Give to Caesar

This Sunday at connecT we are spending some time talking around Matthew 22: 21: 'Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's'. Some argue that this text is about separating church and state, or excluding faith perspectives in political discussion. It has been used to try and exclude Christians from sharing a Christian perspective on issues such as asylum seekers, poverty and greed, war, and other moral and ethical issues. Some argue that people of faith should leave their faith behind, and speak solely from a secular perspective on political issues. There is in the modern mindset the myth that we can separate things, such as faith and politics, in a bi-polar fashion. It is called dualism, and Jesus is not advocating dualism here, I believe.

The foundational issue for the Pharisees and Herodians was about paying taxes. Paying taxes to Caesar was seen as an insult to them; especially so, when it included the image of an alternative deity to God: Caesar 1). Jesus' simple question/answer: whose head is on it? Caesar's: well give it back to him, then. My take on this: put God first, and then everything else falls into place. Money has its place, paying taxes has its place, being engaged in politics, certainly, has its place. In fact, putting God first enables us to make sure all the other things are put in their rightful place. It isn't about separation, but inclusion. Including what we call the 'secular' into the broader vision of God's Kingdom, which is inclusive of all things. It is also about not be distracted away from the bigger task of proclaiming by word and action God's reign on earth.

Now: your thoughts?

Chris

Tom Wright, 2012, Twelve Months of Sundays: Biblical meditations on the Christian year, Year A Proper 24, (SPCK, London) p. 115