Ex.33: 12-23; Matt.22: 15-22                    Whose Are You?                    E/DC               Oct.16, 2005

1)      The religious leaders and the Herodians threw Jesus a hot potato, ?How do you live with integrity in the world??    ?Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not??  A dual of wits, a game common in the Ancient Near East.  These two groups were unlikely allies.  The Herodians supported Herod and therefore had some allegiance to the Roman government who supported the puppet king.  They would scamper off gleefully should Jesus fall in the trap and say no.  The Pharisees adhere strictly to Moses? Law.  They knew everything belonged to God, and everything, including the Roman Emperor was subject to God.  If Jesus said yes, they could discredit him in the eyes of the people who hated the illegal tax and would see him disloyal to God.

2)      Jesus throws it back.  ?Give to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are God?s.?   Each person must decide.  The people knew that for Jesus as for them, God came first.  What Jesus makes clear is that what belongs to Caesar is a small piece of metal, but that the whole universe belongs to God.  For Jesus, God?s precious image is in every creature, while the emperor?s was on a coin, the symbol of his oppression!  Tribute can be paid, as Caesar demands.  God does not demand tribute, but invites loyalty.  Jesus puts the responsibility for making the decision between two legitimate authorities right back in everyone?s court.

3)      What do we do when the question is thrown to us?  How do we live with integrity?   One minister had a very unique solution!  A man who was a liar, cheat and thief, had died and his widow approached the minister and said, ?I know my husband was an old reprobate, but I really don?t want the truth to be told.  Could you please tell the congregation that he was a good man??   Surprised, he exclaimed, ?I can?t do that, I must speak the truth.?  ?Look,? she said, ?I?ll pay you $10,000, if you say he was a good man.?  The minister was in a quandary now.  His congregation was struggling, church needed a new roof.  He said, ?OK, if you insist.?  With great trepidation he began the eulogy the day of the funeral.  ?My friends,? he began, ?We all know that John was a liar, cheat and thief.  But compared to his brother, he was a good man!?

4)      Of course, I?m not suggesting his solution!  But that there are usually complexities as we try not to give to Caesar that which is God?s.   Who is the center of your life?  To whom do you belong?  Actually our calendars, credit card bills and checkbooks show what we value most.  What does yours show?  Are there pieces of our lives we?d say belong to God and others that do not?  And if not to God, then to whom?  We certainly know the sense of being torn as we make choices for our own and our families? time and resources. 

5)      Our scripture invites us to celebrate and proclaim that everything belongs to God.   If we really got that, could we cut some of the tension we feel in these difficult decisions?  Life is complex, and Jesus shows he understands its complexities, by refusing to give simplistic answers.  And he shows trust by giving it back to us to make the difficult choices.  Saying, ?You can do this.?  So how do we balance all the things we want to do with the limited amount of time, energy and money we have?  When we shop are we aware if children were amongst those making our clothing or runners?  Do our energy practices take into account our environment and future generations?  If our job depended on us turning a blind eye to some questionable practices what do we do?  Are our investments with the more socially responsible companies?  Difficult decisions. How can God?s will be done through us?

6)      God?s will.  Did you feel a chill of anxiety run down the back of your neck with the phrase ?God?s will?? We feel really anxious talking about it don?t we?  It seems we fear that if God?s will is done, it will be too hard, too boring and make us unhappy. That God?s will indeed may be the worst thing that could happen!  We may have to quit our job, become a missionary, or sell the boat. Its as though we believe that we shouldn?t get too close to God. God will only make life difficult!

7)      Interesting.  What in heavens name do we believe about God?

a)     Do we believe that God loves us?  Wants the best for us?

b)     Can we believe that God has a Holy hope for us?  Not a detailed plan that would take away our free choice.  But having more perspective than us, that God yearns to participate in shaping our dreams and convictions. 

c)      Do we believe that God has the persevering power and imagination to help our dreams grow roots, lead us through difficult and sensitive decisions, and fill our work with meaning and purpose?

d)     Do we believe that God wants to enter into relationship with us?  And that God enters those relationships with such vulnerability, that we are able to respond.

e)     Do we believe that God can call forth generosity and great love?

8)      So if we dared to really believe these things, we could stop worrying.  So how then do we discover God?s will?

a)     Think about what?s really important to us.  What are our values?  Are they consistent with what we know of God?s values?  Jesus gave us a test.  Do they help us love God, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and our neighbour as our self? .

b)     Let go of assumptions, biases, prejudices and what we believe should be.  Open ourselves with willingness to change our heart and mind to holy newness.

c)      Firmly root ourselves in our Biblical tradition.  So we know the stories that inform our faith and then can discern the ones that can help us find God?s will in each situation.

d)     Allow God?s playful imagination to find new solutions where it seemed like there were none.

e)     Listen for the prompting of God?s spirit through our gathered community.  Safeguard.  So not 1 person, imposing their view.  Partnership with God in community.  Supporting us while waiting to discern God?s way.  Can ask others, ?Does it sound like God?s will??  Also listen for the voices of those affected by what we are considering.

f)       Try it and continue to be open to God?s leading.

g)     Allow the decision to rest near our hearts to determine whether it brings primarily feelings of consolation (a sense of peace and movement toward God) or desolation (distress and movement away from God).

9)      The hilarious thing, the paradox, is when we try it, we find that when we?re living God?s way, we are most energetic, most fulfilled, most joyful, most at peace, our most true self.  Burdens lifted.  Blocks removed.  And that ultimately is what God?s will is for us.  Joy of a new possession, new entertainment - at best fleeting.  Joy of new life rooted in God?s will is forever.  Life is still complex, but following God?s way, living in God?s community we have the framework for life?s difficult decisions.  Then we too know whose we are and in whose way we want to walk.  May God continue to bless you on your journey.