All the News that Fits Our Squint

The Cross and Caesar

(From Jan 27, 2016) 

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” So Jesus told His disciples concerning the poll tax.  Fair enough- if you live in the Roman Empire of Century 1. But what about Americans?  We don’t even have a Caesar, do we?

Certain of our Founding Fathers did desire a colonial version of King George.  However, the George in question, Washington, became the first president, instead.  Other presidents have acted as if they were King. (Numerous times.)  But America is not a monarchy. It’s not an oligarchy of Supreme Court Justices.  It’s not an aristocracy of Legislators.  In fact, there would be no presidents, no justices, no lawmakers if there was no constitution.

Paul told the church in Rome, 1^st century, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except by God, and those that exist are put in place by God. So then, the one who resists authority resists the ordinance which is from God, and those who resist will receive condemnation on themselves. For rulers are not a cause of terror for a good deed, but for bad conduct. So do you want not to be afraid of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from it, for it is God’s servant to you for what is good. But if you do what is bad, be afraid, because it does not bear the sword to no purpose. For it is God’s servant, the one who avenges for punishment on the one who does what is bad.”

God has appointed every civil government.  He has 2 distinct purposes for government- to punish evil and to praise good.   How does this apply to America 21^st century?  Although it has some democratic features our government is a Constitutional Republic.  This means that the God-ordained authority over America, our Caesar, is the Constitution. Article 4, Section 4 even gives the government its name. (Try reading the above passage with Constitution in place of all the authority statements.)

John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”  Adams recognized that the Constitution was a moral document.  Not Scripture but not contrary to Scripture. The founding generation of our republic, in fact, conducted its affairs quite well and few of the leaders were evangelical.  But they were moral and submissive to the Constitution.

Do some research. Compare the candidates’ practices and stated positions to the Constitution. This will certainly narrow the field of eligible applicants.

When we support the Constitution we submit to God’s authority.

When we vote only for candidates who prioritize and defend the Constitution we advance God’s authority.