Electric Circuit Rider

During Advent, several years ago, I was struck by the number of times the words “fear not” or “do not be afraid” appeared in the readings. Often the words were said by angels.

Apparently that’s what angels have to say when they appear. By all reports they are impressive to the point of being intimidating.

I suspect that I noticed those words because they were precisely the words I needed to hear at the time. I don’t recall what I was afraid of (isn’t that often the case?) but I do know that I needed to remind myself that I don’t need to be afraid - and I suspected other people needed to know it as well.

So, instead of ending my letters with something like “Sincerely yours” or “Yours Truly” or even “Yr. Obdnt. Srvnt” (18th century texting), I began to sign off on letters and emails with “Fear not”.

Not many people mention it, although one person suggested that it may be the best sermon I’ve ever preached - I’ve noted in the past that the ratings of sermons go up as their length goes down - so maybe that person is right.

The reason I write about it now is that these are days when we need to keep telling each other to “fear not”.

Proverbs 12:25 says, “Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word  always brings cheer.”

People who have watched their savings shrink or who fear for their jobs are filled with worry. Be an angel, tell them to “fear not.” It will do both of you good.

 

It’s one of the most famous answers in history: “Render on to Caesar what is Caesar’s and on to God what is God’s.” 

For centuries it has provided a rationale for a kind of “doublethink” among Christians. God says, “Thou shalt not kill” but Caesar demands that I kill in war or in criminal matters. I will only kill when Caesar tells me to. Otherwise I’ll obey God.

God says, “Thou shalt not steal” but Caesar demands that I go along with taking over 55% of Mexico (now known as Arizona, Nevada, Utah,  New Mexico and California), or taking over the Philippines and Puerto Rico or Iraq; so I will refrain from stealing my neighbor’s Porsche, but I’ll do what Caesar says.

The reasoning goes like this. Caesar sometimes needs to do things that God would consider immoral and I would consider immoral in my personal life, but Caesar gets to break God’s laws. And sometimes Ceasar comes first.

That’s not what the gospel lesson for next Sunday is really about.

Note that it begins with a question about paying taxes. Paying taxes was a hot topic in the Judea of Jesus’ day – even hotter than in
America today. Paying taxes was a way to empower the oppressor. Paying taxes to Rome’s Emperor meant that the Jews were only strengthening the hand of the dictator that held them in his power.

But not to pay taxes – to advocate the non-payment of taxes – was a sure path to the cross. The Herodians, who were widely viewed as collaborators with the Romans, were trying to set Jesus up. But Jesus wasn’t going to take the bait.

“Show me a coin”, he said. Then he asked, “Whose image is on the coin?”

“Caesar’s” was the answer.

“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s”, Jesus said.

If the image of Caesar is on a coin, where is the image of God?

Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind^* in our image, according to our likeness” – Genesis 1:26

You are the likeness of God. Caesar doesn’t have a claim on you; maybe on your money, but not on you. You don’t have to steal or kill or lie or do anything for Caesar except to pay your taxes.

Caesar doesn’t get to break God’s laws without having to pay the consequences and Caesar can’t make you break them either – even if he threatens to kill you, because you believe in resurrection. Besides, money doesn’t mean that much to you because you believe in resurrection. Don’t you?