Render unto Caesar

One of the passages from the New Testament that I tend to rely on all too frequently is Matthew 22:21 (…Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.). It’s definitely in my Top Ten of all time most relied upon verses. Just today I received a newsletter from one of the vitriolic, right-wing, hate-mongering, hypocritical, judgmental, gun-loving, fundamentalist, mind-numbed robots & writers often vilified by Leftists. It said:

“…, Jesus never once spoke about the need for the government to address anything. He was (and is) solely concerned with each individual's heart and being. (“Render unto Caesar”) And it is His gift of life and liberty that we embrace when we fight the tyranny of leftist "compassion."

As Thomas Jefferson wrote, "The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them."

We know well that the world is a harsh place. As we survey its poverty -- both fiscal and moral -- or the damage and suffering caused by natural disasters such as the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, or the man-caused disasters (i.e., "solutions") … inflict upon us, we're reminded of the brokenness of this world. Indeed, Christ didn't die on the cross for a world that didn't need Him. He died for one that did and does.

Ironically, perhaps, that's where Easter brings the greatest hope. Christ conquered death when He rose from the grave that Sunday morning so long ago so that He can return to right all wrongs. In Revelation 21:5, Jesus said, "Behold, I am making all things new."

Our ultimate hope is not in political leaders (though we must always strive to elect upright ones) or in political solutions (though we must always fight for the right principles), but in the renewal that will one day come, as promised by our true Savior. Our hope will not wax or wane with each election, because this world is not all that there is. For that we are truly thankful to our Creator, and we look forward to the day when all things are made new.
Patriot Post
Maundy Thursday 2010”

Ignoring my earlier sarcasm, this really spoke to me. OUR HOPE IS IN CHRIST. Not in Republicans or Democrats, Tea Partiers or Socialists but in CHRIST alone. Government has always been and will always be imperfect. I feel it is mankind’s nature to attempt to place himself on equal footing with that of his Creator, and it can’t be done. We must instead realize that our hope is in the promise of Christ’s grace alone.

At the same time we are called to the necessity of existence in this temporary realm and should approach that existence as would Christ. Rendering unto God that which is His and unto government that which is its due. And thus the argument begins. Exactly what belongs to God and what exactly, is due Caesar?