What Can We Do if Caesar Starts Seizing What Belongs to God?

The Pharisees set a trap for Jesus about paying taxes to the Roman emperor. They sent their disciples, with the Herodians, to ask him a question: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” This question is truly a double-edged sword. If Jesus says yes it is lawful to pay the tax, he will be considered as a Roman sympathizer. Therefore, many Jews would reject him as a traitor who stands for Roman occupation. Taxes remind the Jews of the sad fate of being slaves of a foreign power. If he says no, it is unlawful to pay the tax, the Herodians, who supported the dynasty of Herod and the general policy of the Roman government, would report him to Roman authorities as an instigator for tax revolt.

Jesus not only detected their malice, but he also knew that they were testing him. He said to them, “why are you testing me, you hypocrites?” Instead of getting into an argument with them, he asked for a coin that pays the census tax and asked them, “whose image is this and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar's.” Jesus’ response is nothing short of brilliant: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God”.

The response of Jesus has been interpreted in different ways. Some political leaders, especially dictators, use it to claim the independence between politics and religion. There should not be a kind of mixed debate between both. Therefore, religious leaders or the Church in general have nothing to do with civil government. While I was living in Africa, where many political leaders enjoy quoting Jesus' response to try to keep the Church out of their business, it came to my mind the question, What can we do if Caesar takes over what belongs to God? This is the question I would like to ask Jesus today. It is not for testing him as the Pharisees and the Herodians did, but for asking help as we are living in a world where after giving to Caesar what belongs to him, he starts seizing what belongs to God. Many are those who hold or seek public office and who are guided by personal gain or advantage instead of the pursuit of the common good. This is what brings them to start seizing what belongs to God. But what is it that belongs to God?

Like the Roman coin belongs to Caesar as it bears his image, a human being belongs to God by virtue of being created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1: 26-27).
Unlike the coin, a human being does not just bear the image of God but he/she is God's image him/herself. This is the source of his/her natural or ontological dignity. In accordance with this inalienable dignity, every person must be treated, according to Kant, always as an end and never as a means only. His/her dignity must be respected from conception to natural death. Each human being born and unborn, in his/her uniqueness, deserves the respect and love that would be shown to anyone who bears the mark of the Creator. Therefore, no one has the right to decide who can be born or not. The opposite is synonymous with seizing what belongs to God to do whatever one wants. Those who are already born have a right to a life worthy of humanity and being treated with dignity. Therefore, those who hold or seek public office are called to guarantee the respect of this sacred dignity in all stages of human life. Otherwise they are like Caesar who does not respect what belongs to God. If they are already in the office, it is a moral duty to put them out. If they are still seeking the office, it is also a moral duty to prevent them from getting in.

Politics and religion have human dignity as a common denominator. That is why Jesus never opposed both. Serving God does not prevent supporting the civil government, nor does paying taxes prevent our obligation to the Lord. Just make sure to give to God His due by offering ourselves to Him and honoring the image of God in us, the source of our dignity. The respect of such human dignity requires a strong fraternity and social friendship or connection between human beings as we are All brothers and sisters in Christ, Fratelli Tutti in Christo.