Jamey's Newsletter: Sunday, September 24, 2023
The only thing the Pharisees and the Herodians have in common is that they don't like Jesus. The Pharisees were opposed to Roman occupation. The Herodians were in bed with Rome. They put aside their differences when they ask Jesus, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not" (Matthew 22: 17)?
If Jesus says yes, it is lawful; the crowd following him will turn against him because the weight of the Roman tax system has been heavy. If Jesus says no, it is not lawful; Jesus will be accused of sedition and possibly arrested. They are playing a game of "gotcha" with Jesus. But he sees through their sarcasm.
Jesus asks for a coin. They give him a denarius. The denarius is the coin used to pay the imperial tax. It has on it the face of the Emperor Tiberius, and the inscription reads, "Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, high priest."
It is a coin that honors the emperor as a deity. By possessing this coin, the Pharisees are breaking the first of the Ten Commandments, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3) and "You shall not make for yourself an idol" (Exodus 20:4). This coin bearing the inscription of a Tiberius as the son of a god in the pocket of a Pharisee is breaking both sides of the law of having no other gods and making for yourself an idol.
Jesus asked them, "Whose head and title is this?" They answer, "Caeser." Jesus replies, "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22: 21).
The coin has Caesar's face and inscription on it. Give it back to him. Who and what are the things that are God's? What belongs to God?
Psalm 24:1 proclaims, "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it" (Psalm 24:1).
It all belongs to God. The silver the coin was made with belongs to God. The treasury, where it is held, belongs to God. The throne that Caesar sits on belongs to God.
The coin may have the image of Caesar imprinted on it, but all humankind is imprinted with the image of God. Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them" (Genesis 1:27).
As human beings created by God, we bear God's image. Jesus' response is an invitation to declare allegiance to God. And that is where our relationship with civil authority begins. It begins with acknowledging that we belong to God.
The seduction of Caesar is intense. As you think about your life, ask, "Have I unintentionally given Caesar something that belongs to God?"
No government, no political party, gets to claim your ultimate allegiance. God, the Creator in whose image you have been created, gets our loyalty. Our trust is in the God whose image we bear, who holds us in life and death.
We make a political statement when we claim Jesus is lord. Nothing else can hold that place in our hearts once we claim someone or something lord over our life. So, if it is true Jesus is lord, then we need to ask ourselves, "Do the decisions I am making, the votes that I am casting, reflect the image of Jesus imprinted on my heart?"
Jamey
Matthew 22: 15 - 22; Romans 13: 1 - 7; Acts 5:29
Let’s Talk About Church and State
(Together, What If is a conversation between Michelle Alexander, Ginnie Highsmith, and Jamey Prickett from Gainesville First UMC, Gainesville, Georgia.)
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Here is a video I recorded as a sermon on Church and State: The Church And State - Sermon from September 24, 2023
Weekly Prayer
Lord, instill a spirit of love, kindness, and respect for all people so we may reflect Your light in our actions and decisions.
Grant us the wisdom to uphold justice, integrity, and truth and the courage to stand against injustice and falsehood. May we be instruments of peace, fostering unity and understanding among diverse groups of people.
Lord, we pray for our nation and community leaders so that they may govern with wisdom, humility, and a heart for justice. May they seek Your will in their decisions and work towards the common good of all.
Finally, Father, help us to remember that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven, and may we strive to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Let our lives be a testament to Your love and grace, and may we glorify You in all we do.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Meme of the Week
Dad Jokes
What do you call a pig who knows how to use a knife? A pork chop!
What do you call a rude cow? Beef jerky!
Wisdom Nugget: Compliment people more. Many people have trouble thinking of themselves as smart, pretty, or kind unless told by someone else. You can help them out.
A Question to Consider: What kind of person do you want to be in 5 years? What is stopping you?
Photo Taken By Me
Articles worth reading, videos worth watching, and/or podcasts worth listening to
Youtube: Birds Aren’t Real? How a Conspiracy Takes Flight | Peter McIndoe | TED
Podcast: How to set boundaries with therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab
Watch: Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones
Why You Don't Need To Be Smart Or Talented To Succeed
We Know the Cure for Loneliness. So Why Do We Suffer?
53 Free Pumpkin Carving Stencils to Personalize Your Porch Decor
38 Easy Fall Decorating Ideas to Effortlessly Upgrade Your Home
The Evolution of Tyler Childers
If you read, listen, or watch something that you find interesting, I would love to know about it. Send me an email at jamey.prickett@ngumc.net.
What’s Cooking
Fried Apple Pies
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Happening at Gainesville First United Methodist Church
Sunday, October 15 / 4 pm / Sanctuary
The Chuck Nation Band, GFUMC Chancel Choir, and The Lanier Chamber Singers join forces to present a program of music from southern Appalachia featuring composer Tim Sharp’s A High Lonesome Bluegrass Mass and the Chuck Nation Band. The composer conducts the work. Advance tickets cost $15 and are available in the church office or online at lanierchambersingers.org. Tickets are $20 on the day of the performance.
Weekly Blessing and/or Quotes
"Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others, we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I would love to have your feedback. Do you have a meme, dad joke, question to ponder, or wisdom nugget worth sharing? Have you come across an interesting article, podcast, or video that you found meaningful? Is there a quote or blessing that you are currently holding onto? If so, please share it. Let’s make this a community space where we connect with one another.
If you find encouragement in this newsletter, I would love for you to take the opportunity to share it with others. Thank you for reading.