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I am a born-again Christian, who is Reformed, but also charismatic, spiritually speaking. (I do not speak in tongues, but I believe glossalalia is a bona fide gift not given to all, and not as great as prophecy, for example.) I have several years of college education but only completed a two-year degree. I was raised Lutheran and confirmed, but I didn't "find Christ" until I was in the Army and responded to a Billy Graham crusade in 1973. I was mentored or discipled by the Navigators in the army and upon discharge joined several evangelical, Bible-teaching churches. I was baptized as an infant, but believe in believer baptism, of which I was a partaker after my conversion experience. I believe in the "5 Onlys" of the reformation: sola fide (faith alone); sola Scriptura (Scripture alone); soli Christo (Christ alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory). I affirm TULIP as defended in the Reformation.. I affirm most of The Westminster Confession of Faith, especially pertaining to Providence.
Showing posts with label Caesar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caesar. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Rendering To Caesar And To God Their Due

 It was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German playwright, who quipped:  "To rule is easy, to govern difficult."  Also, don't forget Plutarch, Italian poet, who said wisely, "Who shall govern the governor?"  It was Rev. Samuel Rutherford who said that the law is the king, not the king who is the law, writing Lex Rex, or the law is the king translated, setting up the rule of law in Western Europe and restraining the so-called divine right of kings like King John who had to submit to the nobles at Runnymede and sign the Magna Charta.  The Bible has always been considered the basis of  Common Law in the UK.  Note that in democracies we have the right to express ourselves, protest, and do whatever opposition requires in the spirit of the Reformation: I dissent, I disagree, I protest!  That refers to civil disobedience delineated by Henry David  Thoreau but articulated in the Bible as well in Acts 5:29 when the apostles said, "We ought to obey God rather than men."  

Yes, we have the right to oppose the government when it is immoral and goes against the Bible's orders or guidelines.  Even St. Augustine of Hippo said that an unjust law is no law at all.  And Isaiah said, "Woe is the one who decrees unrighteous decrees" (cf. Isa. 10:1).  This all goes to show that Christians ought not to stand on the sidelines but show their Christian colors and dare to be Daniels who stood alone in his defiance of the king's decree. 

Now, Christians have dual citizenship and must be loyal, patriotic, and good upright citizens where possible but there comes a time to take a stand and be ready to be counted besides going to the polls. We respect our leaders and obey them but that doesn't mean we have to like them--we are still obliged to pray for their enlightenment and to be good leaders as well as safety.  But it can go too far when we focus on hero worship and idolize our leaders even like seeing them with charisma such as Hitler mesmerizing his crowds of adoring fanatic followers. This type of devotion or loyalty to a man and not the truth and God is akin to idolatry and no man owes any other man what is due to God alone!  We depend upon God and seek His guidance, not the government's.  This is especially bad when a leader demands personal loyalty and agreement. 

We are here not just to earn a buck and make a living but to make a difference (especially eternally for God and His kingdom). That's why we say in America:  In God we trust!  Jesus did say to render to Caesar that which is Caesar's and that means his taxes, prayer support, obedience, and proper respect so as not to bad mouth or spread disinformation or even misinformation--no conspiracy theories or fabrications; all amounting to good citizenship.    We owe God all that we are: our time, talents, energy, relationships, opportunities, money, etc.  But note that the government is obliged to be sure that employers don't exploit workers but give them their due wages.  Soli Deo Gloria!