When You Defend God

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

“From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (Matthew 17:24-27).

Here's a simple but valuable lesson: be careful when you defend God. I'm not saying not to defend him (I'm pretty sure we need MORE people who will defend him), but walk very prayerfully and very carefully lest in your defense you unwittingly slander him.

I think of a Muslim woman I met at a community college where I was studying French one summer. I enjoyed asking her questions about what she believed. One day after class she showed me a picture book about what Muslims believed. It seemed she felt more comfortable presenting the book to me than discussing her beliefs. While I might not share my beliefs the way she did, I want to have the same spirit that she had. I want to step aside and simply show others where to look.