The Politics of Jesus

     Jesus made this statement as an answer to a question asked with the intent of trapping him over the issue of paying taxes. His detractors thought he couldn't win - that he would either have to disappoint his followers or anger the Romans by answering the question of whether they should pay taxes to Rome. While Jesus' answer spoke directly to the issue of taxes, I believe he was speaking also about many other issues that are rooted in secular law and politics.
     There are many questions that divide us, either because we disagree on whether they are right or wrong, because we disagree on the proper role of the government in deciding them, or both. We want the civil law to reflect what we believe is morally correct. Unfortunately human morality is black and white and we live in many shades of gray. Sometimes moralities clash. Sometimes good people disagree, even over the meaning of biblical passages. perhaps more often over the meaning of biblical passages.
     When a law is created there are consequences, both intended and unintended, resulting from the establishment of the law. One example of this is the prohibition of alcohol. There is no "absolutely correct" position on drinking. There are health and socialization advantages of drinking in moderation. There are families that are fed by the business of making and selling alcohol. There are also many people killed and many families ruined through its excess. People have long disagreed on the value of drinking, but it wasn't until there were attempts to use the power of the government to stop it that people organized into strong factions for and against. A moral issue became a political reality. One of the outcomes of this law was that many people quit drinking. Another was that many, otherwise honest, people felt justified in breaking the law. A huge black market and criminal sub-culture was born.
     There is difference between religion and politics. The strength of religion lies in its absolute certainty. The strength of politics lies in its ability to create compromise. Religion is about our soul. Politics is about our life, and how we live it together. At times our soul demands that we take a position on a political issue, because that issue is at the center of our morality. Does it also demand that we demonize all who disagree with us? Are we honoring Jesus if we use him as a weapon to win a point in a political struggle?
     I believe that God expects us to do everything in our power to advocate for those causes that we believe strongly in. There are moral issues that we, personally, cannot compromise. This does not mean that we must do everything in our power to make sure other people act the way that we think they should, particularly if those moral positions, when embodied in law, create unintended consequences that outweigh the benefits of the law.
     There are many issues that divide us. They don't have to destroy us. We should not let our belief in a religious or moral position blind us to others' beliefs. We must recognize what belongs to Caesar - what belongs in the political arena of compromise. If there is an uncompromising principle to live by, it is that we are to love one another, enough to respect our differences.

I believe that Jesus wants it that way.