"My Kingdom Is No Part of This World" - HOW DID JESUS FACE DIVISIVE POLITICAL ISSUES?

 Injustice often flames political passions. Taxation was a hot political issue in Jesus' time. In fact, the rebellion of Judas the Galilean mentioned earlier, was sparked by a registration  to ensure that the people paid tribute to Rome.  Subjects of Rome, including those who listened to Jesus, were required to pay many taxes, such as on goods, land, and houses.  And the corruption of the tax collectors increased  the sense of being under a heaven burden.  Tax collectors might purchase a position of authority at a public auction and then profit from what was collected. Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector in Jericho, had become rich by extorting money from the people.  (Luke 19:2, 8)  His course was probably typical of that of many. 

Jesus' enemies tried to trap Jesus by getting him to take sides on a taxation issue.  The tax in question was the "head tax," a tax of one denarius levied on Roman subjects.  (Read Matthew 22:16-18)  The Jews especially resented this tax.  It represented their subjection to Rome.  The "party follower of Herod" who raised this issued hoped that if Jesus denounced the tax, he might be accused of sedition.  If Jesus said that taxation was a necessary burden, he could lose the support of his followers.

Jesus was careful to remain neutral on the taxation issue.  "Pay back . . .Caesar's things to Caesar, but God things to God," he said.  (Matthew 22:21)  Of course, Jesus knew that corruption was common among tax collectors.  But Jesus did not want to get sidetracked, diverted from the much more important issue.  That was God's Kingdom, which should be the real solution.  He thereby set the example for all his followers.  They should avoid becoming involved in political issues, no matter how right or just a certain cause might seem.  Christians seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.  They do that instead of forming strong opinions about, or speaking out against, certain unjust practices. -Matthew 6:33.

Many of Jehovah Witnesses have succeeded in move away from strong political views that they once held.  "After taking social studies at the university, I developed radical views," says a sister in Great Britain.  "I wanted to champion the rights of black people, since we had suffered so much injustice.  Although I was good at winning arguments, I still ended up being frustrated.  I did not realized that the causes of radical justice had to be uprooted from people's hearts.  When I began to study the Bible, however, I realized that I had to start with my own heart.  And it was a white sister who patiently helped me to make the journey.  Now I am serving as a regular pioneer in a sign-language congregation, and I am learning to reach out to all kinds of people." 

Next time: "My Kingdom Is No Part of This World" -"RETURN YOUR SWORD TO ITS PLACE"

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