devised a plot that would snare Him, crush Him in a vice - between two jaws. One jaw was the monolithic power and authority of the Roman empire, which demanded its subject nations pay costly tribute each year. The other jaw was the zealous nationalism and religious fervour of the Jewish people, who despised the Roman occupiers and hated the poll-tax which supported its armies and establishments. The taxes were so hated that to be a "tax-collector" put you immediately in the same category as the worst sinners, loathed, avoided, rejected - a shameful collaborator. It was a perfect trap, or so it seemed. For once the Pharisees ganged up with the Herodians, supporters of those who collaborated with the Romans. Taxes were the perfect issue: if Jesus said it was right to pay taxes, that would place Him as low on the scale as a tax collector and destroy His influence and reputation amongst the Judeans. But if He said it wasn't right to pay taxes, the questioners would denounce him to the Roman governor as teaching sedition, rebellion. They had Him either way - or so they thought.
Hardly able to conceal their smirks, they approached Jesus and prepared to pop the trick question. Drawing out the occasion, revelling in their superiority, they buttered Him up with out and out flattery. I mean, they laid it on really thick, as part of the set-up. They presented it as a matter of principle, commending Jesus for teaching what's right no matter what other people thought. They said (22:16), "You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are." That would make it sound like a real come-down if He acknowledged any right of the Romans to rule. In verse 17 they got to the point: "Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" You can almost hear them sharpening their knives under their cloaks, ready for His response so they could move in for the kill.
Jesus wasn't fooled for even a minute -- He saw right through their subtle scheme. Maybe He shook His head as He replied, "You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me?" As for the deadly question itself, Matthew doesn't say He even needed a minute to think about it. Didn't even need to make a phone call for the million-dollar question. With wonderful insight and ingenuity He took the question out of the realm of the philosophical, and into the everyday world of the practical. "Show me the coin used for paying the tax." So hands-on, so real-life. When they brought him a denarius he asked, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" With some disgust at being asked such an elementary question His foes replied, almost spitting out the detested name, "Caesar's." Jesus tossed the coin in the air back to the ringleader and concluded, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
"Give to Caesar..." Nobody enjoys paying taxes. Just this week I faxed in for the coming year to the local Canada Customs and Revenue Agency office a form T1213, "Request to reduce tax deductions at source". We don't like our paycheque getting whittled down any more than it absolutely has to be. But we must admit that government benefits us and, in the end, has its due. The denarius in Jesus' hand was a reminder of the substantial benefits the Roman conquerors had brought to Palestine: good roads, transportation, security, policing, shipping possibilities for trade across the Mediterranean, stable government, aqueducts, improved communication. All that had its cost to maintain and was worth something.
This week I received another letter, one from our Member of Parliament Paul Steckle in response to an upcoming bill with moral implications. It's worth something to know our concerns are represented in the nation's capital; there are all kinds of costs related to that, from travel and housing and staffing through to costs of elections and the whole democratic process. There has been much grumbling about the level of health care in Canada, but we're reluctant to increase taxes such as the GST to pay for improved equipment and shorter waiting lists. Most recently there's been outrage about the higher costs of electricity in the deregulated Ontario market; but on the other hand we don't want to raise taxes or go into debt (or spend our children's inheritance) in order to subsidize the cost of generation. And whatever you do, don't expect us to cut back on consumption! That would be unthinkable! There is no doubt government waste and mismanagement of funds happens - that's what makes the Auditor General's reports so interesting. But at the root of our demand for better conditions and less taxes you can't help but suspect there is an element of greed on our part, wanting something for nothing. The denarius was undeniably Caesar's, and if Jesus' countrymen wanted any of the benefits that accompanied it, they needed to be ready to ante up when the tax man comes calling. There's a sense of "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's."
In Romans 13, Paul defends the right of rulers to expect honour and revenue from their subjects, claiming authorities have been established by God. Rulers are God's servants to do good to those who do what is right, and to punish those who do wrong; thus they deserve material support. Verses 6-7: "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." Here the word "taxes" translates one referring to what was called "tribute", a poll-tax imposed annually by the ruling nation on houses, lands, and persons, similar to our "income tax". The word "revenue" refers to a toll or tariff on goods collected in the course of trading to support the civil government, similar to our GST or PST. So both Jesus and Paul take a very practical and submissive not rebellious approach, acknowledging taxes are a necessary and acceptable part of life.
Loyalty to God undergirds Right Motives, Civic Stewardship
But Jesus didn't stop at "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's;" He added, "and to God what is God's." Complicated questions demand paradoxical answers. The coin bore Caesar's image and writing; the parallel for God is that WE bear His image and inscription. Genesis 1:27 says "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;" [note the repetition for emphasis] "male and female he created them." Jeremiah (31:33) prophesies that God's desire is a covenant in which "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.I will be their God, and they will be my people." So if the coin with the portrait and writing was Caesar's, in a parallel sense Jesus is implying we belong to God - our whole life. All we have and are is God's, right from the get-go. Colossians 1(16) says of Jesus Christ, "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." That 'all things' includes you and me.
In Psalm 50:10 God says, "for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills." As a child I remember an unusual barn on the outskirts of Cromarty. There were usually some beef cattle out grazing in the nearby fields. On the large white barn Mr Gardiner had painted in red letters, "He owns the cattle on a thousand hills." That made a lasting impression on me - a reminder that whatever we have or supposedly "own" is ultimately the Creator's. All of life is a matter of stewardship, a temporary trust. Paul writes in Romans 14(10,12), "We shall all stand before God's judgment seat...each of us will give an account of himself to God." When the era marked by death and taxes is over, there is One we will encounter who keeps closer tabs on us even than CCRA.
By the way, the story is told of a bartender whose grip was so strong his clients had a standing bet that nobody could squeeze more juice out of a lemon than he could. Many had tried, but they always lost the bet; the muscles in this bartender's hand were so powerful, no one could ever squeeze out another drop. One day a short, dumpy-looking man with balding hair and big glasses walked up and said he'd take up the bartender on the bet. Some bystanders tried to persuade him and told him what a vice-grip he was up against, but the man was insistent. So the bartender took a cut lemon and squeezed all the juice into an empty glass, then passed it to the man in the wrinkled suit. He grasped the mangled pulp slowly and deliberately in his right hand, then his muscled contracted and his arm vibrated slightly with tremours. Seconds passed, his brow furrowed, his knuckles turned white and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. The bystanders muttered something and started to turn away, but then stopped in mid-stride and stared amazed. Into the glass came first one, then two, three, four - up to six drops of lemon juice. Satisfied, the little man relaxed his grip and collected his reward. As he turned to leave, the bartender stammered, "That's incredible! What do you do for a living?" The man suppressed a smile as going out the door he replied, "I'm with the tax department."
"The wheels of God grind slowly, but they grind exceeding small." The CCRA has nothing on our eternal Judge! He's tracking our deeds, examining our hearts, weighing our motives. Matthew notes that Jesus knew "their evil intent", their deception, the perverse wickedness of those who tried to trap Him. They sought to snare Him between His loyalty to the people and His loyalty to the current government; but He instead exposed their alliance to the Deceiver, Satan. Jesus moved the discussion first to the practical level and then to underlying motives, the greed and competitiveness that make judgment by governors and God necessary. At the same time, when we repent and acknowledge our perverseness and turn to Christ, that new loyalty to God undergirds right motives within us, and responsible civic behaviour.
Humanism's Threat to True Security: Is Patriotism Passé?
What's the price of your ultimate loyalties? Jesus argued that government had its cost, that Caesar was in fact owed something for what he had provided. Paul tells believers it's necessary to submit to authorities, not just out of fear of possible punishment, but because of conscience: God requires it (Rom.13:5). Christ shone a spotlight on the destructive me-first pride of His challengers that wasn't loyal to Him at all, though He is the perfect King of kings. What about us - are we self-preserving and competitive at heart like them, or are we ready like Jesus to risk death for God's Kingdom in order to save others?
Remembrance Day each year is an occasion to soberly reflect on the sacrifice made by those who fought and died in two world wars to protect their country and pattern of government from tyrants. But as Canadian culture becomes increasingly pagan and self-centred, we may wonder whether there is enough loyalty to God and government left to motivate people to pay its price in defending it if it came down to the crunch. The Christian and Biblical foundations for supporting one's country and responding to a call to arms have been eroded. Humanism has taken over our education system; hedonism (living for pleasure) is champion in the cultural marketplace. Neither induces in people a sense of valiance or moral courage to tackle a common external enemy.
Tim LaHaye describes the five basic tenets of Humanism in the book "Mind Siege": Atheism, Evolution, Amorality, Autonomous Man, and Globalism. He writes, "Humanists view man as an autonomous, self-directed, godlike person with unlimited goodness and potential -- if his environment is properly controlled to let his free spirit develop...Humanism assumes that man is innately good and capable of solving his problems independently of any Supreme Being." LaHaye points out that Jean-Jacques Rousseau "is a most influential writer-philosopher for today's college youth. They study him vigorously, and most college philosophers are well versed in his thinking. Rousseau basically insisted that if man is good by nature, it follows that he stays like that as long as nothing foreign to him corrupts him." Yet Rousseau was a moral degenerate who lived for 16 years outside the bonds of marriage with his mistress in Paris, who bore him 5 illegitimate sons - all of whom he abandoned in the Paris General Hospital. LaHaye says, "History shows that autonomous thinking leads not to world betterment, or even human improvement, but to chaos. Rousseau's philosophy, for example, was a major factor in producing the French Revolution, which wreaked its havoc not only on royalty but also on the poor. Today's philosophy of education is obsessed with self-actualization, self-image, self-love, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, self-satisfaction - self, self, self." That runs counter to submitting to authority, which any soldier will tell you is a basic requirement of service involving deadly force.
In the humanistic worldview, autonomy goes along with globalism. Throw off those petty national interests - think "one world"! LaHaye gives examples of humanists who have held top posts in UNESCO, UNICEF, and the UN's World Health Organization. To them, nationally-oriented patriotism is passé. Humanist Corliss Lamont describes humanism as "the philosophic counterpart of world patriotism", adding, "The principle around which the United Nations and the International Court of Justice are organized is that the scope of national sovereignty must be curtailed and that nations must be willing to accept, as against what they conceive to be their own self-interest, the democratically arrived at decisions of the world community." Walter Cronkite in a speech to the World Federalist Association at the United Nations in October 1999 remarked, "Of course, we Americans will have to give up some of our sovereignty."
When I was sworn in as a chaplain in the reserves, I pledged willingness to lay down my physical life if necessary on behalf of the Crown (visualizing not just the Queen but my family and fellow Canadians). That kind of loyalty is not fostered by humanism which believes people can manage fine without God, and we are so perfect that a one-world government will solve our problems. "There are no atheists in foxholes": giving our all to God is the only basis for true peace and good government, for then we are at least aware of our capability for evil intent.
Caught in an Ambush
Phil Downer was one of three Marines in a machine-gun team in Vietnam back in 1967. Three days after Phil was made team leader, their company was pinned down in rice paddies. Phil's platoon was making a maneuver when a sniper gunned down the machine gun team. A bullet hit Phil's pack, knocking him down, but he was unharmed. However John Atkinson who was carrying the weapon was dead before he hit the ground - he'd been the sniper's main target. Phil realized that if it had been 3 days earlier, he'd have been the one carrying the gun. He says, "As absorbed as I was with the death of another friend, I came to a startling realization: John had taken my place in death."
The battle raged into the night. While pinned down, taking fire from all sides, Phil bargained with God, promising, "God, if You get me out of this, I'll do anything. I'll make something out of my life. I'll join a church." And God did get him out of it. Eventually Phil returned to the states, married, and became a successful trial attorney. But life was empty. Phil says, "We had lucrative professional careers and all the stuff the TV commercials told us we needed." Their marriage was tense; Phil had an explosive temper. However at a business luncheon one day, Paul Johnson the speaker talked about how God was the driving force in his life. Phil recalls, "It was the first time I had ever heard anyone other than a clergyman speak with conviction about God. He was speaking from His heart about Someone he knew personally and intimately. But the strongest impression as that despite his own business pressures and responsibilities, Paul communicated a sense of peace I could not even imagine." Paul began reading the Bible. One verse stood out - Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Just as John Atkinson had died in Phil's place. A short while later, Phil gave his life to Christ, who healed his marriage, cured his temper, and gave him the sense of peace he had seen in Paul Johnson.
Phil had been ambushed by Viet Cong. Jesus had been trapped by the Pharisees and Sadducees. The loyalties of both were tested. Jesus maintained giving God His due in your life is every bit as important as paying your taxes - much more profound in fact. Phil realized Jesus had taken his place on the cross and died for him in love much as the other team member had taken his place from 3 days before. Real peace and security - for us, our families, our country - becomes possible when we let God be the driving force, the ultimate loyalty in our life. God knows you - knows your inmost thoughts; Jeremiah (12:3) said, "You know me, O Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you." Escape the trap - know Him today. Then you need not fear death or taxes. Let's pray.