Giving Unto Caesar

We humans are creatures of rite and ceremony. Even in subcultures that profess to disdain ceremony and ritual as a part of their worship language, most people’s lives outside those experiences of corporate worship abound with ceremony.

A child’s birthday party has ritual music (Happy Birthday), ritual food (cake and ice cream) and liturgical action (games and presents). Ceremony and ritual can be found in almost equal amounts as a part of a fraternity induction, a Las Vegas wedding, a gang initiation, a major league sports event, or a formal dinner party.

I remember a conversation some years ago with a church member of my father’s generation. Like my own dad who was decorated with a Silver Star and a Purple Heart, this gentleman was a hero of the Second World War and as such he was deserving of the fullest measure of honor and recognition that his nation could bestow upon him.

The old soldier was requesting, really demanding, that the congregation devote a Sunday worship service to themes of patriotism and appreciation to veterans for their service. He was soliciting my support as the congregation’s Minister of Music & Worship for his cause.

I shared with him my concerns that such a recognition might serve to take the focus of the worshiping assembly away from the eternal and redeeming love of our Lord and Savior, and turn it to consideration for a human political state that, while precious and dear to us all, will fall into history one day. My efforts to recommend thanksgiving for the veterans and intercessions for our country in the intercessory prayers fell on deaf ears. He wanted a much bolder secular liturgy, that would include a pledge of allegiance to the flag, the singing the National Anthem, having veterans stand for recognition, and a sermon built around appreciation of God and Country.

I even suggested a special patriotic concert by the music ministry, a dinner in honor of veterans, or any number of special events held aside from the worship service itself. No sale.

In his passion he burst, "Can’t you church people set aside your high-falutin’ bowing and crossing just long enough to honor your country and focus on those who have made your freedoms possible?" At that point in the conversation it was clear to me that the best ministry in the situation was to listen quietly and allow the man, a person that I greatly admired, to have his say.

Driving home at the end of the workday I thought about our conversation, taking the discussion beyond the questions of the issue at hand.

The question occurs: "What have we become that so many in the family of God are uncomfortable bowing to the altar of the Redeemer of the world Who reigns forever, but are perfectly content to salute the flag of a nation that will cease to exist at the end of time...if not before?"

Please don’t get me wrong...I am a patriotic American, and I believe the ideals of my country to be the greatest expression of human liberty in history. I have no doubt that the American experiment is the world’s greatest hope for peace and prosperity. Even more, I believe those ideals to be worthy of our thanks and our protection. I am enthusiastic about celebrating them unapologetically ...but not at the expense of the worship of my God.

The long-awaited inauguration of President Barack Obama is an example of civic ceremony. Tens of thousands of people have been engaged in intense preparation to welcome the hundreds of thousands of people who will come to witness the historic event and recite the liturgy of national ordination.

And rightly so. Whatever one’s political leanings, and however one may have voted, it is a glorious thing to see, 150 years after the final abolition of slavery in America, a black man taking the same oath of presidential office that was once taken by Lincoln himself. I give thanks to God that my own children will never know a world where every leader of our nation had been a white male. To make the words just right, the music powerful and stirring, and the scene eternally inspiring is and should be the goal of everyone involved with the event.

Is the same not true for our worship on Sunday morning? The very definition of "worship" is to pay homage to that which is "truly worthy." Only God is worthy of worship, and God is worthy of the very best worship we can offer. In practical terms, God is worthy of worship where the themes are unencumbered by personal, promotional or political distraction. God is worthy of worship where the organ plays the right notes at the right time, and the choirs sing as in tune as can possibly be. God is worthy of worship where the lay readers and the liturgists say well-chosen words in ways that ring with care, truth, sincerity and power. God is worthy of worship where the Biblical balance of Word and Sacrament is honored always and without fail.

By doing our best to offer worship to God and God alone, we remember our Lord’s command to "give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and give unto God what is God’s."

Soli Deo Gloria,
Bill