Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Then he said to them “Whose head is this and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
What is it exactly that belongs to God and what is it that is the emperor’s, or in our worldview the state and the nation’s? Our coins and our bills bear the images of former presidents and state they belong to the United States of America, so since they are the product of our country, so we pay taxes with it. But what is it that is God’s? Well, if we say that money is the governments because it bears the image of the Government and its leaders, then what is it that bears the image of God? Genesis 1:27 “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” We are created in the image of God, each and every one of us. While still in our mother’s womb we were formed by our loving Creator and imprinted with His image, and filled with His Holy Spirit. We are created and owned not by a country or a state, but rather by God Himself.
Everything that we are and everything that we have is because of God and is God’s. So when Christ says “give to God the things that are God’s” it means to give your entire being over to God, everything that you are, everything that have is to be given over to glorifying God, in every action, with every word, with every breath.
And this is still hard to do today. Everywhere we look we see something to put our faith in, something to believe in more than God, something to lean on. We look at our money, that which is made by the government and not by God, these pieces of paper, or pieces of plastic, and we put our faith in those. We begin to have our lives wrapped up in trying to make as many of these pieces of paper as we can, in the vain hope that we can buy happiness. Or we put our faith in our country, in our flag. Yet we know from history that all countries falter and fade in time and we know that they are not perfect, but rather are made and run by humans, with human agendas and desires for power. And we fear being outcast and called “UnAmerican” if we dare speak out against anything the government does or say that it is less important than God. Yet we are called to be citizens of the Kingdom of God and agents of it above our citizenship to earthly powers.
So when the government asks for money, paper and metal covered with its insignias and image, they can have it. After all, government exists for the purpose of keeping an orderly world, one which will not fall into anarchy, so we should respect our earthly authorities and obey its rules, provided they do not go against the will of God. And yes, we can serve in the military, in order that lives may be protected. Our government, as are all governments and nations in this world, are a gift from God that helps to keep the peace and maintain order. At times they may be corrupted by the desires of humanity, but their purpose remains the same gift. But our true citizenship is not with these earthly powers, but instead we are owned and we are to follow the one whose image we bear, God.
So our dream is not the American Dream, that which entails the gaining of resources and money for personal gain. Instead we are called to God’s reign, that which is more than a dream and meets the needs of more than the individual. We are called to a higher purpose in our lives than the quest for money and easy living. The Dalai Lama was once asked what most confused him about humanity and he answered “Man. Because he sacrifices his health for money. Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present. The result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as though he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
How many of us die having never truly lived, die having fruitlessly chased after money and fame, planning solely for all the things we might do once we have money, but never had the chance to do them. Or how often do we sacrifice the things that we want to do for one another and for our families because we say we have no time, but then spend all of our time either working or sitting in front of the TV or playing on facebook. I know that is part of my problem. After I get home the last thing I want to do is more work, so I just crash. But could not my time be spent better, could not all of our time be spent better? Instead of having any regrets about how our hours are spent, wondering if they are wasted or not, why don’t we challenge ourselves and use those moments to further the kingdom of God, by spending more time playing with our children and getting to know them, by educating ourselves more about the world that is around us and how we can make a positive change in the world, by volunteering and helping those who are in need. That is how we serve God, in whose image we have been formed and with whose Spirit we are made alive.
In confirmation this week, we discussed what the expectations are for a Christian. These expectations are laid out in our service for the Affirmation of Baptism, also known as the confirmation service. It says “You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in Holy Baptism: to live among God’s faithful people, to hear his Word and share in his supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of our Lord Jesus. And to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?” and the confirmands answer “I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.”
That can be some pretty hard stuff to do at times. Proclaiming the good news of God in Christ Jesus can be scary. The talking part is bad enough for many of us. According to our national bishop, Mark Hanson, the average Lutheran invites a person to church once every 30 years, so about 3 times in a person’s life. Once every thirty years. And yes, its hard. For one, many of our friends may already go to churches and we do not want to steal them. So instead we are called to speak with those whom do not believe or have fallen away from their faith, both scenarios carrying their own dangers of rejection and fear of saying the wrong thing. Yet we are called to trust that God will help and guide us in these times.
As for serving others and striving for justice and peace, this almost goes against our culture. After all, when one achieves the American Dream one gets to be served for once instead of serving others, and one get to sit back and relax instead of striving for anything, let alone striving for others. But again, we are not called to the American Dream, but instead are called towards God’s kingdom, called to serve and to strive. In our baptisms we die to Sin, that which looks inward and focuses on ourselves, and we are made alive in God, to a life that is one of service, both to the symptoms and the diseases of this world. We know the symptoms well, such as poverty, depression, hunger, and fear. And we fight these symptoms, with our giving to charity, with the gift of prayer shawls and the prayers that come along with them, with volunteering after natural disasters and so much more. And we are called to seek out the diseases of this world and fight against those as well – racism, injustice, sexism, and more. We fight these through learning and educating, by serving as examples and by correcting each other when we falter and begin to sink into those habits that cause pain and oppression to others.
We do this all united together as the body of Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit in our Baptisms, filled with Christ at Communion, and created by our loving Father at our births. We are the very image of God in all of God’s three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So may we live our lives accordingly and seek to further God’s kingdom and may our sacrifices be fitting of that identity.
Amen.
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