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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>We Are Citizens of This World</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>In an invocation prayer at the United States Senate, Peter
Marshall said, "Lord Jesus, Thou who art the way, the truth, and the life,
hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make men free. Teach us that
liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Liberty</st1:place></st1:City> is too precious a thing to be buried
in books. It costs too much to be hoarded. Make us to see that our liberty is
not the right to do as we please, but the opportunity to please to do what is
right."<br>
<br>
It is unthinkable that a Christian would not vote! It is unthinkable that
Christians would not run for public office! It is unthinkable that Christians
would withdraw from the responsibility of taking part in public life. The Christian
has a responsibility to Caesar for all the privileges which the rule of Caesar
brings. We are citizens of this world and must be good ones, if we are Christ's
disciples.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Jerry L. Schmalenberger, When Christians Quarrel, CSS
Publishing Co., Inc.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>__________________________</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Only One Top Priority</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>I have heard it argued from both pulpit and pew that
Jesus' words "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's"
mean that a Christian is duty-bound to love <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>, right or wrong. I'm sorry,
but I cannot agree with that. One Christian writer has said, "The greatest
service Christians can render to their country is to become actively concerned
about the destiny of the church." <br>
<br>
I have also heard it argued that "Give to the emperor the things that are
the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's" implies a strict
separation of church and state, that Jesus is dividing life into two separate
and distinct parts - a spiritual part and a secular, or worldly, part.
Dedicated and committed Christians have been arguing for this separation for
centuries, and we probably won't settle the issue once and for all today. Their
argument has been that with these words Jesus is telling us to obey God in the
spiritual realm and to obey the government in everything else. Now, that's a
nice, neat little division, and it solves many difficult problems. Politics is
politics and religion is religion and never the twain shall meet. Let the
church take care of its own business and keep their noses out of social and
political issues. That would be fine if it worked. You and I both know that it
doesn't. Yes, there are obligations we have to the governing autho rities, such
as paying taxes, exercising our right to vote, and obeying civil laws. But as
followers of Jesus Christ, our ultimate obligation is to "seek first the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">kingdom</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">God</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>," and all other obligations
have to have a lower priority. There can only be one top priority.</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Johnny Dean, Another Tricky Question</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>________________________</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Torn Apart by Legions of Loyalties</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><br>
No one seriously denies that we all have legions of loyalties. Sometimes there
are too many for our own good. I remember watching a film a few years ago in
which a scene opened to show two puppeteers arguing over who would control the
strings tied to a marionette on the stage below them. As they argued, one tried
to wrest the strings from the other. The result was predictable. The puppet was
pulled and thrown this way and that across the stage, as first one puppeteer
and then the other pulled the string to an arm or leg, hand or foot.<br>
<br>
Our many loyalties and commitments can do the same to us. We may feel that the
strings of power and persuasion tied to us need only be tugged a bit, and then
we have to move as they direct. The company we work for, the government we live
under, the family we belong to, the possessions we own (more so, the one's
we're still paying for) - all these things exercise varying degrees of control
over our lives. To a large extent they determine how we spend our time, our
money, our energy, our being. It isn't rare at all these days for people to be
pulled in so many different directions that they jump and jerk across the stage
of life, often feeling helplessly out of control.<br>
<br>
Our problem is that there are too many Caesars before which we stand
accountable. It's impossible to please them all. Rendering to Caesar what is
Caesar's is more than some folk feel they can handle.<br>
<br>
D. Wayne Burkette, Life in Heaven’s Kingdom, CSS Publishing Company </span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>__________________________</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>What We the People Demand</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>President James Garfield's words from 1877 still ring
true. "Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the
character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt,
it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If
it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high
qualities to represent them in the national legislature ... if the next
centennial does not find us a great nation ... it will be because those who
represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not
aid in controlling the political forces."</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Stephen M. Crotts / George L. Murphy / Stan Purdum,
Sermons for Sundays: After Pentecost (Last Third): Rendering to God, CSS
Publishing Company, Inc.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>________________________</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Committing to Christ</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Tony Campolo, the <st1:City w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:City>
sociologist, found himself seated beside the <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:State> governor at a state prayer
breakfast. In the course of conversation the governor said that he was
sympathetic toward Christianity but not personally committed. Campolo asked,
"Why not?" The governor replied, "Well, to tell you the truth,
no one ever invited me to commit." Campolo said, "I'm inviting
you." within five minutes that governor had committed his life to Christ.<br>
<br>
We have good news that is essential to every human being; it's a matter of
their eternal life or death. We may be the only conduits God has to certain
persons. We must help him reach them.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Bill Bouknight, Collected Sermons, <a
href="http://mail.churchmail.com/lists/lt.php?id=Kk8GAgkFCQVSCEkDCAFKDAtXUVw%3D"
title="blocked::http://mail.churchmail.com/lists/lt.php?id=Kk8GAgkFCQVSCEkDCAFKDAtXUVw="><font
size=1><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>www.Sermons.com</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>____________________</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>"I have held many things in my hand, and have lost
them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands that I still possess."</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Martin Luther</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>____________________</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Historical Background Information: Paying Caesar </span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>The poll tax mentioned in this passage was levied by the Romans
against the Jews beginning in A.D. 6 when <st1:place w:st="on">Judea</st1:place>
became a Roman province. When imposed for the first time, it provoked the
rebellion of Judas the Galilean recorded in Acts 5:37 and discussed in more
detail below. The Herodians favored the tax, but the Zealots, Pharisees, and
people resented it. The Pharisees and the Herodians, though common adversaries
in New Testament times on the very issue of rendering obedience and taxes to
the Roman Empire, found themselves in common alliance in this instance to trap
Christ in His words, trying to impale him on the horns of a serious dilemma.
Should the authority of Caesar be recognized and the poll tax be paid to him?
If Christ were to have affirmed payment of the poll tax to Caesar, he would no
doubt have pleased the Herodians but would have made Himself an even greater
enemy of the Pharisee s and an enemy of the people who shared popular
resentment to the poll tax as an unlawful imposition by a heathen government.
If, by contrast, Christ were to have denied that the poll tax be paid, he would
have made Himself out to be an enemy of the state and possibly, subject Himself
to the charge of sedition.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>David G. Hagopian, Render to All What Is Due Them: What
Every Christian Needs to Know about Honoring Civil Authority and Paying Taxes,
Part 2. Extracted from Ordained Servant vol. 4, no. 4 (October 1995).</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>____________________</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>False Dichotomies</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Let me ask you a few questions
that I am sure you can answer:</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Did you put on shoes this morning, or did you come to
church in a car?<br>
Do you eat cereal for breakfast, or don't you like football?<br>
Are you Lutheran, or do you live in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>?<br>
Will you obey God, or will you pay taxes to Caesar?<br>
<br>
Welcome to the world of false dichotomies-thing that are wrongly set against
each other, "either/or"s that really aren't. Can you wear shoes and
come to church in a car? Can you eat cereal and enjoy football? Can you be
Lutheran and live in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>?
Of course; in fact, you can be an American Lutheran who wears shoes and eats
cereal while enjoying football after you've traveled to and from church in a
car. None of these things are mutually exclusive. Beware of the one who asks
such questions, because there may well be an agenda behind them. At the same
time, rejoice! Such scheming is no match for the crucified and risen </span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Tim Pauls, Your Two-Kingdom Life </span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>___________________</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>It Depends On What Is Important to You</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Two friends were walking near Times Square in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Manhattan</st1:place></st1:City>. It was during
the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking
their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and
the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, one of them said,
"What an interesting place to hear a cricket."</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>His friend said, "What? You must be crazy. You
couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!"</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>"No, I’m sure of it," his friend said, "I
heard a cricket."</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>"That’s crazy," said his friend.</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>The man, who thought he had heard a cricket, listened
carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement
planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the
branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly
amazed.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>"That’s incredible," said his friend. "You
must have superhuman ears!"</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>"No," said the man who heard the cricket.
"My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on…</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>The conclusion to this illustration and many additional
illustrations and sermons for Proper 24 and the upcoming weeks can be accessed
at <a
href="http://mail.churchmail.com/lists/lt.php?id=Kk8GAgkFCQVSCEkDCAFKDAtXUVw%3D"
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