Render Unto Caesar

 

 

The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus into saying something that would either violate Jewish law and anger the Sanhedrin or would alarm the Roman authorities and cause a brutal response against him. Either situation would have served their purposes.

 

They asked a simple sounding but highly loaded question. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?

 

Jesus took a coin and asked whose image was on it. His answer was that Caesar has his place and God has his place. The authorities should be honored and obeyed, even those authorities with whom we personally disagree. Caesar’s image (Man) is on the coin; we are made in God’s image.

 

This passage means many things, many deep things, but it has temporal meaning also. Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s would mean that we are expected to be good peaceful citizens who fulfil their civic responsibilities and who avail themselves of their civic privileges. Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his sentence directly to Caesar.

 

This blog post is for every Christian in whatever political system they find themselves to be, but, right now, it is especially relevant to Christians in the United States of America. The election for President of the United States will be held on Tuesday 5 November 2024.

 

This particular election is being hotly contested and polling data shows that it is so close that it is statistically impossible to predict which candidate will win.

 

A very disturbing truth is that, apparently, many American Christians find both of the major candidates to be objectionable and have decided not to vote. I would urge them to listen to Jesus and to Paul the Apostle in Romans 13:1-7. Paul said this, and meant it, about a government which ultimately executed him. This was not blind obedience to a government but was a statement that government authority is to be considered to be legitimate.

 

The only valid reason to disobey the government is if, in order to obey the government, we would have to dishonor our ultimate allegiance to the Lord. Not liking the candidate choices available to us in an election does not seem to rise to that level.

 

Genesis 1:27; Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25; Acts 25:6-12.

Samaritan’s Purse 2024 Gift Catalog

 

For Christmas gifting, many people shop online or from gift catalogs for gifts picked specifically for friends and loved ones. The gifting tradition has many historical origins but ultimately, for Christians, derives from the three gifts brought for the baby Jesus by the wise men from the East. The secular Christmas tradition completely forgets or ignores this.

The Samaritan’s Purse 2024 Gift Catalog is a Christian option. For full disclosure, I have no connection to Samaritan’s Purse except as a donor. The catalog turns gift-giving around. The gift to your loved ones is a gift in their name to a person, family, or community hurting and in need.

Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian organization operating in over 100 countries. It carries out mission activities and disaster relief efforts and is run by Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham (1918-2018). www.samaritanspurse.org   1-828-262-4980. 1-800-353-5957. Their physical address is:

            Samaritan’s Purse

            P. O. Box 3000

            Boone, NC 28607 USA

The gift items are listed on this web page: www.samaritanspurse.org/catalog24  The suggested donations can be from an individual or a group. $ = US dollars.

1.      Feed a Hungry Baby: baby formula for a week. Suggested donation: $6.

2.      Provide Hot Meals for a Child: hot meals for a week. Suggested donation: $7

3.      Rescue Children in Crisis: shelter and daily needs, education. Suggested donation: $75

4.      Care for an Orphan: support orphanages and children’s homes. Suggested donation: $35

5.      Help a Family Survive a Disaster: supplies, water filters, food, temporary shelter, cooking kits, hygiene items. Suggested donation: $45

6.      Put a Stop to Human Trafficking: education. Suggested donation: $125

7.      Serve Desperate Refugees: food, shelter, etc. Suggested donation: $125

8.      Feed a Family: after natural disasters or war. Suggested donation: $35

9.      Bring Clean Water to a Community: water filters, pumps. Suggested donation: $75

10.  Give a Filter to a Family: water filter for clean water. Suggested donation: $100

11.  Drill a Village Well: Suggested donation: $10,000

12.  Honeybees: hives, equipment, training. Suggested donation: $20

13.  “Jesus Loves Me: Lambs: toy lambs that play the song, “Jesus Loves Me.” Suggested donation: $10

14.  Baby Chicks: chicks, a coop, eggs to eat or sell. Suggested donation: $14

15.  Blankets and Bedding: Suggested donation: $6

16.  Bless the Marriage of a Married Couple: Alaska wilderness lodge, marriage classes, airfare. Suggested donation: $6,000

17.  Send Help to Mission Hospital: airfare and lodging for volunteer medical professionals. Suggested donation: $50

18.  Provide Life-Saving Medical Care: airlifts, medical care. Suggested donation: $100

19.  Restore Sight to the Blind: cataract surgeries. Suggested donation: $40

20.  Provide Life-Saving Medical Equipment: refurbished donated equipment. Suggested donation: $25

21.  Help Repair a Cleft Lip: surgery. Suggested donation: $250

22.  Mend a Child’s Heart: heart procedures, lodging. Suggested donation: $2,200

23.  Send a New Missionary Doctor: Suggested donation: $100

24.  Equip a Hospital Chaplain for Ministry: Suggested donation: $500

25.  Build or Improve a Mission Hospital: Suggested donation: $35,000

26.  Build a House of Worship: Suggested donation: $15,000

27.  Give a Copy of God’s Word: Suggested donation: $10

28.  Stand with Persecuted Christians: build churches, family care. Suggested donation: $40

29.  Adopt a Shoebox: Shipping and other costs for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts: Suggested donation: $10

30.  Disciple a Child: material, teacher training, Bible. Suggested donation: $6

31.  Give a Dairy Goat: goat or other dairy animal for milk to drink or sell. Suggested donation: $70

32.  Give a Baby Kit: ultrasound, vitamins, diapers, wipes. Suggested donation: $75

33.  Plant a Grove of Trees: tree seedlings. Suggested donation: $45

The Rich Young Ruler Was a Pious Man

 

The rich young ruler was a pious man. He obviously was a highly observant Jew. He told Jesus, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth."

But, he was uneasily aware that something was missing in his life. He was relying on a works salvation instead of placing his faith in the Lord's grace.

"If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing."

Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-30; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:21.

The Rich Young Ruler

 

A pious and righteous rich young ruler (possibly a Pharisee) ran up to Jesus and asked him what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. He claimed to have kept all the usual rules but still felt that something was missing. Jesus said that he should sell everything he had and give the money to the poor. The young man sadly walked away.

Christians understand that you cannot "do" anything to earn salvation. It is a gift of God's grace. So what was this incident about? Jesus gently showed the young ruler what was wrong.

Some Christians would say we should not own private property since Jesus said to sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. They may be misreading what Jesus was saying. You are not saved by giving up something.

In Exodus 20:17, notice that the property belongs to the neighbor, not the community or the government. Nowhere does Jesus condemn ownership of private property. What he was saying on several occasions is "own your property, do not let your property own you." Use your property to help the homeless and the poor, to glorify the Lord, and to advance his kingdom.

The young ruler's real problem was that he loved his wealth and his position more than he loved God.  Loving your position and wealth is really about yourself.  All sin reduces down to the one real sin: SELF. We should love ourselves, because we are infinitely valuable. God spent the most infinitely valuable thing in the universe, the blood of his son, to save us, but loving self more than loving God is the essence of sin.

When you don't like what he says to you, it is a sign that you need to hear it.

Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-30; Ephesians 2:8-9.

Dog Poop in the Flower Bed

 

Recently I was on my walk when I noticed something which  made me shake my head in wonderment. Someone had taken the time to pick up their dog's poop into a bag, tie the bag shut, and then, they threw the bag into someone's flower bed. I guess at least they used the bag! The standard of dog poop etiquette is to carry the poop with you and properly dispose of it. This is a hot-button issue in many neighborhoods.

What does this have to do with this blog? Well, this is just a small demonstration of the fallen nature of man. It exhibits self-centeredness, laziness, and a disrespect for others and their property. 

We are told in 1 Peter 2:17 to "show proper respect to everyone..." Since we are all made in the image of God, to disrespect another person is to disrespect God. Abusing someone else's property is tantamount to stealing their ownership of that property. The owner has the right to say how their property is to be used.

Some Christians would say we should not own private property since Jesus said to sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. They may be misreading what he was saying. 

In Exodus 20:17, notice that the property belongs to the neighbor, not the community or the government. Nowhere does Jesus condemn ownership of private property. What he was saying on several occasions is "own your property, do not let your property own you." Use your property to help the homeless and the poor, to glorify the Lord, and to advance his kingdom.

The Gospels

              Modern history can basically be described as two types. Geschicte, a German word meaning in English “story.” This is a factual recounting of what happened, giving dates, events, and provable facts.

The other type of history is described by the French word, histoire. This is an attempt to explain the meaning of things which have happened and why the events are important. There have been many different attempts to interpret history from widely varying viewpoints: religion, politics, feminism, LGBTQ interests, economics, military themes, and philosophy, are just a few.

All four of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) contain elements of both types of history to varying degrees. Mark and Luke are more historical while Matthew and John are more interpretive. All four are considered to be historical biographical narratives presented for theological treasons.

Unlike many modern biographies, none of the Gospels attempt to exhaustively tell us everything that Jesus ever did or said. John 20: 30-31 even tells us, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” NIV

The gospels are all written to present their good news using different approaches and emphases. They want to tell us who Jesus was and what he did for us. They are theological documents.

Matthew stresses the Jewishness of Jesus. He shows how Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah who fulfills the Hebrew scriptures.

Mark shows Jesus in fast, urgent, and determined action. He does what only God can do. He is the Christ, the suffering Son of God.

Mark repeatedly uses the phrase kai εὐθὺς “and immediately.” This phrase carries the idea of “without any delay or hesitation” or even of “suddenly.” Mark stresses the urgency of Jesus’ message to which we should respond immediately.

Luke was a physician and a detailed historian. He had a scientific approach to his writing, seeking out eyewitnesses to the events he related. He wanted to show how Jesus fit into God’s plan for history.

            John is the most overtly theological of the gospels. He presents Jesus as the pre-existent God revealing himself to man. He clearly states the purpose of his book in John 20:31. “ … these are written that you may believe^[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” NIV

Modern Names of Places Mentioned in the Bible

 

Acts: 27:2  Adramytium (Burhaniye, Turkey)

Amos 1:12 Bozrah (Bouseira, Jordan)

Acts 9:32  Lydda (Lod, Israel)

Acts 20:14  Mitylene (Mytilene, Greece)

Jonah 1:2 and Matthew 12:41  Ninevah (Mosul, Iraq)