What Belongs to God

Matthew 22:21 (NRSV):
 “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.’”

Once upon a time, November 5th was just an odd British holiday. Guy Fawkes Day.

The name alone conjures images of bonfires, fireworks, and masks more familiar from movies than history books. The holiday originated to mark the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, an attempt by Guy Fawkes and others to blow up the British Parliament in protest of anti-Catholic laws. It was a foiled rebellion, and the date was kept for years as a kind of state loyalty celebration: "Remember, remember, the fifth of November."

Americans, by and large, didn’t remember.

And if they did, it was only from a film or a mask worn by internet anarchists.

But something changed.

Ever since January 6, 2021, this old foreign holiday hits differently.

 I confess, I dread November 5th now.

 And not because of history, but because of its uncomfortable echoes: of mobs who confuse violence with virtue, of people who wrap God in a flag and storm the institutions of democracy, of Christians who forget the cross and pick up pitchforks.

Now January 6 and November 5 feel like dark cousins. I try not to watch the footage again, but I do. And I grieve. Because it wasn’t just the Capitol that was breached that day, it was our witness. And for many of us who preach, pastor, and pray, we’re still rebuilding what was broken.

But Jesus does not leave us without guidance.

In Matthew 22, Jesus is asked a loaded political question.

The Pharisees and Herodians come together, strange bedfellows, united by their desire to trap him. They ask:
 "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

It’s a trap, of course.
 If he says yes, he alienates the people who resent Roman occupation.
 If he says no, he’s an insurrectionist.

But Jesus, calm, clear, unmoved, asks for a coin.
 "Whose image is on this?"
 "Caesar’s."
"Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s... and to God what is God’s."

Now, let’s not misunderstand. Jesus isn’t drawing a line between the sacred and secular.
 He’s not saying, “Politics over here, God over there.”

 He’s saying something far deeper.
The coin bears Caesar’s image.
 But you, child of God, you bear the image of the Creator.

The implication is stunning:
 You give Caesar his coin, but you give your whole self to God.

You belong to God.
 Your values, your ethics, your heart, your allegiance.

And when institutions ask for more than coins, when they demand your soul, your blind loyalty, your silence in the face of injustice, you remember who made you.

This verse is not about taxes. It’s about integrity in the face of power.
It’s about how Christians should navigate corrupt systems without becoming complicit.
It’s about why you don’t follow the mob, even when the mob claims to speak for God.
It’s about why the kingdom of heaven does not need a national holiday,
 why the cross is never to be carried alongside a weapon,
 and why faithfulness is not proven by shouting, but by service.

So when people justify violence in Jesus' name, 
 When people twist Scripture to prop up authoritarianism, 
 When they glorify failed rebellions and dress them in religious clothes, 
 You say:
 "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, but render unto God what is God’s."

And I’ll tell you this:
 Your hate doesn’t belong to God.
 Your fear doesn’t belong to God.
 Your tribalism doesn’t belong to God.

But your courage? That does.
 Your honesty? That does.
 Your compassion? Your peace-making?
 Your resistance to injustice, clothed in love and truth?
 That belongs to God.

Friends, Jesus never called us to harm others.
 He called us to lift burdens.

He never told us to conquer.
 He told us to serve.

He never told us to mimic empire.
 He told us to proclaim the kingdom.

And so today, as we live in the shadow of violent days, 
 As we remember Guy Fawkes with a bitter taste,
 And January 6 with a broken heart, 
 Let us remember this:

We were made for more.
 More than rage.
 More than performance.
 More than allegiance to any earthly throne.

We belong to the God who came not with power, but in peace.
 Not in domination, but in vulnerability.
 Not with threats, but with grace.

So give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.
 But don’t give him your soul.
 Don’t give him your witness.
 Don’t give him your faith.

That belongs to God.
And today, God is still speaking.
 Not through fire and fury,
 But through a still, small voice that says:
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."
Amen.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Small Man with a Large Shadow

Have you ever heard the phrase "Kowtow to Chairman Mao"? It refers to the extreme deference, loyalty, and submission demanded by Mao Zedong’s leadership during his rule over China (1949–1976). The phrase draws from the traditional Chinese practice of kowtowing, kneeling and bowing one’s head to the ground as a sign of deep respect, historically reserved for emperors and elders. Under Mao, this took on a political and ideological dimension, where unwavering obedience was expected not only in action but in thought. During Mao’s rule, particularly in the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), individuals were pressured to prove their devotion to Maoist thought. This meant publicly praising his policies, displaying his image in homes and workplaces, and memorizing his "Little Red Book" of quotations. Dissent, or even perceived lukewarm enthusiasm, could lead to public shaming, exile, or execution. The phrase also symbolizes the broader dangers of authoritarianism and enforc...
Read more

A Confession of Faith in a Time of Division and Injustice

We believe that God is a God of justice, mercy, and reconciliation. We believe that the church is called to bear witness to the truth, even when it is costly. We believe that Jesus Christ, in his life, death, and resurrection, has broken down the dividing walls of hostility, calling all people to belong in the household of God. And yet, we confess: That in a world where the stranger is persecuted and immigrants are treated as enemies, we have too often remained silent. We confess that God’s call to welcome the foreigner and care for the refugee has been ignored by those who claim His name. That in a time when nations justify conquest, power, and war under the guise of righteousness, we declare that the kingdom of God is not built on domination, but on peace, humility, and service to the least of these. We reject the pursuit of power at all costs, for we follow the One who refused to seize power but instead took the form of a servant. That Christian Nationalism is a false gospel, an ido...
Read more

The War on the Poor Was Never a Secret, It Was a Strategy

Poverty in America isn’t an act of God or some twist of fate. It’s a set of decisions made in smoke-filled rooms, boardrooms, and courtrooms by people who think struggle builds character, as long as it’s not theirs. Every time this country stood at a crossroads where we could’ve built a nation that treats dignity as a right, conservative power slammed the door. They did it with a smile, a flag pin, and a sermon about self-reliance. Don’t be fooled. The war on the poor has never been hidden. It’s been policy. After World War II, America could’ve locked in prosperity for everyone who worked. Organized labor was strong, wages were rising, and a middle class was being born. Then came the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, sold as “balance” between workers and bosses but written to break labor’s knees. It outlawed solidarity strikes, let states pass “right-to-work” laws that really mean “right-to-work-for-less,” and tied unions in legal knots. Truman vetoed it; Congress overrode him. That was the first...
Read more