Christ or
Caesar? Do they belong in church together?
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The purpose of this article is neither anti-patriotic nor
anti-American. I am a U.S. Navy veteran who served honorably in the
early 1960s. Service to the United States is not part of my worship
of God. The Bible declares that Caesar and God are separate and
unequal. The view expressed herein is to help Christians realize the
house of prayer and worship is for God only.
This was written in response to a Sunday morning worship service which
included the pledge of allegiance to the US flag, the singing of the Star
Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful and the Battle Hymn of the Republic
none of which are Christian hymns. The patriotic veneration service
preceded the sermon.
Governments (Caesar) of this world reflect the culture and character of
the people governed. All peoples believe their country is the best and
they celebrate their own founding, national flag, symbols and songs. Our
country is the same. Consequently the 4th of July, the Stars and Stripes,
the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful are cherished by
Americans. These things are connected to the kingdom of this world system;
not inherently evil but certainly not connected to Christ. We share
these with all Americans even though most Americans are not Christians.
Why do we venerate and honor the world system inside the house of
prayer? What is the motivation which brings Caesar inside the house
of prayer and worship? It certainly cannot be the Holy Spirit who
provides the motivation. Is it the flesh and/or the devil?
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
(Colossians 3:2, KJV) "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory
will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."
(Isaiah 42:8, KJV) Jesus said, "It is written, My house shall be
called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."
(Matthew 21:13, KJV) God is never pleased with idolatry
in any form.
Cyrus, king or Persia, ordered the
rebuilding of the old testament Jewish temple, yet he did not demand nor
seek his symbols and his name be given honor inside the temple.
The Jews who rebuilt the temple would not have allowed such to happen
even though they were thankful to Cyrus for issuing the decree to
rebuild. The one and only purpose of the old testament temple was
to worship God alone with absolutely nothing more added. This
history is an illustration of how God's house of prayer should be used
for one single purpose with nothing more added. American
Christians have added to the one single purpose by adding the display
and veneration of the symbols and songs of a kingdom of this world
inside the house of prayer. Ezra, Isaiah and all the prophets must
be astonished by this lack of dedication to God alone.
Recently a friend said he regards this as
unimportant, a very small matter. God does not consider it a small
insignificant matter to add to the one purpose of the house of prayer and
worship. Matthew chapter 21 records how Jesus reacted when he
confronted those who brought the world’s ways into the house of
prayer. Why do churches in America continue to practice a tradition
rejected by scripture in both precept and
example? Why is it so hard to separate the veneration of nation from
the worship of God? Why is it so difficult to understand the house
of prayer and worship should not be used to honor Caesar. Is Jesus
pleased when he attends church and sees his house of prayer being shared
with the veneration of Caesar's symbols and songs? It is time to
cleanse the house of prayer and return it to the one and only purpose
which God intended. Read Matthew 21.
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any
thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is
in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor
serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity
of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of
then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me
and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20: 4-6, KJV) Has the 2nd
commandment changed? Are patriotic symbols and songs exempt from
God's commandment? No likeness of anything in the heaven above, nor
in the earth beneath nor in the water beneath the earth is exempt from
God's commandment. God requires obedience and hates idolatry whether
the idol exists in the mind or is made of paper, cloth, metal or any
substance. The Protestant Reformers removed every likeness of
everything from their church buildings. They understood how God
views idolatry.
Jesus said in John 4:24 (ESV) "God is
spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Our
society has corrupted the worship of God. Culture usually dictates
the nature of the typical church service where the emotions of the flesh
or ecclesiastical rituals dominate the service instead of the doctrines
of scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Loud rock and/or
contemporary music which excites the emotions and magnifies the flesh
has replaced sacred spiritual music which exalts Christ. The simple
straight forward preaching of God's holy word has been replaced by a
message about a god who is like a man and whose desire is to grant our
every wish or make us rich or improve us by following some self help
formula. Rituals performed by men in long robes have replaced true
worship of God in many churches. High sounding prayers written by
religious professionals often replace the pleading of a humble and
contrite heart asking our High Priest for help. To worship in
spirit and truth is mandatory but cannot happen without truth.
Spirit and truth cannot include idolatry.
All this is happening and many wonder
why the church in America has lost the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul writes, "Quench not the Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 5:19, KJV)
and "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto
the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30, KJV). The Holy
Spirit will not bless when he is quenched and grieved by false practice
and an insensitive attitude regarding the single purpose of the house of
prayer. Churches pray for the power of the Holy Spirit but remain
unwilling to stop quenching and grieving him. Jesus said that to
be a disciple of his we must deny ourselves and take up our cross and
follow him. Many give lip service but few are willing to restore
true worship within the house of prayer. Honoring Caesar inside
the house of prayer quenches and grieves the Holy Spirit.
Our American culture has brought national patriotic passion for a kingdom
of this world with it's national symbols and songs into the house of
prayer and worship. Our culture has changed but Almighty God and His word
and the values contained therein have not and will never change. He is the
same yesterday, today and forever and His Word is as eternal as His
person. Worship should change our culture instead of culture
changing our worship.
Psalm 119:89 (ESV) “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the
heavens.”
Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and
forever.”
The Scriptures present a clear and absolute distinction between Caesar
(government) and God. In Mark 12:17 Jesus said, "Render to Caesar the
things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Earthly
governments (Caesar) are part of the world system. In John 18:36 Jesus
said (in reply to Pilate the governor) "My kingdom is not of this
world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my
servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my
kingdom not from hence." (John 18:36, KJV)
Earthly governments are controlled by men who are either good or
evil. Pledging allegiance to the symbols and singing songs of Caesar
(government of this world) inside the church sanctuary brings Caesar and
Christ together making them appear equal in our affections. Truthfully,
many do love their earthly country as much as they love God. God is
eternal; Caesar is temporal. God and Caesar (government) are not
equal. Such a bringing together elevates government (Caesar) and it’s
symbols alongside the worship of God. Combining Caesar and Christ is
detrimental to and destructive of the worship of God. This unequal
combination of the holy with the world system has become an idolatrous
tradition. What did Jesus say of tradition? Jesus asked the
Pharisees, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your
tradition?" (Matthew 15:3, KJV). "This people draweth nigh
unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their
heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching
for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:8-9,
KJV)
Patriotism is not evil inherently but it is certainly not spiritual nor
worship of God. Rather it is “the things that are Caesar’s”. The
Lord Jesus Christ said we must worship God is Spirit and in truth and this
does not include combining patriotism with the worship of God. Honoring
Caesar with Christ brings elements of the world system into the house of
prayer and worship. Honor your nation but not in the house of prayer
and worship. Even the self righteous Jews of Jesus' time did not
display nor honor Roman symbols inside the temple. Why do American
Christian churches of today add to the purpose of the house of prayer with
a practice began after the War Between The States? Who began this
practice and why? Honoring Caesar in the house of prayer and worship
is not worshiping in spirit and in truth. Why does this idolatry
continue? Does fear of a diminished church budget or a decline in
members or offending a patriotic organization cause this tradition to
continue? How will it be explained to Christ when we all stand
before him? Failure to comprehend God's view of this idolatrous
tradition should cause one to reexamine their relationship to Jesus
Christ. Patriotism becomes evil when it is brought into the house of
prayer.
"Wherefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and
I will receive you," (2 Corinthians 6:17, KJV)
God says in Isaiah 42:8 (ESV) “I am the
Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to
carved idols.” Can we expect our heavenly Father to bless us when we
combine the worship of Him with praise and honor to a kingdom of this
world? For the glory and honor of our eternal king and savior Jesus
Christ, we should respectfully remove the symbols of worldly government
from the sanctuary of our Lord and Savior and let the sanctuary be
consecrated to Christ alone. "Render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s."
"For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons
of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? God is greatly to be
feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all
them that are about him." (Psalms 89:6-7, KJV)
Joshua and Caleb were "peculiar" because they believed God. They
were allowed to enter the promised land and experience the miraculous
working of God. All others of their generation continued eating manna and
died in the desert and never enjoyed the wonderful blessings of the
promised land. Do we want to continue in the desert eating manna or
enter into his courts with praise and experience the fullness of his
blessings? Beseech our Heavenly Father to forgive us and grant us
true Spirit filled worship which pleases him. A "peculiar" people
should believe God and obey his commandments. "But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light:" (1 Peter 2:9, KJV)
"Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your
God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the
likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden
thee. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous
God." (Deuteronomy 4:23-24, KJV)
1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we
ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth
to all generations.
(Psalm 100, KJV) To agree with and practice the words of this Psalm
can not include entering into the house of prayer singing and praising
Caesar.
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," (Philippians 3:20, ESV2011)
"For our conversation is in heaven;
from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"
(Philippians 3:20, KJV) Entering into the house of prayer with
joy, praise and thanksgiving should celebrate our heavenly citizenship,
not our citizenship in a kingdom of this world. No likeness of
anything in heaven, earth or water.
God’s
2nd Commandment and Graven Images
(Exodus 20:4-5, KJV)
“4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any
graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or
that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them,
nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me;”
The second commandment declares two
specific yet prohibitions. It is important to see these prohibitions as
distinct from each other, although associated. These prohibitions are
directly associated with worship both in nature and vicinity. Both are
declared by God and should be obeyed as written without hesitation or
reservation.
(1) Do not make images.
(2)
Do not worship images.
1. Do Not Make Images
In
Exodus 22 verse 4 God declares that His people shall not make
graven images. This includes images of anything in heaven above, in the
earth and the water under the earth. Therefore God’s people are not to
make carved images. It doesn’t matter if the image is made by one’s own
hand or is purchased from another. Shall not make.
Different earthly cultures put much
emphasis on art as part of worship. Some cultures value images such as
paintings more than others. Some churches believe cultural images aid and
improve worship. Images, even those meant to adorn, desecrate rather than
embellish God’s house. God has clearly spoken. God forbids any image to be
associated with or in the vicinity of worship. Images are forbidden in the
house of worship regardless of the motivation of the person who places
them in God’s house.
2. Do Not Worship Images
In
Exodus verse 5 God declares that His people shall not bow down to
or serve (worship) carved images. Some churches
have images of the national and other flags in the house of worship. In
some churches on certain holidays the congregation is led to pledge
allegiance to the national flag. This is the same as bowing down to an
image; an image which should never be placed in the house of worship. Any
form of veneration of any image is the same as bowing to an image. It is
obvious that God does not want images in the house of worship.
Religions of the world employ images of
all types to express their worship. God desires his people to worship in
spirit and in truth. God’s people do not need the images of human culture
to aid in worship. All images distract from worship of the only true and
living God who is spirit. Any image which seeks to give a visual image of
God is an abomination to him because it violates his direct commandments.
Having images of any kind in the house of worship is rebellion against
God’s plainly written word.
Some Christian churches (most notably the
Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) fill their houses of worship with
images of things in heaven, in earth and in the water under the earth.
Some bow to and offer prayers to these images. Bowing down to an image is
recognized by God as a form of worship. Praying to them places the image
as a mediator between God and man but the scripture declares that Jesus
Christ is the only mediator. God is not pleased with any image in the
place of worship.
This commandment relates to the worship of
God because the first commandment is to not have any other Gods. The
temple was where the children of Israel performed their collective
worship. Jesus said his house should be called a house of prayer. Today we
meet collectively in the church building which is our house of worship.
The house of prayer and worship should conform to the commandments of God
as written just as did the temple in Jerusalem. The building in which God
is worshiped should not be shared with any likeness in heaven, in earth or
in the water under the earth. God forbids all likeness of
anything which include flags. All should be removed.
The Protestant Reformation was marked by a
removal of all images of every type from their houses of
worship. Today their descendants have failed to continue obeying God’s
commandment. The house of prayer and worship now includes the veneration
of national holidays honoring the symbols and songs of Caesar (human
government). The Jews of Jesus time would not have permitted this and
neither would have the Reformers such as Martin Luther. The Protestant
Reformation was a time of revival and they understood that revival begins
by obeying God’s commandments. Revival and rebellion cannot coexist.
Interestingly the Muslim religion obeys
the second commandment; allowing only geometric shapes for decoration
inside their mosques. How sad that Muslims obey the clear commandment of
God while Christian churches have continued or reintroduced the pagan
practice of images in the house of worship.
Why are prayers offered to invoke the
power of God in church when the church won’t even obey the 2nd
commandment? Spiritual darkness is more dangerous than physical darkness.
Failure to obey God’s commandments is
rebellion against God. Remember Saul’s failure to completely obey God;
read it in 1 Samuel chapter 15 beginning in verse 22. It is not too late
to obey God. Disobedience is rebellion.
(1 Samuel 15:22-23, KJV)
“22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is
better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as
iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of
the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
Remember the 2nd commandment
has two prohibitions.
1.
Do not make any graven image
2.
Do not worship any graven image
Only
2 options are available. (1) Repent and obey or (2) continue in rebellion.
There is not a 3rd alternative.