Praying for the Leaders of the World, And for Our Country

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

In my devotions for Friday, July 8, the assigned Gospel lesson included the reading from Matthew 22, relating Jesus’ disputations when He was in the temple the week before his crucifixion.  When tested by a group of religious leaders about paying taxes Jesus spoke words about taxes and government that continue to bring wisdom and truth for our day.  Asked if Jews should pay taxes to the Romans, Jesus responds, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:21 b)

 

Before continuing on this train of thought about government and taxes, however, I need to say that God’s truth is not simply the passing thinking of one day or time.  God’s truth is true for all times.  We find this truth from God in Scripture (John 17:17).  Unfortunately, we do not always totally understand what God says or reveals.  But the truth of God is guidance for our lives and is therefore worth studying, worth discerning, and worth taking into the way that we live. 

 

With this in mind, that the truth of God gives guidance for all time no matter what popular thinking says, these words from Jesus about Caesar are especially relevant.  First, this past week our nation celebrated the occasion our country’s birthday.  God rules the nations (Psalm 2) and establishes government (Romans 13).  Therefore, because, in His wisdom, God has a hand in government, we in turn have responsibilities.  Our responsibility is to, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

 

Yet, my devotion not only quoted Matthew 22, but it also told the story of what Lutheran pastor, Peter Muhlenberg, did in January of 1776.  Muhlenberg walked into church in his robes on a Sunday morning, and then during the service he tore his robes off to reveal the uniform of a colonel in the army of the American Revolution.  The state of Virginia chose to have two people commemorated with statues in the U.S. Capitol building.  Muhlenberg is one of those two people.  His statue shows him pulling apart his robes to reveal his military uniform.

 

The poem about Muhlenberg in my devotion then quotes Ecclesiastes 3.  “1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: . . . 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,8). 

 

Now, these verses can seem contradictory.  How can we believe the words about paying taxes to Caesar the same time that we consider that there is a time for peace, but also a time for war?  God’s truth is not always simple.  Because God’s wisdom and ways are higher than our ways, it may seem at times that God’s words include contradictions.  Instead, God’s word includes paradox, where two truths that seem contradictory to us are true at the same time in God’s order.  You see, God’s words are truth, not easily understood, and therefore are worthy of study. 

 

Both these verses reveal truth.  God has established governments to curb the evil and violence of mankind.  Governments are supposed to provide peace (1 Timothy 2:2) by rewarding good behavior and punishing evil behavior (Romans 13: 3-4).  Therefore, we should "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's,”  

 

In addition, there is a time for war and a time for peace.  Since the government of his day was not rewarding good, Muhlenberg acted to uphold justice, which he believed the government of his time was refusing to do.  So the people of his state honored him with a statue.

 

All of these thoughts lead us to consider another event that just happened in our nation, in Dallas, where many policemen were killed by a sniper from ambush.  Again we unfortunately see evil in our world that caused God to send His Son to redeem a sinful world.

 

God has established authority.  This authority is to provide peace and order through justice.  When our authorities are indeed working to provide law and order, God calls government to respond by bringing the wrongdoers to justice.

 

On the surface what is right may seem simple, but not always.  The ways of God provide truth which gives guidance to our lives.  It is not easy to be a leader, a person with the responsibility of authority over others.  So, I am praying that God is the Lord and Ruler of my life.  And, I praying that those who govern and exercise authority in our world follow the wisdom of God as well.    I am praying for my country, and praying for all the nations of the world so that we may, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

 

A Child of God, Praying for the Leaders of the World, and for our Country,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Here are some pictures from vacation.  There has been a lot of golf, and some family time.  Fishing comes on Monday.   https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/6304994074826654001

 

 

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am regularly adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.

 

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