Simply Jesus Pt. 28: "No One Can Serve Two Masters"

During this election cycle, I have had several conversations with folks revolving around what it means to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Though I addressed those simple words of Christ in a previous blog, I feel like God has recently revealed to me a critical aspect of the issue I was overlooking in the past.

When trying to determine what limits of authority and control Caesar should have on a Christian’s life, Christians usually start by attempting to determine what it means to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Or, they look at how Christian’s interacted with various governing bodies in Scripture.

Though beginning with Caesar may seem like a natural starting point, I submit to you that doing so is getting the cart before the horse. 

Jesus doesn’t merely tell us to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s. He also commands us to render to God what is God’s. Since God, not Caesar, is Lord of heaven and earth, shouldn’t we therefore begin by ascertaining what it means to render to God what is God’s before attempting to please Caesar?

After all, doesn’t God call us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind? Haven’t we been set apart especially for Him? Doesn’t God work in us to achieve His good purpose? Doesn’t the kind of worship He desires require us to be living sacrifices for Him and to not be conformed to the world? Doesn’t God call us to not get entangled in the affairs of this world, but rather to seek to please Him, our true Commander in Chief?

Unfortunately, those truths are usually given little attention in today’s culture where Christians are masterfully manipulated day and night with propaganda from the enemy to put our hopes in worldly philosophies instead of the kingdom of God.

And how does the evil one manipulate us? Through our loves and our fears, just like he’s been doing for thousands of years.

Watch this dynamic unfold in this scene from the Gospel of Luke:

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. – Luke 16:13-14

Why did the Pharisees mock and deride Jesus? Because their hope was in the worldly philosophy that, practically speaking, greed is good. Because He then called out their security. Because He called out their mistress. Because He called out their real god.

If Jesus told you that you are more devoted to your cash and country than you are to His kingdom, would you listen to Him or laugh in His face?

Once in a discussion with a Christian about this topic, I asked which had more positive impact on the world: voting in an election or making a new disciple of Jesus. To my absolute shock, without hesitation the man said that voting absolutely has a more positive impact because it can keep the worst people out of office.

A worldview like this will definitely lead a person to be a passionate voter, but how will it affect one’s adherence to the simple words of Christ?

I don’t know much, but I do know this: What we believe is evidenced by our behavior. If you asked one of the Pharisees in Luke 16 if they loved God, they would’ve quickly and strongly affirmed that they did. Yet, when God Himself challenged them to choose Him over their money, they mocked Him like He was a complete idiot.

Another thing I’ve learned in my 12 years of being in ministry, is that it’s difficult to counsel people who are madly in love. You can point out warning signs to them, and to your face they may act like they’re hearing every word. However, much of the time they’re not going to pay any mind to the red flags you try to bring to their attention. Or, they may possibly get belligerent with you when you do. And the reason for these reactions is they’ve already made up their minds that this person is the answer to their prayers. 

If we give ourselves first to significant others, over time there’s going to be less and less given to God. If we give ourselves first to Caesar, over time we will grow to be devoted to him while despising the way of Jesus… and the insidious thing is, most of us won’t even realize it. We don’t see it, but God does.

“You cannot serve two masters.” He has served an earthly master in that … he has been more obedient to human authority than to God. … He will not be able to escape and avoid God his judge. … He sees the heart and mind of every person; and He will judge not alone of our deeds, but even of our words and thoughts. He looks into the minds, and the wills, and conceptions of all men, in the very lurking-places of the heart that is still closed up. – Cyprian 250CE, Volume 5, p. 778 [CD-ROM]

So, during this election cycle, who do you hate? Who do you love? Who do you despise? Who are you devoted to? Who have you rendered yourself to first? Who do you serve?  What aspects of politics cause you to scoff at the words and way of Jesus? Whose side are you on?

May we remember that Jesus said those who are on the side of truth listen to Him.

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” – John 18:36-37 (NRSV)

Simply Jesus Pt. 12: “Render to Caesar What Is Caesar’s…”

In Mark 12, a group of Pharisees and Herodians attempt to trap Jesus in His words. They ask Him if they should pay taxes to Caesar or not. Evidently, this tax was wildly unpopular with the Jews and viewed as extremely unfair. 

To make matters worse, the tax of a denarius coin bore the image of the Emperor on it, with an inscription declaring the Emperor to be the son of god. To a pious Jew, this coin and tax were both idolatrous and blasphemous. You can therefore understand why a large portion of them wanted to rebel and not pay.

Desiring to have Him killed, they knew that if Jesus outright said not to pay the tax, he would be guilty of treason against the Empire. However, if He outright said to pay the tax, many of the people would turn on Him. They thought they had Him trapped. They thought wrong.

“Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” They brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” – Mark 12:15-17

The command, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,” is one of the most widely interpreted statements of Jesus I’ve ever heard. I’ve seen folks use this quote to support voting, becoming a participant in war, justify racist societal laws that were in direct violation of God’s commands and other ideas that have nothing to do with the passage.

Seldom if ever do I witness teachers use this passage to instruct others to pay the required taxes to the federal government. I wonder why that is.

Americans aren’t fans of taxes. Most people aren’t, but Americans have a special distaste for them. I believe it goes back to the indoctrination of our elementary school days.

My son took American History two years ago in 5^th grade. One of the lessons he was taught about the American Revolution is that the Colonists were justified in rebelling against the British because they were being taxed without representation in Parliament and that was unconstitutional. Have you heard that?

First, the Colonists never sought representation in Parliament. They knew that because they comprised only 1/7 of the British population, even with representation in Parliament, laws like the Stamp Act still would have easily passed and the Americans would have no excuses left.

The claim of the unconstitutionality of the Colonies being taxed without representation is also a fabrication of history. England absolutely had the constitutional right to tax the Colonies without them being represented in Parliament. Nothing in any of the Colonies' charters afforded them the right to a seat in Parliament. Also, none of England’s other Colonies had direct representation in Parliament.

What’s ironic is that though many claim the Colonies had a duty to rebel against the British tyrant, the USA has assumed much of the role of mythological England in its relationship with Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a US commonwealth/territory where all persons born there are US citizens.

However, everyone born in Puerto Rico has to live by US laws, pay US taxes, and cannot vote. Worse than that, all Puerto Rican males have to register for the draft, and therefore have been forced to fight in Vietnam, Korea, the Pacific and Europe. Taxation and conscription without representation.

I guess by Colonial American standards, they have a duty to rebel against a tyrant. … And that’s when you hear modern American Christians say, “Bu bu but Jesus told us to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.”

And they are right. That’s the historical, orthodox position of the Church. Pay your taxes whether you like them or not.

And everywhere we, more readily than all men, endeavor to pay to those appointed by you the taxes both ordinary and extraordinary, as we have been taught by Him; for at that time some came to Him and asked Him, if one ought to pay tribute to Caesar; and He answered, “Tell Me, whose image does the coin bear?” And they said, “Caesar’s.” And again He answered them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” – Justin Martyr 160CE, Volume 1, p. 257 [CD-ROM]

We American Christians have always had a complicated relationship with the State. We say that we want separation between Church and State, but then lament over laws keeping us from praying in school, conducting ‘See You at the Pole’ days, or when godly politicians (whatever that means) aren’t elected into office.

In our Sunday gatherings, we talk about the Church being the hands and feet of Jesus, but as soon as we walk out the doors, we revert right back to our core belief that Caesar is our practical Immanuel.

Maybe you’re thinking, “That’s not me. I don’t worship the State. I worship God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Maybe you’re right. But just for kicks, I’ve included a Jeff Foxworthy-ish type of test for Christians to gauge their devotion to the false master of the State. Fill in the blanks with, “You might worship Caesar.”

v If the President or prospective President frequently evokes in you extreme emotions such as joy/elation, depression/hopelessness, rage/hatred, or panic/dread, ________________________.

v If you get emotional when you hear The National Anthem or God Bless America, but can’t remember the last time you cried in church, _____________________.

v If you proudly sing The National Anthem and God Bless America at public gatherings, but you keep quiet when it’s time to sing in church, _____________________.

v If the number of times you’ve voted in governmental elections exceeds the number of people you’ve personally led to receive Jesus as Lord, _______________________.

v If you’ve ever cussed someone out or lost a friendship over that person saying something cruel about your favorite politician, _____________________.

v If you full-on celebrate when America’s enemies are killed, ____________________.

v If you feel much more comfortable sharing your political views with strangers than your testimony, _________________________.

If you can honestly say ‘yes’ to any of the statements above, I want to encourage you to bring that to God in prayer. Biblically speaking, the piece of land known as the USA is not responsible for any of the good things in your life. It hasn’t given you anything.

God is the giver of every good and perfect gift, and everything in the world belongs to Him since He is our creator. That means all that we are and have is a gift of God; therefore, we owe Him our undivided allegiance. As Jesus said, “Give to God what belongs to God.”