Have a Kosher Fourth!

“Huh? What does Pastor Eddy mean, ‘Have a Kosher Fourth’? Is he saying we should all convert to Judaism or at least keep a kosher kitchen (or BBQ grill) for our Independence Day cookouts? No pork-filled hot dogs, no milk shakes with our steaks, and only matzoh buns for our burgers? Is he saying we need to go back and keep all the food regulations given to the Israelites in the Book of Leviticus?”

No, I’m not advocating we return to the dietary rules of the Old Testament (though some have advocated doing so for a healthier lifestyle). The books of the New Testament make it quite clear that the food laws do not apply to Christians. God’s dietary restrictions have been set aside, not because they were bad or rejected, but because they were fulfilled in Christ. Jesus perfectly fulfilled all the law, including the God-given food laws, and completed their purpose. Therefore, if we are in Christ by faith, we too are deemed by God as perfectly fulfilling the same laws. It’s like a parent buying a family pass to some attraction: everyone in the family gets in without paying any extra because they’re with the parent and are in the family. We who are in Christ are part of his family (Matthew 12:46-50; John 1:12).

The specific passages which confirm our freedom from the kosher laws are found in: Mark 7:19 and Luke 11:41, where Jesus says our food does not make us unclean; Acts 10:15 and Acts 11:9, where the Lord shows Peter a sheet filed with “non-kosher” animals and commands him to eat; and 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, where Paul makes food choices a matter of freedom and consideration for others; and especially Colossians 2:16-17 which explains that the laws were but a shadow of Christ who is the substance to whom they pointed. As Jesus himself said, he came to fulfill the law.

So, no, I’m not advocating going back under the food laws. I’m using “kosher” in its original sense, from the Hebrew word which means “fit” or “proper.” To be kosher is to do what is right and proper. In that sense,  I suggest we celebrate the Fourth of July with the proper attitude when it comes to our dual allegiances to God and to country.

I suggest we celebrate the Fourth of July with the proper attitude when it comes to our dual allegiances to God and to country.

One of my favorite illustrations of this dichotomy comes from a 1991 commercial for – what else? – a kosher hot dog! In it, a smiling Uncle Sam clothed in red, white, and blue faces the camera with a hot dog in his hand. The narrator says “The US government says we can make our Hebrew National franks from frozen beef. We don’t. They say we can add meat by-products. We don’t. They say we can add meat fillers. We can’t. We’re kosher, and have to answer to an even higher authority . . .” The camera pans to the cloudy sky above Uncle Sam and you hear thunder, leaving no doubt as to who the Higher Authority is.

I used this illustration in a sermon one year, complete with a real hot dog and bun for a prop. Since I had it sitting on the pulpit for about 12 hours that day, by the time I finished preaching at the evening service, it was starting to smell pretty ripe; no one would have eaten it, kosher or not! The point I was making had to do with the tension between two biblical mandates: our obligations and loyalty to our country, and our obligations and loyalty to God.

Jesus was confronted by this question one day when some Pharisees tried to “ensnare him in his words.” Matthew 22:15-22 gives us their question and Jesus’ answer. They asked him, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” – a question designed to get him in trouble with the people if he said “Yes,” or in trouble with the Roman authorities if he answered, “No.” Jesus’ reply has become famous; after asking to be shown a coin used for such taxes (a denarius), he asked whose picture and writing was on it. They told him, “Caesar’s.” To which he replied, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

1. Things that are Caesar’s. Beyond the natural love we have for our country, our fellow citizens, our history, and our form of government, we are charged by God’s Word with certain responsibilities to our nation. God commands us to pay taxes, show honor and respect to those in authority over us, to pray for our rulers, and to generally be good citizens. (Check out a dollar bill; whose picture is on it? Washington’s. Therefore, render to Washington that which is Washington’s . . . ). Besides Jesus’ words regarding coinage and taxes, Romans 13:1-7 tells us to be subject to the authorities whom God has placed over us. We are to pay them taxes, revenue, respect, and honor. This includes respect for our military and the police, who we are told are God’s servant, “who does not bear the sword in vain” but is “an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (verse 4).

Then also, 1 Peter 2 tells us to submit to all institutions, even the unjust ones, for it is God’s will that we live good and honorable lives for the sake of Christ and the Gospel. This is especially important to understand, for we seldom approve of everything our governments (at whatever level) do. Therefore, we file our taxes, water our lawns on schedule, follow traffic laws, and treat even obnoxious bureaucrats with patience and respect. It is pleasing to God to do so.

2. At the same time, like the kosher hot dog makers, we have to answer to a Higher Authority. Our allegiance to our country must come behind our obedience to God.

Our allegiance to our country must come behind our obedience to God.

As Christians we must weigh our obligations as citizens against what God has commanded regarding right and wrong. Too often throughout history, and even today in our country, governments make poor decisions and do evil things. Rulers go to war, oppress their people, endorse sins which God has forbidden, deny justice, and ruin people’s lives – abrogating their God-given mandate to protect and bless the people God has put into their care. Of course, governments are made up of sinful people like us, but because they are allowed by God to serve as rulers, they are accountable to God and his purposes in elevating them. They are responsible to God, even if they don’t know it or even believe in him.

God has brought down rulers and nations that have forgotten their place in God’s order. In the Book of Daniel, God brought down Nebuchadnezzar temporarily when that Babylonian king boasted pridefully of his own might and power. In Exodus, God brought judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt for their oppression of the Israelites and disobedience to God. God even brought down the kingdoms of Israel and Judah for their idolatry and injustice. No matter whether a kingdom, an empire, a democracy, or a republic, governments owe their position to God’s permission.

Because our society has pushed God and his Word away from our public life, many government decisions and regulations have been made which run counter to God’s teachings and our Christian faith. I don’t need to elaborate them right now (they seem to change and be added to each week, anyway!) but I’d like to encourage you to pray and become aware of legislation, court decisions, and executive orders that affect our lives and that may run counter to what the Bible teaches. We have the opportunity and the right (rare in the history of nations) to speak up, argue, vote, and sue at court to stand up for what is right. We are the government in many ways in this country, so we share that obligation to make sure we are governing correctly in God’s eyes.

There may come times when we have to take a peaceful and non-violent stand and just say “No!” to certain laws and decisions and orders, but only when doing so is to render to God what is God’s. If and when we do, we must be willing to accept the consequences of doing so, whether social mockery or legal fines and incarceration. Throughout history and around the world today, Christians are sacrificing their freedom and even their lives in order to remain true to God. We must be ready to take up our cross and follow Christ wherever his Word and our conscience demand.

We must be ready to take up our cross and follow Christ wherever his Word and our conscience demand.

So then, what is a “kosher” attitude to Independence Day? It begins with thanksgiving to God for our great nation and the liberties it affords us, especially the freedom we have to worship (and write blogs like this!). It includes gratitude to all who have gone before, who by their sacrifices and struggles have built this nation and achieved its political independence in the world. It includes honor and respect for all who serve to protect us from every danger, here and abroad. It includes appreciation of all the blessings we Americans enjoy in goods and services. And, it includes our commitment to be good citizens and neighbors to those over us and those around us, to each do our own part to share and extend our blessings and make sure that this great and unique nation, under God, may continue to flourish and carry out its God-given purpose in the world.

And with that, I look forward to celebrating the 4th – by grilling a couple kosher hot dogs!

May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord look upon you with favor, and give you peace. Amen.

Read: 1 Peter 2:13-25