Greetings in the name of Jesus!
The following is a pared down version of a past sermon from this time of year. But first, I want to thank the SPRC for being receptive to my plans for taking a renewal leave next year. Please read the letter on page 2 for more details.
As we move into November, we find ourselves in the midst of another campaign season. No, this is not a piece on who you should vote for as a Christian. Rather, elections bring an opportunity to think about the connection between politics and faith.
In Matthew 22:15-22, two unlikely allies team up to try to trap Jesus: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” And Jesus responds by asking for a coin, saying, “Whose image is on this coin?” And of course, the answer comes back, “Caesar’s.” “Well, then,” Jesus replies, “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And with those words Jesus settled once and for all the relationship between church and state! If only…lol.
I don’t believe Jesus was calling on us to compartmentalize our life into two categories – politics and faith – as if that were possible. I also don’t think Jesus was calling on Christians to have nothing to do with politics. To think that God doesn’t care about National policies that affect people, especially the poor and marginalized, doesn’t jive with scripture. But asking, “What is God’s and what is Caesar’s?” gets at something deeper. Keeping with the coin motif, we might ask ourselves, “In whom do we trust?” Dowe primarily look to Washington to transform society? Where do we place our hopes?
Where do we believe real power lies? Who do we - who long to see an end to injustice and oppression, to see everyone treated as our neighbor, to see kindness and charity prevail - depend upon as the source of change?
Will Willimon once told Jerry Falwell, Sr., that he would make a good Methodist because both seemed to feel the best way to change anything was to get close to those with power. (This was not a compliment to the UMC, by the way.) Power is seductive.
However, while I believe that voting, and working to implement policies and laws that mirror the values of God’s kingdom, is a legitimate goal for Christians to pursue, it is not the ultimate answer. If we place all our hopes for our country on what happens in this next election, then maybe we are giving to Caesar some of what is God’s.
Maybe Jesus’ coin calls us to consider where we place our hope to solve the problems of the world. Is it in the seats of power in places like Washington DC? Or is it in the body of Christ (or even the mirror…)? While supporting laws and policies that seek the common good is important and even necessary, let’s not forget that when Jesus sought to transform the world, he didn’t set up a political structure. He breathed his Holy Spirit into a motley bunch of followers and gave birth to the Church!
While it would be a lot easier to pin our hopes on one party or the other, and while I do believe God cares about the policies and actions of a nation, the real hope of transforming the world lies with you and me – called and empowered to carry on the work of Jesus.
Be well!
Pastor Wilson