The debate over the "Church and State" issue in the United States has been going on for centuries.

How much should the government be involved in churches? How much should churches be involved in government? Can we have the Ten Commandments exhibited in a court of law? Should children be allowed to pray in public schools? If creationism is presented as an option in schools, should it be presented as religion or science?

These questions may not keep you awake at night, but they reflect an issue that is important. Today's Gospel reading tells us that the question of "Church and State" has been around a lot longer than the United States.

Jesus is asked by some listeners, "Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" We're told the people asking the question wanted to "entrap" Jesus. The Jewish authorities viewed the Roman government as illegitimate. The Roman government, of course, demanded taxation from its occupied territories.

It appears to be a no-win situation for Jesus. If he acknowledges the legitimacy of Caesar's government, he betrays Israel. If he encourages tax evasion, he betrays mighty Rome.

"Show me the coin that pays the census tax," Jesus answers. 'Whose image is this and whose inscription?' They replied, 'Caesar's.' At that he said to them, 'Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.'"

A nifty answer, if Jesus' goal is to simply avoid entrapment. But one senses he had more to communicate. In fact, Jesus turns the tables on his interrogators and changes the attempt to trap him into a challenge to the people asking the question. Instead of talking about what we owe Caesar, Jesus says, we ought to be talking about what we owe God. For if we are to give "to God what belongs to God," then we are to surrender our entire lives to God's service.

This is a refreshing exchange in our era of endless religious debate. I don't know about you, but I grow weary of the constant protests of religious right vs. the secular left, and the religious left vs. the religious right. We can, and do, argue about the role of government in religion, the role of religion in government, and the role of government in the social issues that confound us --- abortion, homosexuality, poverty, hunger, and war.

While these are all of course important issues, I sometimes wonder if we shouldn't spend more time worrying about how to "give to God what belongs to God," and if many of our social issues would seem much more addressable if more Christians spent more time in prayer, Scripture reading and service than calling into talk radio programs.

I put myself in the same category. I find it far easier to debate and pontificate than to serve. It is far easier to criticize someone's position on an issue than to love that person as I love myself. That, of course, is what Jesus calls us to do. In the end, everything belongs to God. Jesus suggests that to really advance God's kingdom in this world is to accept, embrace, and live this reality.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.