The Citizen, 1999-02-10, Page 32PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1999.
From the Minister's Study,
‘Give God what is God’s’, says minister
By Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Blyth Christian Reformed
Church
Most people hate to pay taxes.
That’s one thing that isn't likely to
change with time. This dislike
becomes even worse when people
feel they are being taxed unfairly or
that their tax money is spent
unwisely.
People generally feel that they
pay too much tax. Politicians know
that and so they often take
advantage of that at the eve of an
election. They will go on record as
favouring tax cuts or holding the
line on new taxes. A politician who
campaigns on the platform of tax
reductions is bound to get some
votes because of that. But a lot of
these promises about taxes is just
rhetoric.
Playing games with people's
feelings about paying taxes is
nothing new. When Jesus was on
earth, his opponents tried to trap
him also on a taxation question.
Paying taxes to Caesar, the Roman
emperor, wasn't very popular with
the Jews.
So to advocate doing so anyway
would not make Jesus very popular
among his own people. But
advocating a tax revolt would get
Jesus into trouble with the Romans.
So to answer the question, "Is it
right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
could get Jesus into trouble either
way.
The answer Jesus gave showed
his divine wisdom. He said: "Give
to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to
God what is God’s." (Matthew
22:21).
That not only got Jesus out of a
difficult situation in his day, but it
also provides us with wise counsel.
Caesar represents the
government. And the government
has a right to levy taxes in order to
meet the cost of whatever is the
government's responsibility.
That doesn't answer any
questions about our taxation
system, of course, nor about the
fairness of some taxes, but it does
Craigs greet at Duffs United
Helen, Graeme and Michael
Craig greeted worshippers as they
attended Duffs United Church Feb.
7.
Rev. James Murray announced
that the pancake breakfast will be
next Sunday, beginning at 8:30
a.m. Bring appetites and enjoy a
great selection of food. You won't
want to miss Graeme's "like mother
used to make" pancakes. '
The choir sang, It Only Takes a
Spark.
Rev. Murray talked to the young
worshippers about salt and how it
is in everything. Salt adds flavour
and God calls all to be salt, to add
flavour to the world.
His sermon was called, "Finding
the Balance".
Rev. Murray is reading a book by
Don Posterski called Future Faith
Churches. He says the successful
congregations profiled are ones
which practise soul care and social
care; they love God and they have
compassion for people. He said
they combine the strands of
evangelism, social action, church
growth, and strong leadership to
create the fabric for a worshipping
community that is life-changing.
He pointed out that loving God
and loving others are both
necessary if a congregation is to be
healthy and thriving. They are like
the two wings of a bird. A bird
cannot fly on one wing. Even if one
is only slightly injured, the bird
cannot soar. We need to care for
others as much as we care for God
if we are to soar. A bird which
cannot fly at all does not usually
survive for very long.
Rev. Murray said that people
need both social care and soul care
for faith to be in balance, in
harmony. "As Jesus said. Love God
with all our being, and to love
others as much as we love
ourselves. They aren't separate but
parts that make us whole."
"Together we can build a
stronger church, and change the
lives of many people. We can do
this by fanning the flames of faith,
so the light of God burns bright in
our life. We can do this by being
willing to share that light with
others, in all we say and do."
"As Jesus said, 'Let your light
shine out before others, so they
may see your good works and give
glory to your Father in Heaven'."
imply that we shouldn't be so
negative about paying taxes.
Governments must have the means
with which to provide the needed
services.
But Jesus didn't stop there. He
added something about which they
had not asked him. He also advised
them to give God what is God's.
‘ Now God doesn't send out any tax
assessments. Nor does he apply
penalties for late payments. It is all
on the honour system. But God
does keep a record of whether we
give him his due-or not.
When taxes aren't paid into
government coffers, the nation
faces problems. Russia is a prime
example of this. But the nation also
faces problems when God does not
get his due from the people. That
too is quite evident in Russia.
What is due to God includes a
whole lot more than money. It also
includes respect for his holy will,
and support for anything that serves
the cause and the honour of God.
And we owe God our gifts of
gratitude for the riches we enjoy -
gifts to be invested in relief
operations for God's more needy
children in this world.
If "Caesar" has a right to claim
his due from us, how much more
the God who is far above Caesar.
Therefore, give God what is God's.
£ God Is Love 3 B QWelcome to ;
£-Brussels Mennonite f
£
£
£
£
£
Fellowship
9:30 a.m.
Worship Service
10:45 a.m.
Christian Education
Pastor Ben Wiebe
887-6388
3
3
3
3
3
Walton UCW
discusses
Jubilee
The Walton UCW meeting was
held Feb. 3 with the team of
Doreen Hackwell, Gloria Love,
Edith Wey and Olene Dennis
leading the night's events. Doreen
introduced the worship theme for
this year which is called "A Call for
Jubilee".
The idea of Jubilee is based on
the Hebrew scriptures.
The women read different books
and verses of the Bible referring to
the Jubilee. God calls for Jubilee
every 50th year during which
slaves would be released, debts
forgiven and the earth would be
renewed.
In Canada, many churches and
church groups are highlighting the
Jubilee theme from 1998-2001. The
UCW has chosen Jubilee as the
mission theme for two years from
September 1999 to June 2001.
One aspect of this Jubilee
emphasis, is the Jubilee 2000 debt
campaign, a global campaign that
aims to lift the burden of unpayable
debt from the poorest countries of
the world. People around the world
are being asked to sign a petition
calling on the leaders of the lending
nations to take Action to cancel the
debts of these poor Countries so that
these countries can have a fresh
start as they enter the new
Continued on page 36
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Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
- Morning Service
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9:30 a.m.
7:30 p.m. - Tuesday - Bible Study - Faith and Life Jesus
2:00 p.m. - Wednesday - Bible Study - Old Testament
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Nursery care available
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister
Church Office 887-6259 Home 887-6540
February 14, 1999
9:30 a.m. - Worship
Ethel United Church
11:00 a.m. - Worship
Brussels United Church
Tuesday, February 16 - 7 p.m. - Adult Study
"Embracing Transformation"
Sunday. February 21 - Communion Sunday
A WARM WELCOME TO ALL!
fou are Welcome at the
BLYTH COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
ASSOCIATE PASTOR - YOUTH - JEREMY SHUART 523-9788
Sunday
Wednesday
Friday
8:45 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
11 a.m.
8 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
- Morning Worship Service
- Family Bible Hour
- Morning Worship Service
- Evening Service
- Prayer & Bible Study
- Youth
£lea&e fain ua fat uMw&hip thi& Sunday
Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
And the God of all grace who called you to eternal glory in Christ, after
you have suffered for a while, will Himself restore you and make you
strong, firm and steadfast.
1 Peter 5:10
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
Cornerstone
Bible
Fellowship
Ethel
0Re comes to the Father, but through Me/
Everyone Welcome
For more information call 887-6665
■ n TiUR7*
Communion - 9:45 - 10:30'
Family Bible Hour and Sunday School
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Tuesday £p.m.
John 14:6 - Jesus said am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no