The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people; for they perceived that he had told this parable against them. So they watched him, and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might take hold of what he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Show me a coin. Whose likeness and inscription has it?" They said, "Caesar's." He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him by what he said; but marveling at his answer they were silent. Luke 20:19–26 (RSV)
It was a vote that would have no lasting effect beyond the congregation. No lives were at stake. It was one of those annual meeting votes that should have been a simple matter.
In my time in that parish, it was the first and only time I ever saw her within the church's walls. She did not come to worship, showing up just before the annual meeting was to begin. She sat silently throughout the meeting until the time came to vote. When the basket collecting the ballots reached her, she reached into her purse, took out a fistful of ballots, and dropped them in the basket.
No one said or did anything to protest the ballot stuffing. I was barely a year out of seminary, lacking the courage or the wisdom to say anything. The vote failed. She left the meeting, her goal achieved.
As I noted, the vote did not change the flow of history. It was an offense to God, and we did nothing. What she did was wrong, and we should have called her on it. But we lacked the courage.
Great evil is done when those see the evil for what it is and do nothing to prevent it. The leaders of the Temple wanted to arrest Jesus, getting him out of the way. They did not have the decency to confront him openly, so they sent spies to trip him up. Confident of their trap, Caesar's governor would soon have Jesus in prison.
Jesus called them on it. He would not accept their deceit or play into their lies. He leads them to expose their evil with their own words. We cannot allow any lie to stand. We cannot allow those who have power over others to abuse that power. We cannot be silent when anyone acts against God and our neighbor.
As we celebrate our Nation's birth this coming week, let us as servants of Christ strive to live up to all the ideals of our country. We are people of the Truth and the One who is the Truth.