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The Bishop's Journal
February 1999
THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY
Several years ago I remember viewing a television commercial for a certain
brand of hot dogs. The commercial began by some officious looking fellow
reading an announcement saying that government regulations now allowed the
manufacturer to cut some corners in processing. "But we can't," cut
in a solemn-toned voice-over. "We have to answer to a ... higher
authority." And with that, the camera rose to reveal the kind of
cloud-filled sky with great beams of light that is reminiscent of most
biblical epics.
We are now moving into that time of the year when taxes are high on the
agenda. The deadline for RRSP contributions is rapidly approaching. Sometime
in the next few months we'll scramble to get our tax receipts together, pull
out pencil and calculator and once again do the grand tally. The popular
saying is, indeed, true. Taxes, like death, are unavoidable!
Most of us are quite familiar with the Gospel accounts wherein Jesus is questioned about the question of taxation. "Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" Ultimately, it is a question of authority. Jesus' enemies, no doubt thought that they had put him in a no-win situation. If he said the tribute payment was just, the people would condemn him as a traitor, both to the nation and to God. If he condemned the payment, it would have been an act of treason against the authorities and the Roman government would have to deal with him.
In response to the question Jesus asks for a coin. (Apparently, he himself didn't carry any money!) Then, pointing to the picture and writing on the coin asks, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" Obviously, it is Caesar's. "So," he says, "render to Caesar what is Caesar's." And then, no doubt pausing for maximum effect, he delivers the hammer blow ... "and give to God, the things that are God's."
Some have heard these words and concluded that Jesus is setting up two different and competing spheres of authority here; one for Caesar and one for God. We have a civil realm and spiritual realm; the city of humanity and the city of God. And although the church's theological tradition would maintain that the civil authorities have a legitimate and significant role to play, I think that Jesus is rhetorically making the point that ultimately all authority comes from God and that rendering to God the things of God, in fact means rendering everything. Rather than having two distinct and separate realms of authority we have a realm within a realm; a sphere of authority that is, itself, subject to a higher authority.
Jesus' statement is in fact really a question. How much are we willing to render to God? How wide is the reign that we will acknowledge? How much of life are we willing to acknowledge as being subject to that reign? Just how much are we willing to offer, willing to give up? How much are we willing to render to God?
In imperial Rome, when one leader died, they simply called in the coins and stamped the likeness of the new leader right over top of that of the old. But you can't stamp out the likeness of the one whose face we see etched upon a harvest landscape, the face we see in the rains that bathe and wash the earth, the face that shines in the warming rays of the sun. You can't deface the divine inscription found within a child's smile, a mother's tears or a friend's embrace.
Ultimately it is not earthly leaders who rule. They might have their faces inscribed on coins and they can certainly have a great deal of influence - sometimes good and sometimes bad. But their reign is limited. Caesars come and Caesars go! Coins may bear Caesar's face and title and belong to Caesar, but ultimately, Caesar belongs to God.
Hence we struggle as best we can to see that God's authority is sought and recognized over all other authorities. This is certainly true in our individual lives, in the personal life decisions we make, but it also needs to be true in our corporate and civic lives; in the voting booth, the board room and the assemblies of government.
Indeed, in remembering what kind of reign Jesus is preaching, we acknowledge that we will find God's image etched on all creation, on each human being and on each human creation. Even Caesar and the coin bearing his image can be seen to bear the image of God, and as such, they both bear the potential of being used by God for right. Even our tax dollars! We all are subject to a higher authority. There are no limits to God's realm. And that is very good news, indeed!
The Rev. Michael J. Pryse,
Bishop
