More importantly; if He returns, what kind of car would He drive?
“Thou shalt not steal”. No exceptions for “unless you work for the government”.
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods”.
Lessee ... when it comes to charitable giving ... which group was it that’s historically been shown to be more generous?
Google on CSM “Christian Socialist Movement” “Jim Wallis” “Tony Campolo” “Brian McLaren” “Shane Claiborne”
“We shed our blood, donate our time, apply our labor, and voluntarily redistribute our income to the poor.”
Jesus said feed the hungry, comfort the sick and aid the poor.
He said NOTHING about mandatory government wealth redistribution...
..and I don’t think HE would be very pleased with those who have gotten wealthy from claiming to represent the poor in the name of God.
..but who am I to judge...
Jesus told us what WE were to do.
He did not tell us to abdicate that responsibility to the government. The government is not there to do our good works for us.
I just don’t like this kind of supposition. Jesus is/was neither a conservative or a liberal - he was an infallible, perfected being.
To try to proscribe human politics - something that Jesus would have rendered to ceaser, something beneath the divine - to one who lived a perfect life seems blasphemous.
One problem I have with this is that a miser can always say he loves Jesus more that his money. He is only tested by relinquishing his wealth, which he won’t do. But he can still say his love is greater... and who would know?
These days he would be a conservative. For his time and place, he was very liberal.
ping for after my dr’s appt
Matthew 25:14-29So, to address the question of whether Jesus would advocate socialism, let's compare and contrast some central themes of socialism with this lesson from Christ.
14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' 23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' 26 But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. (emphasis added)
1. Socialism says "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." But Jesus likened the Kingdom of Heaven to a capitalist investor who entrusts his resources to each according to his ability.
2. Socialism seeks to equalize outcomes so that everyone benefits equally from output, but in the Kingdom of Heaven described by Jesus, the owner/master rewards his performance.
3. Socialism seeks to "spread the wealth around" by taking from the wealthy and giving to the poor, but in the Kingdom of Heaven described by Jesus, what little is held by the non-productive and lazy is taken away and given to the most productive in order that it might be put to better use.
Sounds like three strikes for the notion that Jesus was a socialist.
Jesus is a royalist.
But oddly enough, He would drive a big ole pickup with a carpenter’s toolbox in the back and a bumper sticker that read “Live Better/Follow Me”.
Matt 25:28 28. `Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
Jesus actually teaches that the "wicked and lazy", even though they may only have one talent, will have their talent taken from them and given to who? Not the poor.
ping!