DEACON 11: The Government

“The Government”

When he started talking I realised he made a very good point…

Jesus said, as recorded by St. Matthew 22:21, to give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God. He did not say to cheat Caesar as it would be implied that then you will also cheat God. But the days of Caesar are long gone. We do not live under emperors who are absolute rulers, tyrannical and totalitarian. Or do we? Some countries still do and that must change. We, as people, free people, owing out existence to the will of God, cannot be submitted to autocratic «leaders» who rule with the strength of ideologies or religious dogmas.

And what is government? Do we really need governments? Do we need to be controlled, taxed, supervised, surveilled, or spied upon? Do we have to be limited in thought and movement by supposed laws? Do we need to give up our rights for supposed security? Is the State above us? Do we need to fear the State or should the State fear us? If you know the answer to these questions please tell me.

John Locke, famous philosopher from the 17th Century, was the founder of British Empiricism. Locke thought government should be very small and limited. Natural rights, he said, demand that governments serve the people. In other words, that governments have obligations to their citizens and only limited powers. And most importantly that the people have the right to overthrow the government under certain circumstances.

But we all agree that governments are necessary and that we should respect our governments and as well comply with all laws. After all we are civilised human beings and we do not live by the law of the jungle. However, we must be wise and prudent when electing our representatives, our civil servants. And that is what government employees are, public servants, not «officials» like they now like to be called. The president of the country is not the people’s leader and he should not aspire to be such a thing either. He or she is there to administrate and to govern in accordance with the magna carta that rules civilised countries. And although regarded as the «executive» power, that branch of government is not above the Congress, which is the house of the people.

We must bear in mind that when Jesus replied that one should give to Caesar what is Caesar’s he was referring to a specific question regarding taxation. He knew the Pharisees were trying to trick him into saying something subversive against Rome, so he gave them an answer that left them baffled, mumbling, dumb and numb. And I do not think it was a general command, or that we should consider it in that manner. Furthermore, Jesus submitted to Roman rule. He did not voice arguments against the occupiers nor did he ever say that the Jews, or his followers, should fight against the Romans. Although there were times he might have insinuated the complete opposite as when he replied that he had not come to bring peace, but a sword. Here is the quote: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household” (Matthew 10:34-36).

So, in conclusion, although we use that quote many times, it is not a fitting quote when it comes to the question of government in our days. We are right in thinking that we need a form of government, but the question we must struggle with now is which type.

And let us not forget about the second part of the quote from Matthew 22:21. We must give to God what belongs to God. But do we really know what that is? Well, we might not be certain of the entirety of it all but we can at least start with giving God our love, our devotion, and our praise. Loving God is receiving God’s love and we need to share that love with all. If we do not love our fellow man there is no government of Earth that will ever suit or save us.

C.2025, Francisco Bravo Cabrera – 14 MAR 2025 – Valencia, España