Resisting The Temptation To Be A Herodian

 

"Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?' But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, 'Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.' So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' They said to Him, 'Caesar’s.' And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.'" - Matthew 22:15-21

(FYI)

"At the time of Jesus, there were certain groups—the Pharisees, the Herodians, and the Sadducees—that held positions of authority and power over the people. The Herodians held political power, and most scholars believe that they were a political party that supported King Herod Antipas. The Herodians favored submitting to Herod, and therefore to Rome, for political expediency." - From Got Questions

When you join the military you take an oath that says ....

"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

That commitment is in the context of our Constitution, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) - Military Law and a commitment to seek God's help to do it. (Isn't that curious?) Now, the orders we swear to obey must be "lawful" orders. In other words, obeying the orders we receive  must not be contrary to the Constitution or the UCMJ. If they are in violation, then we are not bound to obey them. With me so far?

Was it lawful for the Jews to pay taxes to Rome. Jesus answered - the money belongs to Caesar - but your heart must belong to God. The first greatest commandment - Matthew 22. The first four of the ten commandments - Exodus 20. Everything we do must be in the context of our allegiance to God and His commandments. If man's law is contrary to what God has said, then it is unlawful. God's law trumps man's law.

We face that challenge every day. There are laws in this country - and around the world - that are in conflict with the Bible - God's revelation to mankind with respect to how we should live and do and be. The choice is always just as clear as holding a quarter in our hand and seeing George Washington's image on it.

There are some who have done some horrific things and justified them in the name of God - when those things were clearly contrary to His Word. It's like the saying that "if you put lipstick on a pig - it is still a pig." Wrong is wrong no matter what label you put on it. Just because people declare something to be right - maybe even pass laws saying it is right - does not make it so. Everything in the context of the Word of Truth. As Christians, we must resist the temptation to go along for the sake of expediency like the Herodians. Go along to get along. Trying to avoid our comfortable lives being disrupted because we resist rendering to man what is God's.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone