Jesus’ comment was in the context of taxes. For American citizens, rendering to “Caesar” is more complicated because we are expected and allowed to be involved in the selection of our leaders. Some will be more deeply involved than others. Our need is to be led by the Holy Spirit so that we do not render too little or too much. We can render too little and not even take time to vote or to research issues and candidates so we can vote properly. We can render too much when political discussion becomes the chief subject of discussion and when issues become a heavy burden. We are not to fear but to trust God; and we have been left here to make disciples among all nations; the gospel must be our chief topic of conversation.
The Bible does not make “slavery” the end all topic that it seems to be today. The Law of Moses was more interested in regulating slavery than abolishing it. Slavery was a fact in the OT world as well as in the NT world of the Roman Empire. Christians who were slaves were encouraged to gain their freedom if they could (1 Cor. 7:21-22), but if they couldn’t by the grace of God there could still be happiness. Oppression was always forbidden, and that fact, as well as the thought of one Creator of all men (Ac. 17:26) was what drove Christians such as Wilberforce, to call for the abolition of slavery.
The Bible also does not issue a call to topple governments that are known for “tyranny.” No exceptions were issued to Rom. 13:1 if you lived under Nero or Domitian. Prayer for deliverance was joined with much patience for God’s people, who understood, Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (Rom. 12:19).
Slavery and tyranny are both evils that are the result of a world full of people who are prone to sin. The Constitution of the United States intended to do away with both these evils. Here is this from the Preamble again: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
We noted that there is much here that fits the Bible’s view of government. But there is a major problem. In the Bible it is never sufficient to have laudable goals in life. We must have the power to meet those goals. We must be able to break free from the propensity to sin. It is not just the leadership; “We the People” must be free to do good in Order to form a more perfect Union. But we are not born into this freedom. We are born into the greatest slavery of all: it is not slavery to our fellow human beings; it is our personal enslavement to sin.
The Bible is clear about this. By birth we are corrupt (2 Pt. 2:19), sinful (Jn. 8:34), unclean and lawless (Rom. 6:19), and above all, we are bound to the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2). This law says the soul that sins shall die (Ezek. 18:4); it says, the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). The Bible says we were born into this slavery; and the only way out is to be born again. Paul said in Rom. 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. When a person bows in faith before Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit makes that person alive spiritually for the first time in his life. This is the message of the gospel: our sin debt is paid at the cross, and Jesus’ mighty resurrection brings life.
What does that mean on this Independence Day? It means that Jesus last command to His Church, to make disciples (Mt. 28:19-20), is still the number one duty we have. This must be rendered to God! And in our country, the epitome of “patriotism” is to pray and love and preach for the salvation of our fellow citizens. Apart from freedom from sin, the Constitution of the USA is doomed to failure.
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