The emperor is not a god

This Sunday's reading from Matthew 22:15-22 always seems to come out around the time when churches are working on next year's budgets and want the pewsitters to reach into their pockets. Churches call it "stewardship" but it is really about money.

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title? They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

The Pharisees had to be upset that they could not trap Jesus, but just think what the Romans would think when they found out that Jesus did not consider the emperor to be a god.

Oh, and by the way, it is ok to give your George Washingtons, Hamiltons, Franklins, or stocks and bonds to your church to keep the lights on as long as ya'll are working to spread the Gospel of Jesus. 

An Answer Too Far

The teacher in this case from the U.K. needs our prayers as a preliminary hearing is being held in 2 days.

From Premier Christian News,

 A Christian teacher is taking legal action against a school in Sunderland after being sacked for telling students she is pro-life.

Anita Meston, who's been a teacher for 28 years, joined Biddick Academy in Washington in October 2024. During a Year 8 history lesson which focused on the bombing of Dresden in World War II, she asked whether similar moral questions surrounded the current conflict in Palestine. When asked by a pupil, Meston said that she was “pro-Israel” but lamented the deaths of innocent people in Gaza.

Later in the lesson, a different student asked if she was “pro-abortion”, to which she responded that she was “pro-life”.

When asked to elaborate on her position, Meston explained that she held this view because she is a Christian and that she knew women who had had abortions and regretted the decision. A student replied that she knew women who had had abortions and not regretted them, to which Meston responded, “fair enough”.

The following day she was called to a meeting with the school’s headteacher, who told her that a complaint had been made. Meston said she had only shared her personal views in response to a direct question, but following the meeting, her contract was terminated for “sharing personal opinions on political issues with pupils”.

The school’s headteacher said there was a “real concern” that Meston would continue to “cause harm or distress to pupils”.

Meston said that she was “profoundly shocked” at the decision and is suing the school for discriminating against her as a Christian, which she argues is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 16 October 2026 at the Employment Tribunal. 

I can't tell if it was the pro life or the pro Israel answer or both that got her fired. Either way, some student in that classroom wanted her punished and reported the teacher to the thought police.

Imagine what would have happened if a kid had asked her if she thought that Mohammed was a prophet.

Brotherly advice

This Sunday's reading from Philippians 4:1-9 contains some brotherly advice. Note that I changed the gender neutral language of the NRSV used in many Episcopal parishes back to the original Greek gender specific terms..

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, take account of these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Islamophilia

This from Mike Judge, Editor of Evangelical Times, and pastor of Chorlton Evangelical Church in Manchester cuts to the chase, 

...Why are liberal Christians so desperate to cuddle up to Islam? The problem is not that Christians speak to Muslims. We should. Muslims are our neighbours. We should love them, serve them, befriend them and tell them about Jesus Christ. The problem is what happens when so-called Christians lose confidence in the gospel.

Once you no longer believe that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour, that the Bible is the Word of God, and that humanity’s fundamental problem is sin and rebellion against God, you need something else to give your Christianity purpose. Enter the new gospel of social justice.

The language changes. Salvation becomes liberation. Sin becomes oppression. Evangelism becomes activism. The Great Commission gives way to liberal political campaigning. And the distinctive claims of Christianity become awkward because they get in the way of interfaith harmony.

Islam can then become strangely attractive. Not because liberal Christians have suddenly become convinced by the Qur’an. But because Islam can be enlisted as a partner in the causes they now regard as central: anti-racism, anti-colonialism, social justice and opposition to Israel.

And so theological differences are quietly pushed aside. Questions about Islamic teaching are deemed impolite. Difficulties concerning religious freedom or the treatment of women become awkward distractions. The Christian’s responsibility to proclaim Christ is replaced by the more fashionable task of demonstrating solidarity.

But this is not Christian love. Christian love tells the truth. We should love Muslims enough to tell them that Jesus is the Son of God. We should love Jews enough to tell them that Jesus is the Messiah. We should love atheists enough to tell them that they need reconciliation with their Creator. The desperate need of our world is not more interfaith photo opportunities. It is the gospel of Christ.

I would add that these so-called Christians are woefully ignorant of what the Qur'an actually says and what Islam really demands. Ignorance is a false bliss in this case. 

Ignorance is no excuse for a Christian.

Educate yourself. 

Go ahead, read the Qur'an. I guarantee that you will not rush to convert to Islam, and just maybe you will learn that we need to pray for Jesus to open their hearts and minds to the true Gospel.

Go forth and be fruitful!

 This Sunday's reading is from Matthew 21:33-43, and Jesus tells a parable that foretells his death.

‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’

Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:

“The stone that the builders rejected

   has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord’s doing,

   and it is amazing in our eyes”?

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.

Go forth and be fruitful! 

You can't fix "stupid"

 This photo depicts Dame Sarah Mullally, the first female Archbishop of Canterbury (AoC) in its 1400 year history, who was enthroned only in March, this year.

Last Friday on 9/11, the first female Archbishop presented Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi an award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation. He is the chairman of a body called Pakistan Ulema Council. 

Next to Ashrafi and totally hidden from sight is his wife. She is not allowed to lead anything.

On the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 Islamist terror attacks against the US no less!

Later, the AoC took the award back after learning of Ashrafi's history of praising Osama bin Laden.

Not because of the way he treats women. 

How stupid.

My father always said, "You can't fix 'stupid.'

I don't think anyone can fix the CofE.

How to make the priests and elders mad at you

 In this week's reading from Matthew 21:23-32, Jesus really must have made the chief priests and elders mad at him.

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

 ‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

What do you think? If you were a priest or elder would you be mad or would Jesus' words make you rethink if you are following God or not/