new church life: september/october 2015
Rare is the national leader anywhere in the world who would proclaim
such unabashed faith today. But when a nation and a people’s God is not the
Lord, their “God” is something else, and the nation is less blessed.
We know the story – repeated in Matthew, Mark and Luke – of the
Pharisees trying to trap Jesus by asking if tribute should be given to Caesar.
When Jesus asked for a coin and showed them the image of Caesar, He said:
“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that
are God’s.” Later, when Pilate found no fault in Jesus and tried to spare Him
from crucifixion, he implored the roiling crowd: “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chi Vb&