Sermon Skit: Just Taxes?
Matthew 22:15-22
by Joel Morgan

(Husband at table working through papers.  Wife is reading newspaper)

Husband:  Honey, do you remember how much we paid for the condo at the beach last summer?

Wife:  No – why?

H:  I’m trying to get receipts together for our taxes.  Don’t we save our old checks somewhere?

W:  What does our vacation have to do with the taxes?

H:  It’s a write off.

W:  Oh -- they let you write off vacations now?

H:  Well—you remember I worked some on that trip.

W:  I remember you brought your laptop.

H:  You’re right – I did bring the laptop!   It really was a working vacation!

W:  Your mind is a working vacation.  You played games on the laptop!

H:  (not listening)  Right.  I gotta find that check for the condo.  I wonder if we kept receipts for the meals.....

(silence – woman reading paper)

W:  Looks like we’re getting closer to war with Iraq.

H:  Uh huh.

W:  I think it’s a mistake.

H:  Right.

W:  Saddam Hussein should know better than to have his picture taken in a tutu.

H:  Uh huh.

W:  See – you’re not listening.  You never listen.

H:  I am listening.  You said we shouldn’t fight Iraq and Saddam shouldn’t wear tutus.

W:  And you agreed!

H:  Well, a tutu and a moustache might look funny, but its up to him. 

(pause)

W:  This war isn’t right.  Lots of people will die – over what?   Doesn’t the Bible say “Thou shalt not kill”?

H:  I think the exact wording is, “Thou shalt not kill, except where thine oil is concerned.  Then thou may blow thine enemies to smithereens.”

W:  Great.  You never take me seriously.

H:  What?

W:  I have a problem with this and you’re joking around.

H:  OK.  The Bible does say you should not kill – Fifth Commandment.   But the church has traditionally said that killing is okay in a war that has a just cause.  In that case, the government is God’s agent to accomplish His purposes.

W:  The government is God’s what?

H:  As long as it is acting to establish justice as God defines justice, it is acting on God’s behalf.  It is God’s agent.

W:  So you think war with Iraq is okay?

H:  I think the question is whether it’s a just war.  If so, then yes, I’d say it’s okay.

W:  And you’d fight?

H:  When they start drafting guys my age, I’ll be the first in line.

W:  You know what I mean.  Theoretically.

H:  Yeah.  I’d fight in a just war.

W:  Because the government is God’s ---- agent.

H:  Right.

(pause)

W:  So when you’re getting creative with the taxes, you’re cheating ------- God’s agent?

H:  What are you –trying to start a war here?