|
THE
NEW LIFE by
John Marshall
|
|
|
|
Chapter
9 • THE
BELIEVER AND THE STATE
In
this case Jesus dealt with the matter of tribute, or taxes,
and he made it quite clear to his hearers that in the circumstances
taxes were due to Caesar and should be paid, but he made it
just as clear that there were duties that belonged to God
and these too must be met.
The Apostle Paul, when writing to the ecclesia at Rome about
"being subject unto the higher powers" also stressed
that it was the duty of the believer to meet the proper claims
of the authorities: "Render to all their dues: tribute
to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom
fear; honour to whom honour." But, and this must be strongly
stressed, the believer must always keep in mind his total
loyalty to God. Jesus made this clear when he said: "No
man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise
the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon."
The believer owes his duty to God as a son, and he accepts
and obeys the demands of the State only so far as they do
not conflict with the commands of his Father. If a believer
is in doubt about a decision, he does best if he thinks of
his Father first.
Peter and the Apostles early had to face this issue of loyalty
when the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem charged that they
should not teach in the name of Jesus. They rightly answered:
"We must obey God rather than men."
|
|
References
Rom 13v1, 7, Matt 6v24, Acts 5v29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chapter
9 • THE BELIEVER
AND THE STATE
Conscious
of the difficulties of the believer in making decisions about the
demands of the State, Peter wrote that they ought to submit themselves
"to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it
be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him for
vengeance on evildoers, and for praise to them that do well".
What he was saying was that the believer should be a peaceful law-abiding
example to all. But his own martyrdom was an illustration that the
State can make demands which only God ought to make, and such demands
must be resisted even to death.
Applying Principles Today
Can we apply the scriptural principle of duty to God and to Caesar
today? We certainly can in many cases. We all pay our taxes willingly
if not cheerfully! And no one should make any attempt, in the slightest
degree, to evade them. But to what extent should we involve ourselves
in the affairs of the State?
One of the privileges of citizenship is the opportunity to vote
for candidates in local and parliamentary elections, and if the
believer were a true citizen of this world he would vote for either
a Labour, Liberal, Conservative, Democratic or Republican candidate,
as the case might be. But the believer is not a citizen of this
world: "For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after
the city which is to come."
The Apostle Paul, writing about the believer's high calling of God
in Christ Jesus, and of being like-minded or Christ-minded in the
things of God, said: "For our citizenship (conversation, A.V.)
is in heaven; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus
Christ. . ." Could the members of
a community of believers be like-minded or Christ-minded if they
were divided in the politics of the State? And does God support,
or approve support of every political party, and every national
policy throughout the world?
|
|
References
Heb 13v14 RV, Phil 3v20 RV
|
|
|
|
