I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.
Jews in Jerusalem and Judea, and Christians throughout the Roman world had to deal with the empire's political, economic, social, and military power. But they had very different attitudes about the authorities of this world, and very different experience.
The Jews could not forget that they had been, in the storied past, a sovereign nation with their own Jewish king. Whether just and merciful or wicked and stupid, descendants of King David had governed Judea for almost five hundred years. They had served the One God with the Laws that Moses had given them. Although that sovereign nation had disappeared under the constant stress of wars, migrations, plagues, droughts, and famines, they nonetheless hoped for another King David.
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.
Jews in Jerusalem and Judea, and Christians throughout the Roman world had to deal with the empire's political, economic, social, and military power. But they had very different attitudes about the authorities of this world, and very different experience.
The Jews could not forget that they had been, in the storied past, a sovereign nation with their own Jewish king. Whether just and merciful or wicked and stupid, descendants of King David had governed Judea for almost five hundred years. They had served the One God with the Laws that Moses had given them. Although that sovereign nation had disappeared under the constant stress of wars, migrations, plagues, droughts, and famines, they nonetheless hoped for another King David.
The once-and-future king would rescue them from the hand of their enemies. On that great day, they would worship God in the sight of all the nations, and the nations would envy their freedom. If they still remembered and honored the Hebrew prophets who insisted that God had visited calamities on his people because of their sins, they nonetheless expected a complete and glorious restoration.
Christians, on the other hand, spoke many languages and represented many different nations. They enjoyed the benefits of the Pax Romana; accepted Roman coins and paid the empire’s taxes. If too many people were slaves, the Roman empire knew the dangers of slavery, heavy taxes, and military occupations. The system worked. If no one was truly free, neither were they terribly oppressed. Terrorist zealots in Israel, fighting in the name of God, were the exception, not the rule.
However, the Roman authorities could not understand what Christians wanted; and that worried them. These disciples of a crucified man claimed Jesus Christ as their Lord God and King; and told everyone who would listen that He had been raised from the dead and would return one day to tear down the Roman Empire. When that might happen, no one knew; but that didn't matter. "It will happen! Count on it!" There’s no government on earth that would want to hear that story, and Rome was very suspicious.
Christians and Jews took heart from the story of Cyrus, the ancient king of Persia. Both religions believed that the Lord God of heaven and earth had appointed this wise, enlightened man as Emperor and messiah! This anointed man freed the Jews from their Babylonian Captivity. We can speculate why a Persian emperor might think it a good idea, but the Prophet Isaiah knew it was God who decided it should happen; and it was God who made it happen.
Jews and Christians still believe that God is the Lord of History. Nothing happens that he doesn’t notice; nothing happens that he has not willed it so. But, where Jews resisted foreign domination, Christians got along to get along. “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” they said; “and to God what is God’s.” How complicated can that be?
Christians must pray for the kings, governors, and princes of this world. Saint Paul urged the Christians in Rome:
Christians, on the other hand, spoke many languages and represented many different nations. They enjoyed the benefits of the Pax Romana; accepted Roman coins and paid the empire’s taxes. If too many people were slaves, the Roman empire knew the dangers of slavery, heavy taxes, and military occupations. The system worked. If no one was truly free, neither were they terribly oppressed. Terrorist zealots in Israel, fighting in the name of God, were the exception, not the rule.
However, the Roman authorities could not understand what Christians wanted; and that worried them. These disciples of a crucified man claimed Jesus Christ as their Lord God and King; and told everyone who would listen that He had been raised from the dead and would return one day to tear down the Roman Empire. When that might happen, no one knew; but that didn't matter. "It will happen! Count on it!" There’s no government on earth that would want to hear that story, and Rome was very suspicious.
Christians and Jews took heart from the story of Cyrus, the ancient king of Persia. Both religions believed that the Lord God of heaven and earth had appointed this wise, enlightened man as Emperor and messiah! This anointed man freed the Jews from their Babylonian Captivity. We can speculate why a Persian emperor might think it a good idea, but the Prophet Isaiah knew it was God who decided it should happen; and it was God who made it happen.
Jews and Christians still believe that God is the Lord of History. Nothing happens that he doesn’t notice; nothing happens that he has not willed it so. But, where Jews resisted foreign domination, Christians got along to get along. “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” they said; “and to God what is God’s.” How complicated can that be?
Christians must pray for the kings, governors, and princes of this world. Saint Paul urged the Christians in Rome:
Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God.Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.For rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it,for it is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer.Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath but also because of conscience.This is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
In his Epistle to Saint Timothy, he also wrote:
I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.This is good and pleasing to God our savior,who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.
The whole world saw what happened to Jerusalem when the Romans tired of Jewish malcontent. The holy city was completely destroyed! But, as Pope Benedict remarked in his book about Jesus Christ, Christians didn’t need Jerusalem any more; their Ruler was Jesus, and their homeland was heaven. If you can’t beat the Romans, you don’t join them; but you do pray for them.
Twenty centuries later, we still pray for our government leaders, for the just and the wicked. We pray for presidents, kings, dictators, and tyrants. We pray that they act with justice and mercy; and respect the human dignity of their subjects, their enemies, their opponents and supporters. Even in those nations and where those governments persecute the disciples of Jesus, we pray that God’s mercy will open their eyes and change their ways. We do not advocate revolutions; they only make matters worse.
In the United States, our Constitution guarantees our freedom to worship as we should. The Constitution states clearly, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof!” That’s the first and most important freedom, and its guaranteed by our laws.
Nor does our constitution say that religion should never influence our government. We may and should insist that unborn babies be welcomed with all the care we can give them; that sick, aging, and dying people be given the care they need regardless of their wealth, religion, or status as citizens. As loyal citizens we support our government, participate in self-governance, and pay our taxes with gratitude for the ability to pay.
The Constitution does not say we should not pray in public or private, in schools, ball parks, shopping centers, or battlefields. It does not say legislators, governors, and mayors may not openly pray or invite others to pray with them.
Patriotically, we keep the first Great Commandment – we must worship God as God should be worshipped. And we love our neighbor as ourself. The government should do the same.
We must “Use it or lose it.” People who do not worship God will lose the privilege; and there will be consequences. They will find themselves in a nation that hates God and hates everyone who loves God, and everyone who is loved by God, and everyone else too. Those who despise God despise their own human nature. They support abortion, euthanasia, and suicide. They say they want peace and will use war to get it. Without the Love of God, their wisdom turns to foolishness, their kindness to cruelty, and their superior attitudes to stupidity.
We must “Use it or lose it.” People who do not worship God will lose the privilege; and there will be consequences. They will find themselves in a nation that hates God and hates everyone who loves God, and everyone who is loved by God, and everyone else too. Those who despise God despise their own human nature. They support abortion, euthanasia, and suicide. They say they want peace and will use war to get it. Without the Love of God, their wisdom turns to foolishness, their kindness to cruelty, and their superior attitudes to stupidity.
Almost a thousand years before the Emperor Cyrus liberated the Jews, Moses warned his people in the desert. They must teach their children to worship the Lord who brought them out of Egyptian slavery into freedom. If they fail to worship God, and fail to remember what God has done, they would certainly go back to slavery. Perhaps in Egypt, perhaps in Babylon, perhaps in their own native land. And then, helpless before the powers of this world, they will have to wait for God to raise up another Cyrus, another once and future king, another Messiah, to save them from the consequences of their own sins. On that Great Day, rescued from the hand of enemies, we shall worship Him freely, and without fear.
