Sunday
10/22/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s
Sermon Title: “Death and Taxes”
Old Testament
Scripture: Exodus 33:12-23
New Testament
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Gospel Lesson:
Matthew 22:15-22
My friends, my sisters and brothers in Christ, welcome
again on this our Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost.
You might have noticed that my sermon title for this
morning is called “Death and Taxes”. My guess is your thinking right now, “Well
isn’t that a cheery and upbeat sermon title”!
Before getting into the gospel reading from the gospel of
Matthew for this morning though, I have two questions for us all.
The first question is this, “how many of us by a show of
hands like paying taxes”?
The second question is this, “how many of us by a show of
hands would like to never pay taxes ever again”?
So, I also have a bonus question. Here is the bonus
question, “does Jesus want us to pay our taxes”?
When questioned about taxes this morning in the gospel of
Matthew, Jesus says of coins or currency with the picture of the Roman Caesar
on them:
“Give
therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the
things that are God’s” (Mt. 22:21b, NRSV).
We seem to have a biblical precedent for paying takes then.
What seems unclear biblically however, is how much taxes should we pay? Do we
pay 5%, 10%, 20%, 50%, and etc.?
Since the dawn of all civilizations, leaders and governments
used taxes from its people., in part, to pay for the military, public works,
roads, message delivery, and etc., and etc. It would seem then, that we are stuck
with taxes, as we continue the debate that was going on nearly two-thousand
years ago, in this morning’s gospel of Matthew reading. The other reality with
this morning’s gospel reading, is that Israel was occupied by the Roman Empire.
This means that Israel and the people of Israel were a colony of the Roman
Empire, the same way we were a colony of the British Empire. Giving money to
foreign occupying power, and to one that did not worship the God of the Jews,
well that was just not allowed. This really draws us into the question of, are
we citizens of earth, or are we citizens of heaven? On earth we pay taxes, but our
ultimate citizenship is in heaven.
As far as the other part of my sermon title for this
morning, I have discovered after extensive research, a shocking and a startling
fact! Did you know that 100% of all living people will die? Did you know that
the human death rate is 100%? Well it is.
In thinking of a funny sort of tongue and cheek title for
this morning’s sermon then, I thought of that famous quote about “Death and Taxes”.
In doing a little research on the idiom of “Death and Taxes” quote, this is
what I found:
1.
The first reference to “Death and Taxes” was from a writing called: “The Cobbler of Preston” by
Christopher Bullock, written in 1716. In this writing, Bullock writes:
"'Tis
impossible to be sure of anything but Death and Taxes," (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_taxes_(idiom).
There are other sources that will debate when this quote
came about, but this is one of the earliest claims. Further, this was written three-hundred
and one years ago, and we know therefore, they were stressing about taxes even
back then.
2.
The next reference I have of the term “Death and Taxes” comes from a writing
called: Daniel Defoe's The
Political History of the Devil, written in 1726. In this writing Defoe
writes:
“Things as certain as death and taxes, can be more firmly
believ'd.”
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_taxes_(idiom).
3.
The last reference to the term “Death and Taxes,” which is the most famous one,
came from one of the founders of our country, Benjamin Franklin. While he
didn’t get to be president, he is on the $100 bill, and I would be ok with that
if I was Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin’s quote is from: Benjamin Franklin’s letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, written in 1789. In this letter
Benjamin Franklin is writing about our new constitution, for our new country,
the United States of America. While Benjamin Franklin hopes our new country and
our constitution will be a success, he writes:
“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an
appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to
be certain, except death and taxes”.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_taxes_(idiom).
So we have a biblical precedent for paying taxes, even if we
can debate how much taxes, and for what. We also know that the gospel reading
this morning is specific to the current situation that the Israeli people were
in, under the rule of Roman Empire. Scripture does also call us to submit to
our ruling authorities, however. So we also know that the human death rate is
100%. Benjamin Franklin and the others I quoted therefore, were all saying, we
all die, and we all pay taxes.
I don’t know about you, but if saw life through the lens of
“death and taxes,” for me at least, well that is just a downer! Meaning that
according to Benjamin Franklin, the guy on the one-hundred dollar bill, all we
can be sure of, is death and taxes.
Well
no offense to our great founder, but I disagree that “in this world nothing can be said to be
certain, except death and taxes”. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_taxes_(idiom). It
is interesting to me that Benjamin Franklin says “in this
world” though. He doesn’t mention
heaven or eternity, he simply mentions earth.
So we all die, and we all pay taxes. Yet our Declaration of
Independence, written in 1776, has those famous words:
"Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life,_Liberty_and_the_pursuit_of_Happiness).
If this is true then, is it possible that there is more to
this life than just, “death and taxes”? Is there suffering, hurt, and struggle
in this life? Sure there is, but there is also joy, love, caring, service, God’s
grace, and the fellowship that we share together.
The gospel of Jesus Christ, is something that is
transformative. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings us first into a spiritual
transformation, and then into a lived experience. In this transformation of the
repentance of our sins, of accepting Christ, of being filled with the Holy
Spirit, and then living into this experience together, I believe, that we as
Christians can have a much more meaningful and significant life on this earth,
then just “Death and Taxes”.
As Christians, we are people of faith and hope, we are
people that believe a better world is possible. Part of this belief is that we
do not sit on the sidelines, we are called to be out in the world, healing,
loving, giving, and serving. When disasters come, we give and serve. When
oppression of innocent person occurs, we stand with them, and we give and
serve. The gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to more meaning on this earth, than
just “Death and Taxes”.
We
are also a people that believe in the eternity to come with God, with Jesus.
Our spiritual transformations, and our individual and our large scale callings
to transform for the world for Jesus Christ, gives us much more significance,
than just “death and taxes”. I am saying therefore, that my Christian faith is
the very core of who I am, and it is my very purpose and drive to get up out of
bed every morning. My family is also part of my purpose, as is my church
family.
In looking again at out gospel of Matthew reading for this
morning, we don’t hear about death, but once again, we do hear about taxes. In
this morning’s gospel reading, some of the religious leaders are attempting to
trick Jesus, as to discredit and embarrass him (Mt. 22:15, NRSV). To try to
prove that he is some sort of a fraud.
This is what our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning
has to say once again:
“Then the Pharisees went and plotted
to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, 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. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it
lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 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” (Mt. 22:15-22, NRSV).
In this
scripture, the religious leaders, the Pharisees, and the pro-Roman leaders, the
“Herodians” are waiting to see who Jesus sides with. Jesus then separates the
ruling authority or government, with that of the ruling power and authority of
God.
You see, from
my perspective, every civilization in history has had some sort of leader and
or government. We are often born into these civilizations and these structures.
As part of that collective society, country, and or culture, we are expected to
contribute to the wellbeing of the entire whole of whatever we are contributing
to. Yet, the Roman Empire fell, as have many other great empires. This is to
say, people are no longer purchasing things with coins that have the Roman
Emperor’s face on them.
While I love
my country of birth then, and while I would love to have many pictures of
Benjamin Franklin in my wallet, I realize that the only that is enteral is God.
The only thing that will last forever, is God and God’s kingdom, through Jesus
Christ. For in the gospel of Matthew 24:35, Jesus says:
“Heaven and earth
will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mt. 24:35).
So I say, that there is more to this life on earth, then
just “Death and Taxes”. There is living for and believing in Jesus Christ, and
living our faith out in blessed community. So what say you? Is there more to
this life on earth, then just “Death and Taxes”. Amen.
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