The gospel according to the son - L'eglise

A scribe come forward, "Master" he said we know that you want to teach 
the way of truth.
Therefore I would ask for an answer to this question. It is of weight to us. 
Would you say it is lawful to give tribute to caesar ? or shall we not give ?
With all the gentle warmth that this man offered, I also knew that the Devil
had missions who were equally fair.
If I replied that one must not give tribute to caesar, which was the reply
I expect that he waited, then these Pharisees could tell the Procurator of Jerusalem
that I was leading a rebellion against the Romans
My wit however was like an anow I said,
"Give me a coin"
when they brought it, I aked " whose face is on this money"
The scribe replied "caesar"
I said "render to caesar the things that are caesar's".
And to God the things that belong to God. I was pleased for I was also telling
them that Mannon was a god for the Romans, not for Jews.
I could feel their respect. now they saw that I not only
had the strenght to return the tables of the money lenders but the wisdom 
to avoid a rash reply. Later, upon reflection, I would also know that
my remark had been too clever.
While many a church would survive in evil lands by giving homage to Caesar, 
I was not here to build churches but to bring sinness to salvation.
Why then, had I given that reply ?
Had God decided on prudence as the better path ?
Would he now allow churches to grow in the swamps of pride and Mammon ?"

  The gospel according to the son - Norman Mailer