“After a semi-annual budget audit was run by the elder board at Lake Michigan Bible Fellowship Monday, youth pastor Troy “Turnt” Hatley was called in for questioning over the fact that he had rendered half his budget unto Little Caesars.” — Babylon Bee
This article from the Babylon Bee — a Christian version of the Onion — cracked me up. But there is also some truth nuggets in their humor. And that is the whole the point of satire (which Snopes.com may fail to understand since they are fact-checking the Bee).
We also shouldn’t miss the point of Jesus’ words, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). Jesus wasn’t making a call for percentages: give your first 10% to God, then pay your tax bracket % to the government (unless you are the 1%, then offshore all your money 😉 ), and the rest is yours. Instead, Jesus is making a subtle reminder to consider what is God’s and Caesar’s? More importantly, what is ours? And the object isn’t just money. The answer was easy for the Jew’s present… as it is for us: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1 / 1Cor 10:26).
Take a moment to pray the Lord’s Prayer. Commit to let go of your will and submit to God’s will for your life.
This Sunday we conclude our BE vision, focusing on BEcome. We live in this world, but this is not our home. Nor are the leaders of this world our Kings and Queens. We serve another Kindgom – God’s. We submit to the rule of God! As our vision statment concludes, we are “striving to BEcome God’s kindom here on earth”.
PLUNGE47 