"Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matt. 22:21).
The Small Catechism covers most everything. In its Table of Duties, for example, it explains the duty of government and the duty of citizens. It does this by using select passages of Holy Scripture: Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-3, Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-14, and Matthew 22:21. After carefully considering these verses, I wrote the following two hymn stanzas, one for government and the other for citizens.
Of Civil Government
God has established government
To be His earthly instrument,
And given it authority
To exercise the penalty
For those who do not as they should,
And to praise those who do the good.
Of Citizens
To country lend your loyalty;
Obey all in authority,
And for them pray and intercede;
Your taxes pay, live peaceably.
To Caesar render what is just;
To God alone, your love and trust.
