Render Unto Caesar
“At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars (II Chronicles 16:7-9).”
The church has come under the condemnation of this word of the seer1 (prophet) Hanani. The church has become beholden to the government of the United States for the forgiving of taxes. They were made tax exempt in the mistaken understanding that it was a blessing from God. They forgot the admonition of Jesus which said:
“What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way (Matthew 22:17-22).”
“Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me (Psalm 50:7-15).”
In this sin against God, the church has made itself beholden to the federal government not God. Churches have now begun not to hold up the cross; further they have begun voluntarily to remove the crosses from their churches so as not to offend unbelievers. The cross is an offense only to those who will not suffer Christ, the only begotten Son of God to rule over them.
It is written, “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man [Christ on his cross], then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things (John 8:28).”
The sign of the cross points the way to salvation for the whole world (John 3:16,17).
- (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) (I Samuel 9:9).”
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