Controversial

    I have written much; for years I written letters-to-the-editor to the local newspaper warning that we would soon be where we now are. Sometimes they were moral warnings, and at other times political, because oftentimes they cannot be differentiated. God uses government for His will. Sometimes God's will is to bless and other times he uses governments to turn things around.
     For instance, as Israel became more evil, God allowed an empire to be created to destroy them - Assyria. When the sister country of Judah would not listen, God allowed Babylon to be created to punish them. When they had been punished severely, suddenly the empire of Persia came from seemingly nowhere, destroyed Babylon and restored Judah. Then the punishments came from Greece, and Rome, with a respite when the Maccabees gained independence for Judea.
   The rewards and punishments of "Israel" were in accordance with the agreement Abraham and God made with each other. The prophets always warned Israel of punishment. Jeremiah was the main prophet giving fair warning. Jeremiah was controversial. Jeremiah made many accusations such as the following:

For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked. (Jer 5:26-28a)

     Jeremiah spoke of his own time; the wickedness of Judah. However, if the reader looks closely, Jeremiah was describing the scribes and Pharisees who were in power at the time of Jesus Christ. Those two groups were setting snares to trip-up Jesus in his claim to be God. Rather than caring for the souls of people, the party of the Pharisees had grown rich and powerful. Like the analogy or not, the scribes and Pharisees in apostolic times were "the swamp" and Jesus came to "drain the swamp." (Donald Trump's words). Both Jeremiah and Jesus were controversial. They dealt not only of civil matters but spiritual as well.
     Jesus taught separation of church and state, not as we now think of it, but how Jesus did: The political parties of Pharisees and Herodians tried to set a snare for Jesus (Mark 12:13).  They thought Jesus desired to be King but Jesus came to be Lord. Firstly, they complimented Jesus (Mat 12:14), then queried him about taxation: "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give?" (Mark 14b-15a). Jesus knew they were trying to ensnare him (Mark 15b).
     Then Jesus responded:

Bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (Mark 12:15b-17)

     Jesus made the material for the penny since he in the beginning created all things. (John 1:3). Thus, the penny belonged to Jesus. In another case, Jesus paid tribute unto Caesar (Mat 17:24-27). In that case, Jesus not only made the drachma but also delivered it from the belly of a fish. Jesus created and provided. On the other hand Caesar merely used what Jesus provided. Jesus validated that when he told Pilate,

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. (John 19:10-11)

     Although the coins belonged to Jesus, he gave them to Caesar. Jesus was controversial: he was a servant to mankind - Caesar and Pilate included - but it was voluntary. He also came to serve those who ensnared him and finally had him crucified: "Therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin" (John 19-11b).
     The Herodians didn't crucify Jesus; they were merely political. The Pharisees had Jesus crucified; they were the religious party, and Jesus condemned them more than even Pilate. In the end of time, it won't be the government that ensnares and beheads Christians, it will be a whorish religion authorized by a corrupt government just as Jesus was crucified in the same manner.
     I write often of the corruption in our government. Jesus lived in a similar environment, and allowed persecution to occur to grow the faith. In the end, persecution will be to destroy the faith and the faithful just as Assyria and Babylon did to David's kingdom. The end of time government, in colleague with a wicked church, combine for The Great Tribulation. Jesus taught a type of separation of church and state because he knew the state would fail the Church. He foresaw and allows socialism; they and their state-influenced churches are the "harlot Babylon" (Rev 17:15).
    Jeremiah was mocked for prophesying the destruction of Judah. In the same manner, modern time preachers and people as myself are mocked because we warn of godless socialism. Jesus was asking the people not to depend on the government for prosperity, but on him. Give to Caesar his penny, but give unto Jesus trust. Not written on their money was, "In God We Trust" but it was still there!
     Right after Jesus had them pay tribute to Caesar, he spoke of Heavenly things. Another political party - the Sdducees - then came forth to snare Jesus on spiritual matters regarding the resurrection in which they did not believe. Jesus responded to them as well: "Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? (Mat 12:24). Jesus pointed out their ignorance to the Sadducees. In both cases, Jesus dealt justly with deception and cunning of the political and religious parties.
     Now in America, the government is against Christ, but Christians support the government. Jesus knew of that type of "wall of separation of Church and state." He knew that the government would infringe upon Christianity, but that Christianity would not infringe upon the government. Those who are truly Christians are not revolutionaries who fight to overthrow the president and democracy, but do speak the truth about the conniving and dishonesty of modern-day bureaucrats and government - the modern-time "scribes" and "Pharisees."  Likewise, true Christians don't persecute but warn of the Sadducees who represent the progressive-minded liberal church.
      Yesterday a man said, "I know you somehow!" I knew what he was thinking. Before long, the man said, "You're the person who writes controversial letters to the editor!" He saw me as controversial, and I spent a great deal of time explaining to him that I am only controversial to those whose frame of reference is different. I told him that my thoughts are not my own, but are from Holy Scripture. In the end, he said, "I'm glad we met today." I believe that he saw that controversy is perception. He and I agreed on many things.
     Jeremiah was controversial and mocked, as was Jesus who was mocked and given the Kaepernick knee: "And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!" (Mat 27:29). Jesus claimed to be God; that was controversial. I know prophecy and what Jesus was talking about. That too is controversial. Anyone who supports Christ must be zealots for him. We are a "peculiar people" since we are of "a holy nation" (1 Pet 2:9). We will be persecuted by the government and liberal churches for Jesus's name's sake (Luke 21:12).
     If any Christian is not controversial in a wicked world, they should check their "Christianity". Were they really born again? Do they truly trust Jesus or is it "Caesar" and "Pilate" they trust more? The doctrine of the world is social justice and the Doctrine of Christ is spiritual justice. Are Christians to pay tribute to Marxist socialism or Jesus's Kingship? That's more than rhetorical, but profound!