Yield To Caesar What's Caesar's But Not What's God's

"Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you." - Romans 6:13-14

Watching the news recently, one report had to do with allowing certain books in public school libraries. Books with explicit sexual content and violence that minor children would be allowed to read even if their parents said they should not have access to them. The reasoning is that at our country's core is the right to free speech - unfettered by anyone's moral code. 

"The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. It prohibits any laws that establish a national religion, impede the free exercise of religion, abridge the freedom of speech, infringe upon the freedom of the press, interfere with the right to peaceably assemble, or prohibit citizens from petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted into the Bill of Rights in 1791. The Supreme Court interprets the extent of the protection afforded to these rights. The First Amendment has been interpreted by the Court as applying to the entire federal government even though it is only expressly applicable to Congress. Furthermore, the Court has interpreted the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as protecting the rights in the First Amendment from interference by state governments." - Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute

Although Biblical principles may have been at the root of what our country was founded on, as the generations have passed, the culture we live in has wandered far from the intent of our founding fathers. Actually, those ideals were corrupted, by the flesh, from the beginning in that the freedoms we proclaimed, selectively applied and were not really extended to all people. 

As citizens of this country, we are bound by its laws unless those laws or their implementation contravene those of a higher authority. That being the Creator God. Each citizen cannot, on their own, decide what is right and wrong - there are civil laws that provide boundaries on behavior. Just try driving 50 mph in a 25-mph zone. And just as there is higher law above the individual, there is a higher authority above the civil law. Do you remember when Jesus was asked if the Jews should pay Roman taxes?

"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 22:16-21

Sounds simple enough - when it comes to paying taxes anyway. But what about moral issues? Who establishes the boundaries for moral behavior? As a Christian you would or should say God does. But I fear that your culture would and does not agree with you. Man, and collectively, man's consensus is their supreme authority.

When there is a conflict between "thus saith man" and "thus saith the Lord", if you cannot change the law by gaining consensus, then you will not have the power to stop your children from having access to inappropriate content in the books on the shelves of their library or worse in public schools.  As Christians we must draw a line. But what can you do? I will leave that to you to think and pray about. It might start at home by not allowing the wrong content from entering your home through television, the internet and cell phones where your children might have access to it. I will also leave that to your prayerful consideration. But this might be a start. The Word says .... 

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6

Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus On The Family, said that values are caught and not taught. How do you train up a child? It starts by walking your talk. Being a living example of who you tell them they should be. Standing for what God says it right and proper. Standing against what God says is not. All of that while demonstrating the love of God.

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