Tag Archive for: Ceasar

Filtering the Ceasar Noise

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Armodoxy for Today: Filtering the Noise

This week we have been examining Christ’s admonition to Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, what belongs to God to God. I took some time with this passage to show the absurdity of trying to attach more meaning to the words of Christ, than what he initially intended. In the case of taxes, he said, give to the government what belongs to it. He did not set a blanket policy to exclude ourselves for governance nor to hand over humanitarian pursuits to politicians.

Give to God, what is God’s. And so, give the precious life that God has given to you, back to God by committing to be compassionate and caring to those in need.

I selected this topic intentionally during this week of April because on April 24 the Armenian Genocide is remembered. One and a half million Armenians were barbarically slaughter from 1915 to 1922. An attempt was made in 1915 to, in today’s parlance, “wipe out an entire civilization.” And the plot continues today with new strikes against Armenians and Armenian historic monuments in an area called Artsakh as the same perpetrator of Genocide of 1915 is even more emboldened thanks to the politics and politicians of today.

In 1915, Armenians rendered unto Ceasar in an appeal for assistance, with only shattered dreams and broken promises in the end. And ever since, even today, the Ceasar-card attracts the masses and they play it. Check the local demonstration near you and chances are you will find, like this in my area, a stage filled with ineffective or retired politicians, dismissed military men, and for show a defrocked priests show. This time, in my area, even a priest impersonator is invited to share the podium, which makes a mockery of this horrid and evil page of human history. Of course I resent it. These are my people. My grandparents went through that reality and now they are turning into a circus with freak acts and mockery.

Giving to God is to find the humanity in helping and tending to the hurting souls of our world. Commemorating a Genocide from over 100 years ago can only properly be expressed in the actions of helping and others who are suffering the same. Today, the sound of children and people crying from under bombs, bullets and rubble are the expressions despair and further violence for the next century as reflections of their shattered life.

We will continue tomorrow with some positive directions moving forward. Let us pray, Heavenly Father, You have bestowed life in me. Help me to filter the noise of nonsense so I may hear the cries of those who call out to me. Amen.

God’s is Humanity

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Armodoxy for Today: God’s is Humanity

Rendering unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and unto God what is God’s, makes for a nice and convenient escape from world problems and situations. Recently, while commenting on the devastation in Gaza and the famine that became a product of the attacks, I was interrupted by a self-appointed watch-dog of such matters, claiming that Gaza and the plight of the Palestinians was in the hands of the politicians. “Remember,” he told me, “Jesus told us to Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar’s…”

Ah yes, we’ve heard that many a-time. It’s a convenient cop-out. Don’t mess with the horrors of society… there’s nothing that can be done… suffice it, that we should pray, for an end to war and more… It’s very convenient: Let the politicians and the government they represent deal with it.

Perhaps it’s a bit too convenient, because if you want to go that route, then go the entire way: Render unto God what is God’s! That’s right. God’s is the humanitarian heart. In Jesus’ words, “… To proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, heal the brokenhearted, grant recovery of sight for the blind, and set the oppressed free… (Luke 4:18)

You see, rendering unto Ceaser is not an escape clause. Quite the opposite, it’s taking responsibility by rendering unto God. It’s a humanitarian issue! God is love. God is compassion. And we, the Church established by Christ, are called to be the agent for change, to be love, to be compassion. War, famine, hatred, division are not political issues, they are humanitarian issues, pure and simple.

We pray, Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us to see the face of God in everyone. You taught us to be the hands, legs, and mouth of God. Fill us with your compassion to reach out and tend to the hurting of our world. Amen.