Balancing Civil and Spiritual Righteousness in Faith

The sermon explores the complex relationship between civil righteousness and spiritual righteousness, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balance between the two. The speaker begins by acknowledging the intertwined nature of these aspects in our lives, but stresses the need to keep them distinct. They argue that neither our confidence in spiritual righteousness nor our civil righteousness should overshadow the other, as both are integral parts of who we are. However, they also recognize that the overlap between these two areas can become convoluted, and that our spiritual side should ultimately prevail. By fulfilling our spiritual calling and working towards God's justice, we can bring about positive change in the civil system.

The speaker then delves into the concept of righteousness according to Martin Luther, who distinguishes between civil righteousness, achieved through our actions in society, and spiritual righteousness, which pertains to our relationship with God. Our spiritual righteousness, they explain, is not determined by our actions, but rather by God's love in Christ. This righteousness is referred to as "alien righteousness" because it is a gift from God and cannot be earned. The speaker encourages the congregation to reflect on their own motivations and whether they are more concerned with how they appear to others or with honoring God.

The speaker shares a personal anecdote about struggling with obeying speed limits on the way to an event, using it as an example of how our righteousness in the civil realm is earned or not earned based on following the law. They emphasize that our sense of what is right in the world should come from God, and while we owe society what it demands of us, we owe God even more. They use the current immigration debate as an example of how civil disobedience may be seen as civil righteousness in some cases. However, they caution that there are traps in thinking that confuse societal righteousness with spiritual righteousness, and it can be difficult to discern where the line is between a proper civil response and a proper spiritual response.

The speaker continues to explore the balance between civil righteousness and spiritual righteousness, highlighting the idea that our sense of what is right in the world should come from God, while also acknowledging our obligations to society. They caution against confusing societal righteousness with spiritual righteousness, especially in the context of churches taking an active role in pursuing justice. The speaker acknowledges the difficulty in determining where the line is and whether one is on, over, or nowhere near it.

Finally, the speaker reflects on the tendency to try and align Jesus with a particular political party. They argue that our desire to place Jesus in a box that aligns with our own beliefs says more about us than about who Jesus truly is. They believe that Jesus evades this trap by discussing righteousness in a way that transcends political affiliations.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Reading

Matthew 22:15-22 (NIV) — > Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?" But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar’s," they replied. Then he said to them, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

2. Romans 13:1-2 (NIV)
> Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

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Observation Questions

1. What was the trap that the Pharisees and Herodians set for Jesus in Matthew 22:15-22?
2. How does Jesus respond to the question about paying taxes to Caesar, and what does his response imply? [28:17]
3. According to Romans 13:1-2, what is the relationship between Christians and governing authorities?
4. What personal anecdote did the speaker share to illustrate the concept of civil righteousness? [33:16]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus emphasized giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s? How does this distinction help us understand the balance between civil and spiritual righteousness? [31:52]
2. How does the concept of "alien righteousness" as described by Martin Luther challenge our understanding of earning righteousness through actions? [31:13]
3. In what ways can our desire to align Jesus with a particular political party reflect more about our own beliefs than about who Jesus truly is? [27:25]
4. How can the current political climate and the church's role in advocating for justice make it difficult to discern between a proper civil response and a proper spiritual response? [35:59]

Application Questions

1. Reflect on your own motivations: Are you more concerned with how you appear to others or with honoring God? How can you shift your focus more towards honoring God in your daily actions? [32:32]
2. Think about a recent situation where you had to choose between following a civil law and following what you believe to be God's law. How did you handle it, and what would you do differently now? [33:56]
3. How can you ensure that your sense of what is right in the world comes from God rather than societal norms? What practical steps can you take to align your actions more closely with God's justice? [34:37]
4. In what ways can you avoid the trap of trying to make Jesus align with your political beliefs? How can you focus more on aligning yourself with Jesus' teachings? [27:25]
5. How can you discern the line between a proper civil response and a proper spiritual response in your own life? Can you think of a specific issue where this distinction has been challenging for you? [35:59]
6. Reflect on the idea that our spiritual side should ultimately prevail. How can you prioritize your spiritual calling in a way that brings about positive change in the civil system? [37:41]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel the overlap between civil and spiritual righteousness is particularly convoluted. What steps can you take to clarify this overlap and ensure your spiritual righteousness prevails? [38:24]