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Faith That Works: Worshiping God
or Caesar?
by Viktor Kostov, PhD
~
February 26, 2013
Viktor Kostov, PhD is a
missiologist and attorney at law. He is based in Eastern Europe,
married with three children. He works for the spread of the Gospel,
freedom of religion and speech and defending the traditional family.
I grew up in communist
Bulgaria when public false worship of the national false god was
mandatory. One of the major roles of the government, and why not the
main purpose, was to ensure obedience to the ideology of the ruling cult
the communist party.The above photograph has recorded a so called
manifestation of the people in Bulgaria under communism. All
schools, universities, factories, and all workers had to show up for
these parades and shout worshipful slogans to the communist party,
the state and its leaders. The socialist utopia was at its highest
frenzy.Some of the slogans we had to shout had an unreserved
religious overtones: Eternal glory to the Bulgarian Communist
Party!, Forever Unbreakable friendship with the USSR! and many
others. They were evoking eternity!? The communists were supposedly
banning religion and Christianity as the opium for the people, but
were engaging in worship of the state and Marx, Lenin and other
communist leaders.If one thinks that
socialist utopia is
far behind us, in the annals of history, they are mistaken.Today,
western governments are also imposing its ideological tyranny
on people. They are redefining the nature of family, education,
service, atheism, and human relationships. They are imposing a new,
state-sponsored and mandatory view on gender and marriage. These words
from the British Prime Minister were publicized
by the media:“Speaking shortly before MPs vote on the
gay marriage bill, the Prime Minister said: ‘Today is an important
day. I am a strong believer in marriage. It helps people commit to
each other and I think it is right that gay people should be able to
get married too.’ This is, yes, about equality. But it is also about
making our society stronger.”[1]
No, Mr. Prime Minister! This is not about
equality. This is about making sinful behavior mainstream and about
destroying traditional marriage and the family. This is about
announcing to God We are strong and your ordinances will not
break us. We will set up our own morality, our own family, our own
marriage, and we will make your church, accept this!I dont think
my statement is an exaggeration. In France, regardless of massive
street protests their legislature adopted marriage to be the union
between two individuals of different or the same gender.[2]The conservative members of
the UK parliament voiced clearly their position:“Nonetheless, some Conservative
lawmakers added a strident note to Tuesdays debate. ‘It is not
possible to redefine marriage,’ said Sir Roger Gale, a right-wing
backbencher. Marriage is the union between a man and a woman, has
been historically, remains so. It is Alice in Wonderland territory,
Orwellian almost, for any government of any political persuasion to
seek to come along and try to rewrite the lexicon. It will not do.[3]But you may say:
Why should we concern
ourselves with politics? Christians should be concerned with
spiritual things and the salvation of souls, right?God and
CaesarI am not
so concerned with politics. I am
very concerned with public idolatry. And when idolatry becomes public
— and when the state forces Christians to embrace its idols — the
battle is primarily about religion, faith and souls, not politics.If one reads the Bible with the appropriate
attitude he will be most likely surprised by the ample participation of
the secular government in the interaction with the prophets and
ministers of God, including Jesus. Three of the gospels record Jesus
opponents trying to entice him into anti-government statements. The issue
of paying taxes was as poignant in the early times as it is today.
However, in the mentioned exchange the Lord teaches about more than
taxes. He sets up the powers and the priorities for his followers,
regarding these powers.
“And they
brought [him a coin]. And he said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They
said to him, ‘Caesar’s.’ ‘Jesus
said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that
are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’
And they marveled at him. (Mark 12:16-17)The Biblical context shows Jesus’ theological opponents
wanting to catch him in a teaching that they could use against him before
the government. There are three aspect of this verse
I want to point out:1. There are things that
belong to Caesar, (or the state).
2. And there are things
that belong to God.
3. These two categories are different; they are not to be
confused.We cannot give to Caesar what is Gods (thus making
Caesar God). And we shouldnt give to God what is Caesars, as if our
Lord were simply a secular, lower level authority.What does this message mean for us today? Erwin Lutzer puts it
this way:“We shall discover that
we always find ourselves caught between our responsibilities as
citizens of earth and our responsibility as citizens of heaven. The church has
always been poised between two gods and two crosses.“On the one side is
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who died on a Roman cross, executed
for the sins of the world. On the other side are any number of lesser
gods and other crosses that promise a false salvation. These other gods
are almost always embodied in the state; they most often come to us
dressed in the garb of Caesar. And in the end they are committed to
crushing religious freedom.“[4]Indeed statism is one of the most wide spread
idolatries of today.[5]
Today’s secular state seems determined to have a policy on all kinds of
private and family-related issues, which in a “free” nation, would
should be outside its domain. Those vital issues include health care,
education, the family (caring for children), gender and marriage, and
even worship.Even the “free” nations of the west are now
ignoring Christs wise command to give God what is Gods and Caesar what is Caesars. The totalitarian state is now
reaching out to claim and control what is Gods, and
the masses barely notice their loss!We have come to a time and place where it is not
only the Communist or Nazi nations that intrude into areas that are not
properly matters of secular government. Even the “free” nations of the
west are now ignoring Christs wise command to give God what is Gods
and Caesar what is Caesars. The totalitarian state is now
reaching out to claim and control what is Gods, and
the masses barely notice their loss!So what is going on? What is behind the
political debate on MARRIAGE!?Socialism is a political society
in which the rulers are the source of mores and
laws. A new breed of Socialism threatens America as well. We can see
that by the emerging laws of homofascism the forced government
requirement to uncritically accept homosexualism as a mainstream new
morality?[6][7]
The California Congress passed
a statute in January 2013 making it illegal to counsel children or youth under
age 18 who fear they might be homosexual and therefore seek freedom
through
therapy. This is a very dangerous law. It outlaws God’s
natural plan for His people and promotes an unnatural practice that
destroys families and devastates many children. It demonizes morality and normalcy. It
intervenes in parents right and obligation to raise and counsel their children in the counsel of God
and the Bible. It is bent on destroying free thought and free
speech.[8]The church, if she is salt and light, must
respond to the challenge. We as Christians cannot give to the state
what belongs to God. The government will want to intervene in our
consciences and our souls and our families; and is doing it. The
blatant legislating of new gender, family and new made up morality
of tolerance is threatening the very core of freedom of religion
and expression.If Christians yield to the pressure to
appear tolerant and loving
while forfeiting the true definition of biblical love,
then they have become an unsalty. They’ve chosen a convenient
middle ground.I know your works,
that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or
hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich,
have become wealthy, and have need of nothingand do not know that
you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation
3:15-17)In post-communist Bulgaria (and for that matter
in most European nations) the State is still an undisputed
idol even for many Christian. Today the same mind-changing idolatry
is rising up in America with
unprecedented speed.Worship God and
Acknowledge the State, Not the Other Way AroundThe Bible teaches that the reason for
homosexual behavior is idolatry (Romans 1:27). A prominent
Christian thinker, R.J. Rushdoony puts it bluntly: Show me your
laws and I will show you your god.[9]Tertullian, the fourth century Christian theologian and lawyer saw idolatry as the most fundamental problem of
mankind:“The principal crime
of the human race, the highest guilt charged upon the world, the
whole procuring of the cause of judgment, is idolatry.”Is todays secular
government competent to tell us what marriage is about? Did the
state invented marriage? Or did God?Marriage is defined by God in the very
beginning of creation and no one can redefine it without the risk of
being in utter and complete rebellion against Gods created order.
As we see it prophesied in Psalms 2:1-6:“Why do the nations rage
and the
peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set
themselves,
and the
rulers take counsel together,
against
the Lord
and against his Anointed, saying,
‘Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast
away their cords from us.’God response however is that
such plans cannot shake his established order nor change the
ultimate course of history or the delivery of his justice:“He
who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord
holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his
wrath,
and
terrify them in his fury, saying,
‘As for me, I have set my King
on Zion,
my holy hill.‘We live in times where as Christian we must
become very clear of what our faith is, what the Scriptures teach,
what we believe. And we must stand up for our faith and the name of
Christ.Ephesians 5:8-14 contains the following exhortation:
“Walk as children of light
(for
the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
and try to discern what is pleasing
to the Lord. Take no part
in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
For it is shameful even to speak of
the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes
visible, for anything that
becomes visible is light.”Part of our good works of salvation is actually
to expose the deeds of darkness, not to participate in them.
We must be involved in a ministry which the apostle Paul announced
as tearing down of strongholds, and captivating minds for Christ:We can see where this mandate can be applied
when we see injustice, deception and public immorality turned into
law.A disclaimer is needed here. I do not appeal
for the establishment of some theocracy on this earth where we adopt
the Bible as the law of the land. This has been tried before and has
not worked out that well. In many cases the imposition of one
worldview or religion, ever a Christian-like one, has led to
totalitarianism.Christians are a different people
in a different kingdom. If our King was of this world we would want
to have him run for President. But Jesus is not running for
re-election. He is already King!Our assignment in public witness
is to assert namely that: to show a
standard of the Kingdom of God and to thus affect souls and secular
governments with the Gospel of Christ. And if public policy changes
so be it. If the government honors Gods justice and His Gospel we
will support it. If the government is wicked, immoral and
corrupt we will speak against the public unrighteousness. In both
cases we will lift men in authority in prayer (1
Tim. 2:1-7).But either way Christians must be a
prophetic voice, an eternal reference to a new generation that
lacks any moral compass, any hope in God, and any revelation
of His character, judgment and mercy. We cannot withdraw our witness,
we cannot be silent,
we cannot just sit and watch darkness overtake the minds and souls
of so many and destroy the lives of even the new generation.Now is
the time to go to God worship and acquire the boldness and faith
that we need to join in the works of righteousness, exposing the
works of darkness. We win in the end the kingdoms of this world
will become the kingdom of our Lord. But till then we must issue the
warning and the call to obey Gods commands.Now is
the time to prepare for the changes ahead! May God give us the faith
and boldness that we need to share in His works of righteousness and
expose the
works of darkness. We will win in the end; the kingdoms of this world
will become the kingdom of our Lord! But until then we must issue
His
warnings and the call to obey Gods commands.Romans 13 does state that all authorities are Gods servants
for our good, to provide order and peace in a fallen society. But
what do we do when instead of order and peace those rulers promote a
false worship of idols? We must tear down old idols that we have
allowed to be erected in the public square. How can that be, you may
ask?The struggle for
freedom of conscience and
the expression of faith runs through the whole Bible. Here we
will point to only a few examples:1) The Prophet Elijah
confronted the 450 prophets of the false god Baal publicly? Those false prophets were supported by the government; they were
favored by the queen and king. (1 Kings 18)2) Three imperial
employees Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refused to bow to the king and were ready to die for their faith and
freedom of religion. (Daniel 3)3) Daniel could have
prayed in secret for thirty days, while the law of universal worship
of the king lasted. Instead, when he learned of the new limitation
on his religious freedom, Daniel opened wide his windows so all could see him praying
to his God — in violation of the new government law. (Daniel 6, see verses 10 and 11)4) Throughout his
ministry our Lord constantly debated the religious leaders who
finally submitted him to the secular authorities for execution. (Matt.
12:1-14;
Luke 23:1-5; etc.)5)
In
Acts 4:1-27 and
5:17-42, preaching in the name of Jesus became
the reason for the apostles to be arrested by the authorities.These were all law abiding citizens, faithful
to their secular state government. Nevertheless when the state or
the king requested worship of themselves as a god, these law-abiding
citizens broke the law of the land without any reservation. And that
was a righteous thing to do. Because they knew the true Law-Giver.Ephesians 6:10-13 states that besides obeying
the rulers we must also oppose unrighteousness when principalities
and powers impose it by using their authority.“Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh
and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities,
against the spiritual powers over this present
darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand firm.”Although it is clear that this reference in
verse 12 refers to spiritual entities, these are spiritual
principalities who affect the earthly rulers. False
worship and idolatry unleashes these principalities and powers to
deceive individuals, families nations and their governments. As a
result false worship produces more idolatry and injustice. It
produces tyrants and tyrannical governments.We must preach the Gospel to individuals so
they can be converted and individually saved. But the Scriptures teach
us that sharing the Gospel involves not only evangelism but also confrontation with sin and systemic evil and deception
in the public square. We have to defend the standards
of God and the standards of Scripture as if they were the only moral
reference point people needed. In fact, they are!However we must be aware that that
freedom
must work in us first, by the love of God and the power of
Christs salvation. If we are free inside, in our so called heart,
no threat of mockery or persecution can stop us from bringing forth
the liberating Gospel of the Kingdom of God.Tortured for His Faith is a small book
written by a pastor who started a mission for evangelism to
communist lands. He was in Bulgarian communist prisons and labor
camps for over 13 years in the mid 20th century. His struggle
to tone down his preaching while his family was in danger is humanly
understandable, yet Jesus warned against it. This is written after
his wife and children were able to leave communist Bulgaria:“The remaining years in prison were easier to endure. I was no longer
afraid of the communists. They had me, but they could not touch my
family!…They could torture me, but they couldnt touch my one
really vulnerable spot my wife and children!“Much suffering and
torture lay ahead because of my witness for Christ in prison, but no
longer was I a prisoner. Surely, there were walls and bars
around me, but no one could take away the inner freedom inside me.”
(p. 64)Conclusion
1) If we have Christ,
we will have works that glorify God;2) These works are to
be conducted in a hostile world which worships false gods,
and one of them is the state. Therefore doing good will involve
exposing evil;3) We must be able to
discern what things belong to God and what — to secular
government. If the state wants to take away by law or ordinance our
God-given rights we must not accept such laws. Secular laws which go
against Gods revealed Word will be technically legal but morally
reprehensible.A
“faith that works” will instruct us to
worship God, not the state. Such faith is part of our witness and
public testimony of the good news of the coming King and the Kingdom
of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Viktor Kostov, PhD is a
missiologist and attorney at law. He is based in Eastern Europe,
married with three children. He works for the spread of the Gospel,
freedom of religion and speech and defending the traditional family.See also Dr. Kostov’s 2001
article, Haunted by Totalitarianism
1. BBC, Gay marriage an important step
forward, says PM, Accessed Feb. 23, 2013,2. Mark Deen, French Anti-Gay Marriage
Protests Draw Hundreds of Thousands, Bloomberg,
January 13, 2013,http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-13/french-anti-gay-marriage-protests-draw-hundreds-of-thousands.html,
accessed Feb. 23, 2013.3. New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/world/europe/britain-gay-marriage-vote.html?_r=0.
As ironic as it may sound, the UK government has even
generously stated that the Church will not be obliged to
perform same-sex marriages. It seems UK officials have the
idea that they have the right to define the churchs
theology about marriage in the first place.4. Erwin Lutzer. When a Nation Forgets
God: 7 Lessons We Must Learn from Nazi Germany, p. 11.5. Herbert Schlossberg, Idols for
Destruction: The Conflict of Christian Faith and American
Culture, Crossway, 1990, p. 178.6. Josh Levs, California governor OKs ban
on gay conversion therapy, calling it ‘quackery’, CNN,
October 2, 2012.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/01/us/california-gay-therapy-ban
. Accessed Feb. 23, 2013.7 I use the term homosexualism instead
of homosexuality on purpose. As sexual orientation has
been promoted to be a human right by elites and western
governments in the past decade homosexuality has stopped
being just a private sexual preference or deviation. It is
now a public policy issue, a form of citizen activism and a
justice issue. It has become a new ideological term and
public agenda.8. Mark Morgenstein, ‘Gay Cure’
Therapists, ‘Cured’ Student Sue California Over New Law,
CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/04/us/california-gay-therapy,
accessed Feb. 22, 2013.9. Some attribute this quote to Nazi-era
German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonheoffer, a leader
in the anti- Fürher resistance. See here:
http://www.fireandhammer.com/quotes.htm
