Matthew 22:15-23; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Grace peace and mercy from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The timing of the Gospel and Epistle readings and the elections is very interesting. This presidential election has been one of the most divisive that I can remember and some commentators echo that same feeling. Unfortunately, the media and internet fuel the divisiveness by what is reported, not reported, and just made up. Neither ticket is perfect; I think it’s that human factor at work.
I’ll admit I get caught up in it at times although I do try to keep up my shields against the onslaught. And I’ll also admit that one ticket makes me want to chew on a Tums from time to time while the other makes me want to chew the whole role. Frankly we focus too much blame on presidents, the real problem is that we have career politicians in congress and public apathy allows them to keep those positions. As a nation we have not been good citizens.
Every major election brings some anxiety but this time many are concerned about the impact the election will have on an ailing economy, national security, and national morality.
In the Gospel reading Jesus is once again under attack from the religious leaders. They tried to trap Him with a question that was intended to be a no win situation. “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
If Jesus says no the Romans will arrest Him, if He says yes then the people will turn on Him.
Jesus responds, “Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Jesus gave them a very politically astute answer. In fact it’s the kind of answer any modern day politician would envy, the perfect non-answer.
Although His answer may be a non-answer on the surface, it does have a much deeper meaning. Giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s implies we are under the authority of worldly governments as well as the ultimate authority, God. Later on Jesus will tell Pilate the only reason he has power over Him is because God allows it.
As Jesus implies we are citizens of two governments the worldly and the kingdom of God. The governments of the world for better or worse are given their authority by God so that they can be used to fulfill His plans. Places where the church is flourishing are places where the local authorities try to suppress it. People in those countries are clinging to their faith even under the threat of imprisonment and death. The hope of eternal life is very real for them.
On the other hand the place where the church has freedom to worship it is dying. The saying, you don’t know what you have until you lose it, is very fitting for those countries. Perhaps we need a little persecution for us to reevaluate what is important. I pray that this may never happen in the United States. I would like to think that America won’t need something that extreme to turn back to God.
That thought leads us to the Epistle lesson. Paul, Silas and Timothy were forced to leave Thessalonica by local Jewish instigators that started a riot. We learn from Acts that Paul had only spent about three weeks in Thessalonica. The hurried exit left a lot of teaching incomplete in a congregation that was under persecution. The trio traveled to Berea from Thessalonica but was followed by some of the Jews from Thessalonica again forcing a quick exit.
Paul was concerned about the church in Thessalonica, so he sent Timothy there to see how they were fairing. When Timothy reports back to Paul the news is beyond his expectation. Not only has the fledgling church survived the persecution it is thriving.
The fledgling church did have one problem, their understanding of the end of the times, the doctrine of eschatology. Paul writes,”…wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
Paul is saying to wait for Jesus, Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come, and we have confidence because He was raised from the dead. Essentially Paul is saying the end of the story is already set. Jesus will come to rescue us from God’s wrath. Unfortunately, many today see the end as Jesus coming to deliver God’s wrath. The point of the whole Christian message is that Jesus saves us from God’s anger.
As I think about these two readings it is obvious that God is in control. He does have a plan and that involves us to be good citizens of both governments. To be good citizens we need to be good stewards of the freedoms He has provided by making informed decisions about candidates and by voting.
As we gather information about the candidates we need to match our findings to God’s commands to make an informed decision. The tough part is all of the distractions that draw us away from the important question, what does God want me to do?
When we look to the cross and use it to filter out the noise of this world decisions are clear. The distractions are very powerful; however the message of the cross is greater. The message is black and white not the gray of distractions in this world. We become the good citizens we should be by using the cross as our filter. Good citizens of the Kingdom and good citizens of our country.
Better yet we have confidence in our decision and in the outcome, the course is set. Jesus died to set the course for His people. He journeyed to the cross to give each of us a very special message; I owe you nothing but want to give you everything. It may not appear that way at any given moment but Jesus will surely fulfill His promises to us.
A few weeks ago as a congregation we decided that our purpose for existence was Jesus. Nothing else matters than fulfilling the mission Jesus put before us. Our focus on the cross provides the answers we seek. The distractions are great but we are going to use the filter of the cross to shut them out. The distractions are really roadblocks no matter how noble they seem. We are going to serve others and share the good news in deeds and words. That kind of dedication can only strengthen us as good citizens.
The message of the cross gives us the bold confidence to show our neighbors there is hope and peace despite the anxieties of this world. May our strong steady efforts open the door for the Holy Spirit to transform those we serve.
In the name of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
