To Caesar You Shall Go (Acts 25:12)

 


Thursday, 4 September, 2025


Psalms 11; 12

1 Kings 4:20-34

Acts 25:1-12


To Caesar You Shall Go (Acts 25:12)


Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”


There is a term floating around that seems to get a bit of a bad rap: “Christian Nationalism”. I understand why people might find it a bit of a turn-off. But just like when reading the parables of our Lord, it is helpful to turn it on ourselves to make sure we aren’t guilty of the same crime. Having done so, we might discover that we all have a bit of Christian Nationalism inside us: if we think the government should pass legislation that reflects Christian values (however we personally define those values), then we are being Christian Nationalists.


But let us look to how the Apostle interacts with the government. Perhaps he understands better than any of us that good government doesn’t come from legislation, but individuals with a new heart. He keeps pushing himself up the levels of government, not for any particular social issue (as noble as that may be), but for nothing less than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in particular, the resurrection of the dead.


Reading through our various church news publications, I see plenty of faithful Christians pushing their governments to think on justice for the poor and the outcast, which is good and noble. Yet I wonder how much more of a positive upset we could make if we went straight to the point, and started banging on about the resurrection as much as we do anything else?


What about politics makes you upset, or excited, or bored, or worried? If someone went to Caesar about the resurrection, what might your response be?


O Lord our heavenly Father, high and mighty, the only ruler of governments, who from your throne beholds all who dwell on the earth: grant to our rulers and political advocates a heart for the Lord Jesus, that the halls of power might come alive with the flame of your Holy Spirit.

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