Give God What is His Due 

   “Give to Caesar what is due to Caesar, and to God what is due to God.” (Matt 22: 21) 

   When I read about the early Christian church I find no indication that they ever attempted or even supported the overthrow of the government.  Caesar was Caesar and God was God.  Even though they were severely persecuted by both the Romans and the Jewish religious leaders, their focus was on serving God and one another.

   In today’s world Caesar would be the President of the United States, the King of England, or any other worldly political leader.  The principle remains the same; we are to be concerned with God and His will, not with every aspect of the government in power.  We are to pay our taxes, obey the laws, and participate as any good citizen should in voting for those who best represent the Christian ideal, but all that is secondary to the love of God and serving Him.

   Not only is that the lesson Jesus taught it is what brings the most inner peace to those who practice it.  If we become overly involved with worldly affairs we risk becoming less concerned with the spiritual, becoming depressed and even losing hope. 

   All governments are temporary, they will change or pass away with the rest of creation.  They do not affect our eternal soul unless we allow them to do so.  In times of persecution Christians have stood apart from society and maintained their faith, even when that meant torture and martyrdom.

   Today, just as in the time of Christ, governments sometimes support and sometimes persecute those of faith.  As people of God we cannot allow ourselves to obsess over the evils of society and the governments they elect.  Ours is to concern ourselves with serving God and reaching His heavenly Kingdom.