What a beautiful and confusing week it's been.  The joy of Easter is always so refreshing after the sadness of Holy Week.  The warmth of this last week is so helpful after the wetness of the week before.  Easter came on April 11, and then taxes on April 15!  As Mallard Fillmore, that shy political duck, said in yesterday's cartoon, "It's such a roller coaster - from the sacred to the profane in just four days!"  From honoring God with joy to honoring government with money.  Indeed, what a change!

          Let's go backwards a little in Jesus' life.  Near the end of His ministry, some of the religious leaders sent their agents to Jesus hoping they would put Him in a tight spot.  These folks were not honestly seeking answers, just hoping to spring a trap on the Lord.  "Teacher," they said, "is it against our Law to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" (Matthew 22:17)   That's a question we all may have asked ourselves in the past week or two since April 15 "tax day" rolled around again.  Jesus knew what those men were up to, so He asked them a question:  "Whose face and name is on the coin?"  "Caesar's," they said.  "Well, then, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God." (Matt. 21:21-22)

          Thoughtful Christian people ever since have tried to understand exactly what Jesus meant that day, and that includes us.  It seems clear -- give the government what it deserves, and also give God what He deserves.  But just what does the government deserve from us, and also, what does God deserve from us?

          The answer to the first question is especially relevant when we realize the government may require of us something that conflicts with God.  Then what?  If the government passes a law that is in direct conflict with God's Word, what shall we do?  That's when we turn to the words of our text, "We must obey God rather than men!"

          There comes a time in every Christian's life when we will have to choose between following God and following the government.  The two certainly don't have much in common, and it seems these days that the government is more and more trying to slap God in the face, or at least His church.

          Let's get one thing clear from the start:  just because something is legal doesn't make it moral or godly.  Just because a law is passed allowing this or that act, doesn't make that act right.  Whenever human law conflicts with God's Word, Christians must follow God, not the government.  This isn't going to be easy, believe me!  Praise be to God there aren't many such laws on the books, but I have a strong feeling there will be some day.  God and government are on a collision course for the future.

          Consider the current push for same sex marriages.  How long until Christians are forced to accept this?  And if it becomes the law, how long will it be before pastors will be required to marry two men or two women?  Already today in Canada, a pastor can be prosecuted for speaking against homosexuality or homosexual marriage.  It's considered a hate crime there to even read in church the Bible passages that speak against that or similar socially moral topics.  Imagine, then, what would happen if a pastor taught youth that homosexuality was wrong.  He could be jailed.  Yet what can they do - ignore it?  Maybe so, but only at the church's peril.

          Last week Denver's Archbishop Chaput wrote that Catholics had better abide by Catholic teachings in their public life.  Interesting, since three of the candidates in the Senate race are Catholic, and they differ on abortion and social issues.  Fr. Chaput has taking some heat about what he wrote, but that's okay.  Christians need to "take heat" for what we believe.  We're usually too silent about moral issues.

          One day soon we're all going to have to take a stand.  If groups keep demanding acceptance of things contrary to God's Word, what will we do if they win?  Is being silent the right thing?  It's always harder to re-take a battlefield than to defend it.

          We cannot remain silent.  A man and his wife were going to someone's home for a party, and his wife said, "Now dear, remember -- don't talk about politics, sports, the economy, and especially not religion... just have fun!"  It seems to me we must talk about it!  We must always be ready to share what we believe. (1 Peter 3:15)

          We are to respect our leaders, even if the government isn't good.  Even a staunch government supporter like Martin Luther had trouble with the rulers of his day.  Yet he firmly believed, along with Jesus and the New Testament writers, that the government deserves our respect.  In Romans 13:1-7 St. Paul says that government leaders are God's servants and they carry out God's punishment on those who do evil.  "Pay your taxes, [he said], and show respect and honor to all government leaders."

          In 1 Peter 2:13-14, St. Peter says, "For the sake of the Lord submit yourselves to every human authority: to the Emperor... and those appointed to punish evildoers and to praise those who do good."

          Yet it was that same Peter who spoke the words of our text, "We must obey God rather than men!"  But Christians always have a higher priority.  What we do and how we treat each other is not based merely on laws of the land, or on rules of good behavior.  You are I are to be led by the Holy Spirit of God.  This Spirit produces "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23)   Governments cannot regulate that.  Only the Spirit can.

          Martin Luther once said we should even run for office.  He said, "If you see that there is a lack of judges or lords, hangmen or princes, and find that you are qualified, you should offer your services and the seek the position."  Luther also said, "God has ordained two governments or kingdoms... the SPIRITUAL, which by the Holy Spirit under Christ makes Christians, and the SECULAR, which restrains the evil desires of people, and tries to keep the peace outwardly, even people want to do evil."

          Christians may serve in all areas of government, and they should do their best, for the well-being of people and to honor God.  But as important as that service is, Christians must give first priority to God and what He deserves, in both obedience and in our gifts to Him of our time, talents and treasures.

          A Christian man spent several years working in an Arab Country in the Near East.  On a visit back home he related how difficult it was to live an active Christian life of worship and Bible Study where there were so many restrictions on being anything but a Muslim.  Nevertheless, he and other Christians still quietly got together to worship God and to discuss the Bible, talking about Jesus' death and resurrection, and His promise to return in glory.  No matter what, he said, they continued to give God what He deserved.  That is obeying God rather than men.

          Giving to God what He deserves means,  (1)  We give our bodies to God.  Our bodies may not always work right, but they are still gifts from God that we should care for.  That includes our energy, our talents and our brains.  What about our thoughts?  Do we praise God with them or only use them for foolish fantasy?

          (2)  We also give our hearts to God.  When we say to our spouse or sweetheart, "I love you with all my heart," we're saying, "I am committed to you, and I'm willing to share with you everything that I have, including myself."  That's also what it means to give our hearts to God.  God means more to us than even our spouses.

          (3)  We give our souls to God.  We entrust to His eternal care all our spiritual questions and hopes.  We don't need to look far for spiritual answers, for the Bible tells us of Christ, His cross and resurrection.  In God's Word we'll find more answers than in all the self-help books ever written.

          (4)  We give our possessions to God.  Jesus said we should share our money with the needy, and not hoard it or worship it.  He said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be." (Matthew 6:21)   We need to give and others need to receive our gifts.  Everything we have is on loan from God - our bodies and hearts, our souls and treasures.  We are God's children, people who thank and praise, serve and obey Him.  God give us faith to trust Him for everything.  And when we come to any conflict between God and man, God give us courage to obey Him first.  Amen

Copyright © 2004 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.