Independence Day!

For Friday, July 4, 2025:

Mark 12:17 NLT: “Jesus said, ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.’”

In this scenario, Jesus was being questioned by people who wanted to arrest him, both Pharisees and supporters of Herod. The Roman Empire leader at the time, Tiberius Caesar, claimed to be god, so Herod’s people had no time for Jesus, while the Pharisees already knew the real God. They didn’t grasp the Son-of-God concept and certainly not the Holy Trinity. Furthermore, Jesus’ preaching was drawing people and their tithes away from Synagogues.

Suffice it to say that while Jesus was extremely popular with his followers, there was much opposition to what he was doing. His critics threw out a trick question, designed as a trap. “Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” If Jesus supported Caesar, the Pharisees would be angry. They believed all allegiance should go to God Almighty. But it was illegal to not pay taxes to Caesar. Either answer would be incorrect to some of the crowd, resulting in Jesus’ arrest.

Jesus replied, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” He set out a principle that we practice today in the United States – separation of church and state. We want believers to love Jesus with all their heart, not just because it’s a government edict. It’s Biblical to support the church. We also need roads, schools, police and fire departments for our safety and armies for defense, and those services aren’t free. So taxation is a necessary part of living together as a society. Jesus approved both. He was not arrested that day.

Today is July 4^th, Independence Day in the US. We celebrate separating ourselves from the United Kingdom. We still pay taxes, but now to our own governments. We still tithe and sometimes give sacrificially to our own churches, not to a government-mandated church.

In the land of the free and the home of the brave, we enjoy the freedom to worship as we choose. God bless America!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Trick Question!

For Thursday, February 15, 2024:

Mark 12:13 NLT: “They sent to Him (Jesus) some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.”

Public opinion favored Jesus. People had seen the miracles and witnessed the healings. His popularity was unquestioned, which angered the Pharisees, the muckety-mucks of the Jewish religion, and the Herodians, the muckety-mucks of the government. These two groups formed an unlikely alliance for the sole purpose of quashing Jesus’ progress. They questioned Jesus, hoping for a slip of the tongue that would convict him either of blasphemy or disloyalty to Herod. The test question was, “Shall we pay, or shall we not pay taxes to Caesar?”

Jesus examined a denarius and inquired as to the image on the coin. It was Caesar. He answered. “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” The critics marveled at Jesus’ answer!

Jesus is saying that it takes both. There are practical needs for life on earth like roads, police and armies – things totally separate from any religious obligation. And our tithing to God is separate from any government, as it should be.

Trying to catch Jesus in a misstatement is always a bad idea. He always has a perfect answer!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Follow Jesus' Example!

October 23, 2023 Monday Message:

Romans 13:3 NLT: “For the (governing) authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.”

We never really get to own anything. We’re here for such a short time! Even our most prized possessions will belong to someone else in less than 100 years. I thought my house was paid off, but unless I pay taxes and other fees, it will soon belong to the authorities. Our incomes are taxed, and unless we pay, the government will soon own our bank account!

Paul is telling the Christians in Rome to get along with the authorities. When we decided to live in our city of choice, we expected certain benefits. We need roads so we can get from one place to another. We expect the snow to be plowed in the winter. Police and fire protection are essential nowadays. We get to enjoy nonessential things like city parks and ballfields for the kids. If there’s a civic center or theater, that’s a bonus. Providing these services requires dollars, and by living in our city, we have implicitly agreed to split the cost with our neighbors.

As Christians we should do what is right and serve as a good example. Even Jesus told Peter to take a coin from the mouth of a fish and use it to pay their taxes. Jesus explained, “We don't want to cause trouble.” None of us should want to cause trouble either.

When in doubt, we should follow Jesus’ example!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship