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Was Jesus a Fiscal Conservative?

Posted on 03/21/2013 9:54:51 AM PDT by ComtedeMaistre

A few honest left-wing Christians will admit that Jesus was conservative on issues like abortion and gay rights (he would oppose them). But they argue that Jesus would have supported their socialist economic agendas.

But they fail to realize that Jesus was a small businessman for most of his adult life - he ran a carpentry business. Jesus was a businessman for a longer time than he was a preacher.

His parable in Matthew 25:14-30 promoted responsible investment. Two workers were given 5 and 2 talents respectively by their master, and they doubled their master's money, and won their master's praise. The third worker was given 1 talent, and he failed to invest it, and was subsequently condemned by his master. That talent was taken away from him and given to the guy who had 10 talents. This sounds like (horror!) tax cuts for the rich. In the parable, the master recommended that the worker with one talent should have put it in a bank, and allow it to accumulate interest. The Catholic Church opposed the charging of interest on money in Medieval Europe, but this parable reveals that Jesus supported banks that charged interest on money.

The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is a warning to humanity not to spend money in an irresponsible manner. In the parable, a son wasted his parents' money. In America, it is American parents who are wasting away the inheritance which they ought to leave to their children. The shameful national debt has made America a nation of prodigal parents, not of prodigal sons. American Parents need to apologize to their children for giving them a future of slavery, where they will be working on plantations and sweat-shops owned by the Chinese.

In Luke 19:1-10, Jesus inspired an IRS agent named Zacchaeus, to give a tax refund to people who had paid too much tax. Jesus obviously favored low taxation.


TOPICS: Religion
KEYWORDS: carpenter; fiscal; jesus; taxes
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To: knittnmom

Perhaps not limited to Catholics, but it is rampant in Catholic circles. Same for some Methodists and some Presbyterians, and also Lutherans and Episcopalians. Not at all true with most Baptists and even rarer among non denominational congregations, which is where the church growth is.


21 posted on 03/21/2013 11:09:07 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright
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To: ComtedeMaistre

In the eyes of “true conservatives”, Jesus Christ was a RINO - He befriended and forgave tax collectors, advised people to pay their taxes to the government, and consorted with known prostitutes. In their eyes, HE’S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

In the eyes of “true conservatives”, Reagan was a RINO - he cut and ran from Lebanon, gave amnesty to illegals, and raised taxes. In their eyes, HE’S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

Which begs the question, why did we end up with Bishop Willard from Planet Kolob as the GOPe nominee? Because in the case of every conservative candidate, the cry rang out from “true conservatives”: YOUR GUY’S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

The True Conservative’s Definition of Conservative: “I’m not sure, but whatever it is, it sure as hell ain’t YOU!!!”


22 posted on 03/21/2013 11:10:34 AM PDT by Old Sarge (We are officially over the precipice, we just havent struck the ground yet...)
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To: Old Sarge

Cute, the most Jesus believing people, the conservatives, don’t like Jesus, and they also don’t like their political hero Reagan.

You are what we call a nutcase.


23 posted on 03/21/2013 11:27:56 AM PDT by ansel12 (" I would not be in the United States Senate if it wasnt for Sarah Palin " Cruz said.)
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To: ansel12

Not a nutcase, just an observer of many posts on FR.


24 posted on 03/21/2013 11:30:27 AM PDT by Old Sarge (We are officially over the precipice, we just havent struck the ground yet...)
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To: C. Edmund Wright
I don’t believe Jesus EVER looked at charity and government taxation as having anything to do with each other

If the definition of charity is simply paying our taxes, life under the Obama regime is the epitome of charitable living. :)

Charity must be voluntary to have any spiritual value.

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21

Since He said "sell your possessions and give to the poor" (rather than just give away your possessions), one might conclude it was because the sale would bring greater profits for the poor.

25 posted on 03/21/2013 11:43:55 AM PDT by BlatherNaut
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To: ComtedeMaistre
A few honest left-wing Christians

Isn't the term "left wing Christian" an oxymoron? I do not think it is possible to be a left winger, and a true Christian at the same time.

26 posted on 03/21/2013 11:53:17 AM PDT by Mark17 (My body is in California, but my heart is in the Philippines)
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To: Slyfox
Jesus would be a fiscal AND social conservative.

That's absolutely right. The leftist political philosophy (in all of its forms such as Fascism, Marxism, Communism and liberalism) is diametrically opposed to Christ's teaching. Conservatism is harmonious with God's Word.

27 posted on 03/21/2013 11:56:36 AM PDT by re_nortex
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To: Old Sarge

Agreed.


28 posted on 03/21/2013 11:57:01 AM PDT by douginthearmy
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To: Mark17
I do not think it is possible to be a left winger, and a true Christian at the same time.

Being a leftist and a Christian is every bit as possible as being a sodomite and a Christian. Both are in total opposition to Christianity.

29 posted on 03/21/2013 11:59:42 AM PDT by re_nortex
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To: mbarker12474

it’s funny you posted that. I was reading the Bible today which is rare and came to Matthew 5 20-42.

Boy, in this world where things are heating up and we need to protect ourselves from physical harm and govt tyranny, Christ sure makes it tough with the aforementioned scripture.


30 posted on 03/21/2013 12:03:53 PM PDT by roofgoat
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To: Old Sarge

Yeah we can see your post, it was ridiculous.


31 posted on 03/21/2013 12:05:16 PM PDT by ansel12 (" I would not be in the United States Senate if it wasnt for Sarah Palin " Cruz said.)
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To: oincobx; ComtedeMaistre

Mt 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Mt 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mt 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mt 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mt 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mt 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mt 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, [that] shall ye receive.
Mt 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them [their] hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mt 20:9 And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mt 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mt 20:11 And when they had received [it], they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mt 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mt 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mt 20:14 Take [that] thine [is], and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mt 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mt 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.


32 posted on 03/21/2013 3:24:10 PM PDT by RaceBannon (Telling the truth about RINOS, PAULTARDS, Liberals and Muslims has become hate speech)
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To: C. Edmund Wright

He said it clearly: Give to Ceasar what what is Ceasar’s and to God what is God’s.

He clearly saw the difference between Christians’ mission of caring for the poor and lost versus taxes and government activity. One does not replace the other.

It’s the KGB’s liberation theology that has erased the difference. When I was young, there was a clear difference between the Christian person and the socialists’ collective in every way.


33 posted on 03/22/2013 1:40:13 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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