Render Unto Ceasar

Marta and I recently watched the movie "Syriana".  It is a film about the corruption that comes with America's pursuit and dependence on oil, illustrating the convoluted interconnectedness between the oil companies, politicians, the CIA, oil Sheiks, energy analysts, lawyers, and ordinary Arabs caught up into terrorism.  The film left me with a sense of powerlessness, feeling that this problem is so big and complex that there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.  What made me feel even more powerless was the thought that the people who are in these positions of corruption and power are not even afraid of this movie.  If they really felt threatened by this film, it would have never been made.  The thing is that they know as well as I know that the entire nation could see this movie and come out of the theatre saying, "Wow, our system is really corrupt, oh well, nothing we can do about it, unless we want to give up what we have."  

There is a quote in the movie by a lawyer who is being sacrificed up to the public as a scapegoat to appear that the system is actually fighting corruption, he states, "corruption is what makes all of this possible, corruption is what keeps us safe and warm instead of fighting for scraps on the street".  Our standard of living is supported by these activities all across the globe.  If it weren't for the CIA, oil companies, and politicians meddling in world affairs, we wouldn't be able to have cheap gasoline or heating, or have as much money to buy inexpensive electronics (which would then be expensive electronics).  Everything would be harder to come by, raising prices and driving many of the superfluous or luxury goods and services (that we have gotten used to) out of business.  It is kind of like having a drug dealer for a father.  You don't really want to call the police on him because he is the one paying for all of your food, clothing, and video games.  Without him, you would be in poverty, or at least not able to buy all the cool stuff you have now.  

I used to be really obsessed with conspiracy theories and wanting to uncover them and fight against them.  A couple of years ago, my friends and I were serving coffee on the street and I remember talking to this homeless guy who was telling me all about who was behind the Kennedy assassination and how it was really the Defense Department's Intelligence Agency or something and he strung a pretty convincing web of facts and connections, but at the end of it I looked at him and said, "The powerful will always be corrupt but I follow the laws of a different kingdom".  Basically, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's".  

I don't discount the efforts of those in government fighting against corruption and attempting to bring justice to the system.  I just believe that the greatest change will be brought about by planting small mustard seeds that eventually work their way through the cracks of the concrete above.  Inviting my neighbor over for breakfast, speaking truth and healing into the lives of those I love, caring for the poor and the sick, living simply with the knowledge of how the distribution of resources affects others, freeing myself from the idols of consumerism and militarism. This lifestyle brings change and works its way like yeast through kneaded bread.  

Some would take issue with me at the moment and accuse me of playing right into the hands of the powerful, enabling them to continue to get rich off the blood of others.  I understand and empathize with this sentiment, yet I believe there will come a time when they are judged for their deeds, but I will trust in one more powerful than I to do that judging.  Meanwhile the powerful are the ones who are fighting for the scraps of power on the floor, unaware that there is real food to be had at the kingdom feast, the appetizers of which we can enjoy now.  

Yet I am not so sure that the powerful of this world should be entirely unafraid of those who plant mustard seeds.  There is a quote in "The Brothers Karamazov" by a French intelligence officer, rounding up and arresting socialists. "We are not afraid of all these socialists, anarchists, atheists, and revolutionaries.  We keep an eye on them, and their movements are known to us.  But there are some special people among them, although not many: these are believers in God and Christians, and at the same time socialists.  They are the ones we are most afraid of; they are terrible people!  A socialist Christian is more dangerous than a socialist atheist."   One has to think... Why was Jesus put to death? :)