Render Unto Caesar

The Blog Against Theocracy Text

Having long ago escaped from a fundamentalist Christian high school by deviously failing the one course which would persuade my father I was getting no benefit from the extra expense, (Bible Study 47%, all other subjects: 92% - 98%) I still like to show off what little I learnt there.

So . . .

If you insist upon everything in the Bible being the literal gospel, you cannot merely cherry pick a verse here and a verse there upon which to base your dogma. Before you can begin gleefully persecuting the gays, or unwed mothers, or couples seeking an abortion, you must also take into consideration a few of the other suggestions contained in that book.

Whenever you see what you think is a sinner, before swooping down, pause to reflect upon Matthew 7:3 – “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”

If you can see past that, consider Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

Still convinced of your right to prosecute whomever you see as sinners? First Corinthians 13:1 holds a warning for you: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

Ah, but your conviction of your neighbor’s transgressions is strong, still, before you call down the lightening, recall Romans 14:13 – “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”

And yet, you continue to feel that God called you to judge your neighbor? The requirements of a judge are laid out in John 8:7b – “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

Ah, but you are a wonder! You are able to look past beams to see no sin in you! You’re truly a golden boy, and you know the golden rule for golden boys. You will find it in Matthew 7:12 – “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

I’m sorry, but the Bible – the New Testament, not some Old Testament Judaic Law from Leviticus – is quite adamant that Christians not judge each other.

What? You are not interested in judging Christians! Rather you wish to judge non Christians, You wish to pass secular laws so non Christians, or Christians who observe their faith differently are forced to act like your notion of a good Christian?

But such observances made under force, where no faith leads, are empty gestures.

Forcing the outward rituals and regulations of Christianity upon someone does not make him a Christian, which is why the Bible quite logically supports the separation of church and state.

That’s in Luke 20:25 – “And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.”