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October 18th, 2020

Isaiah 45: 1-7; Psalm 96: 1-13; 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10;

Matthew 22: 15-22

After Pentecost, 20, a

Do you realize what Jesus really said to those who were putting him to the test in today’s lesson? Remember he said the now famous, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” We all probably have quoted that at some point in our lives, especially in reconciling the need to pay our taxes as well as the need to tithe our income.

But what does Jesus really say when he says, “Give the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” After those who were putting Jesus to the test asked him if it were lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, Jesus in turn asked them whose image was on the coin. They said, “The Emperors”. And then Jesus says, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperors. But, perhaps, more importantly was what Jesus was implying in his follow- up answer, “Give to God the things that are God’s.” That is, “Who’s image is on the emperor?”

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As Lutherans, we have tackled the issue of emperor and God or public accountability and God with much thought and debate. In fact the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has a statement “Being a Public Church”. Here is how it begins, “Lutherans understand that governments are a means through which God can work to preserve creation and build a more peaceful and just society. As a public church, we have a responsibility to address issues that affect our neighbors in communities throughout the world. Through advocacy efforts, ELCA members and other faith communities can work through governmental channels on behalf of our faith community values. Participating in the electoral process, that is, voting, is one way in which ELCA members live out our public witness.”

Sounds like something Lutherans would write, doesn’t it? It really has its beginnings in Martin Luther who taught that “governments are a means through which God can work to preserve creation and build a more peaceful and just society.”

Thank God we live in a country where that can be exercised through our privilege in voting and actually as being public servants if we are so called. Within our country, thankfully, when we vote, we exercise our privilege and opportunity to enable our government to be 3 a means through which God can work to preserve creation and build a more peaceful and just society.

Does this mean that our public officials all have to be Lutheran, or Christian or even people of faith? Remember our reading? It is another rather famous story. The Israelites were exiled and held captive in and had prayed, begged God to help them be freed. of Persia, which is now Iran, captured Babylon and released the Israelites from their captivity and sent them back home to . Cyrus was not a Jew. It is believed, if he were anything, he might have been a Zoroastrian. Cyrus the Great did not believe in the God of the Jews, if he believed in any god at all, but yet God used him to free the Jewish people.

Remember how our Old Testament lesson started? “ Thus said the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him—and the gates shall not be closed…. For the sake of my servant , and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name… though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me….”

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Cyrus did not know God, but God knew Cyrus. We pray that our vote may continue the work of Cyrus the Great, that is, may continue the work of God through our public officials. We hope and we pray that our vote can be a means through which God can work to preserve creation and build a more peaceful and just society.

Amen,

Pastor Scales

Amen,

Pastor Scales