Thursday, May 5, 2011

God's Kindom vs Nationalisitic Pride

Scripture Passage that Caught My Attention Today: Matthew 22:15-22 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21 They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

Observation: Just amazing perspective on Jesus’ part.

Application: Lest there be any doubt, let me just say upfront that I’m personally deeply grateful to be an American. But I also think that John 3:16 is correct when it says that “God so loved the WORLD…”

Yesterday I read an article that included a statement that went like this: “our political identity and our identity as followers of Jesus are rarely reconcilable.”

I believe that statement is largely true. Politically we are usually striving for either what’s best for us or for what most aligns with our personal views. This also usually includes striving for what’s best for our respective country. But followers of Jesus strive for what’s best for others, period. The country of citizenship is of little if any importance in that regard.

Jesus understood that citizens of every country have responsibilities that come along with such citizenship; there are prices of one sort or another to be paid that come along with living anywhere. But he was never so nationalistically sensitive or religiously shallow as to let the kingdom of one’s country overshadow God’s kingdom of the world. Hence Jesus’ statement that amazed them all: “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Prayer: Lord, I’m glad to be an American, but I know that you love people regardless of where they were born or where they live. Help me to think more and more like you rather than expecting you to think more and more like me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalm 22, Matthew 22)

No comments:

Post a Comment