"Everything Belongs To God" October 19, 2008 Pentecost 23 Lectionary 29

(First, read the text for this sermon: Matthew 22:15-22)

“Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?"

Sounds like a question from this year’s presidential campaign, doesn’t it? Both campaigns have even been debating the patriotism of taxes and tax breaks.

But of course, this question comes from this morning’s story in Matthew. And the question is very dangerous for Jesus. Remember the context. The story begins, Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said. That’s what’s up here.

In this section of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus has entered into Jerusalem. You remember what’s going to happen in Jerusalem, don’t you? Jerusalem is where Jesus will be arrested and charged with treason against the Roman empire. Jerusalem is where Jesus will be tortured and executed. According to the gospels, all of this will be a set up, by the Jewish authorities, because Jesus is so threatening to their power. The religious rulers are so intent on getting rid of Jesus that, get this: the Pharisees and the Herodians are working together on this.

At the time that would have been astonishing. The Pharisees urged Jewish separatism from the Roman empire. The Herodians urged Jewish accommodation with King Herod. This might be the only time these two religious parties ever cooperated with each other! They were usually at each other’s throats.

We read this: So [the Pharisees] sent their disciples to [Jesus], along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. It is after this blatantly false flattery that they ask: “Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?"

Whether Jesus says, “Yes,” or “No,” he’s in trouble. The Herodians and others advocate keeping the Romans happy because, after all, they are an occupying force of tremendous brutality. They crucify people right and left. Paying taxes is certainly a small price to pay for their lives, and for the permission to worship according to the law. They want to hear Jesus say, “Yes.” But the Pharisees and others quote God’s law to mean they should have nothing to do with the unclean, impure gentiles of the Roman Empire. Certainly Jesus’ answer must be “No!”

How will Jesus respond? Who will he please? Much more consequential: Who will he anger?

As you heard in the story, Jesus creates a third alternative. And it’s a brilliant response! But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away. Because – what are “the things that are God’s?” What belongs to God?

Everything!

Everything belongs to God. Those of you who are veteran worshipers have heard that, time and again. Perhaps it’s an especially helpful reminder during times of economic turmoil. It’s always a helpful reminder to disciples who are being formed by God the Holy Spirit in the faith practice of generosity.

So: “Give therefore … to God the things that are God’s.”

I was very much taken by something Emily Rossiter said last week, when she was giving her witness, as part of our stewardship temple talks. She talked about how, when she was asked weeks ago to say a few words, she said, “Sure”; not having any idea what would hit the stock market and the credits markets. So, Emily said something like, “it takes courage to stand here and talk about money during this turmoil.” But then she said, “No, it’s not a matter of courage. It’s a matter of faith.”

Faith means letting go. Faith means trust. Faith means yielding our sense of ownership. Faith means trusting that everything belongs to God, and that everything we need to live comes from God, and that God will provide what we need to live.

It is in Christian community that God forms us in that faith and trust. It is through the example of others that the Spirit forms us in the faith practice of generosity.

My parents were the first ones to witness this to me – when I was in my early teens and learned how much they gave to their congregation. (I saw the amount of money written on the outside of their church envelope!) This was a formative experience for me – because we lived extremely comfortably and, at the same time, they gave 10% of their income to the church. So, I decided to try it myself! I received an allowance of $2.50 a week, out of which was to come my school lunches – 35 cents each day. I started putting 25 cents (10%) into the offering plate each week!

I was fortunate to receive that formative model from my parents, because it’s easiest to learn to tithe when you don’t have any money or expenses! I found it easy, then, to continue the practice as I got summer jobs, and then my first “real” job, and then made the decisions to buy our first new car and our first house, knowing that we had 90% of our income to spend on needs and wants. Our mindset wasn’t one of scarcity. Even though everything belongs to God, we were taking 90% of that to pay for our needs and wants!

The next model the Spirit provided for me was Carl Hiteshew. Carl was an elderly neighbor in the neighborhood in which we bought our first house. He was a humble, unassuming man. (I find that the best witnesses to the faith are humble and unassuming!) Carl was a retired fundraiser for religious organizations and I asked him for advice because we needed to expand the church building in Virginia Beach. I was a young pastor, and I had no idea how to lead a congregation through such an undertaking. So Carl became my teacher.

I remember well one image he used. He said the monthly flow of income was like a stream. Each month, we dip out of the stream what is necessary to pay the bills.

And here’s what I remember most vividly: Carl pointed out that it is my choice how much I dip out each month. That it is my choice how big a house I buy, how fancy a car, how expensive the electronics. Carl taught me that we’re not trapped by bills, as if there’s some unseen force capturing us! Unless there is a catastrophe of health, the bills that come in each month are what we choose them to be! What empowering teaching that was! We can choose to live comfortably on 90% of our income (out of the 100% which belongs to God).

Let me tell you about one last saint that the Holy Spirit used to form me in generosity. Clark Janssen was, again, much older than me. He was a member of the congregation I was serving. He was a retired Navy enlisted man, who was now working for a kitchen remodeling company, building cabinets. What Clark taught me is that it is possible to grow to a 10% tithe over a decade, by 1% a year increases – because that is exactly what he had done! As he witnessed to his pastor in his non-sophisticated, down-to-earth manner, I’ll never forget one thing he said: “I’ve always thought the 10% figure is kind of arbitrary. I’ve kept up the 1% increase, and I left the tithe behind several years ago.” What a counter-cultural role model Clark was for me! I’m sure, in his genuine humility, he would be surprised to know how powerful his witness was in my formation.

But, over the past decades, Clark’s teaching has had lasting effect – because I have encouraged congregations to become tithing congregations, through the practice of that 1% growth each year. And, on a personal level, people discover the joy there is in this kind of radical generosity!

It is exhilarating to be so generous that the IRS flags your tax return because your charitable deduction seems out of line!

It is liberating to know, first, that everything belongs to God; and, second, that God will always give us enough for what we need (that’s where our choices enter in). Out of that freedom, then, our faith-filled response to God’s generosity is our own generosity!

In the name of that generous God, who is Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pastor Andy Ballentine
St. Stephen Lutheran Church
Williamsburg, Virginia