Jews, Christians and Government

Jews and Christians are reminded regularly in the Bible to love and care for their neighbors, be hospitable to strangers and to be forgiving. Deborah Saunders (SF Chronicle, April 26, 2011) is right in quoting, “Nowhere in the Bible does God command Caesar to do a damn thing.” But we live in a democracy where citizens get to vote through our representatives about how their tax money will be used. Caesar and other governments in Jesus’ day were tyrants and not answerable to the citizenry. Serious Christians and Jews in our democracy may and do demand that our government care for the poor, sick, elderly and those oppressed. Many of us also feel such benefits should not be easily taken away.