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Is Jesus Christ a Socialist?
The Blaze ^ | August 17, 2011 | Billy Hallowell

Posted on 08/17/2011 8:52:17 PM PDT by lbryce

As the debate over the government’s debt and its role in assisting the poor intensifies, some on the far left have begun to claim that Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible advocate socialism and preach against capitalism.

While this notion gives many conservative Christians angst, it is an ideal that is quickly gaining steam among atheists (and some left-leaning believers) who find themselves more on the fiscally-liberal side of the political spectrum.

Last week, atheist Gregory Paul, a freelance researcher, author and illustrator, penned a piece for the Washington Post in which he claims that socialism has its roots in the Christian Bible. In his article, Paul questions why Christians have abandoned the socialistic inclinations espoused by Jesus Christ to embrace capitalistic beliefs that contradict, in his view, Biblical principles.

Paul contends that “a set of profound contradictions have developed within modern conservative Christianity.” These contradictions are so perplexing, he says, that they “set one’s head spinning.” In Paul’s eyes, Christians who denounce Darwin’s evolutionary science, yet espouse social Darwinism (i.e. capitalism) are doing so without examining the antithetical nature of their thinking. He writes:

Many conservative Christians, mostly Protestant but also a number of Catholics, have come to believe and proudly proclaim that the creator of the universe favors free wheeling, deregulated, union busting, minimal taxes especially for wealthy investors, plutocrat-boosting capitalism as the ideal earthly scheme for his human creations.

In citing examples straight from the Bible that he calls “outright socialism of the type described millennia later by Marx,” Paul pleads his case. The first example he gives is focused upon Jesus’ warning to the wealthy that they may not inherit the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24, which reads, ..

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: jesuschrist; socialism
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To: danielmryan

it wasnt the money— it was the love for money. jesus says that it is easier for a rich man to pass through an eye of a neddle than a rich man to enter the kindom of god— meaning= a rich man wont hummble himself and repent before god to be saved, because he thinks he dont need anything, cause money has secured him above everthing else


61 posted on 08/17/2011 10:05:25 PM PDT by chicken head
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To: lbryce

I think that Jesus is too smart to subscribe to any politics and those whom try to sign him up are destined for a very warm future.


62 posted on 08/17/2011 10:05:53 PM PDT by Tempest (Ruining the day of corporate butt kissers everywhere.)
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To: lbryce
Matthew 25:14-30
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. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" (New King James Version)

Notice that with this parable, Jesus illustrates two simple principles: 1) God will entrust to us certain resources such as responsibilities, material possessions, family, etc. based on our ability to use these resources responsibly; and 2) God will require an accounting of how we have managed the resources that He has entrusted to us. This application calls us to make a concerted effort to be faithful stewards with every precious gift that God bestows upon us and make sure that we use those gifts to further His Kingdom.

On the first point, Jesus states pretty plainly that the Kingdom of God is based on a system that is the antithesis of socialism/communism. Marxist socialism says "from each according to his ability and to each according to his need," but Jesus says that in the Kingdom of God, people are given "to each according to his ability". Notice also, that rather than taking a redistributive approach of taking from "wealthy" to give to the "poor", the lazy unproductive servant loses even what little he had and it was given to the most successful servant that had the most money.

In all of Christ's teaching, He calls on individuals to be generous toward each other and especially those in need. He also stresses the freedom of employers and workers to enter into agreements via a free market rather than some collectively enforced arrangement. (Matthew 20:1-16) He also teaches about the importance of evaluating costs, value, and available resources before undertaking a project or investment. (Luke 14:27-33 and Matthew 13:44-52) Clearly the teaching of Jesus regarding money adheres to a market-based capitalist philosophy much more than a socialistic viewpoint.

63 posted on 08/17/2011 10:06:13 PM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: lbryce

It always amazes me how atheist who do not believe in God profess to be such authorities on the bible.


64 posted on 08/17/2011 10:07:45 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953 (Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to GOD! Thomas Jefferson)
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To: danielmryan
It's funny that no-one's mentioned the Parable of the Talents so far. I guess that's because those who believe Jesus was a socialist interpret it in a different but not necessarily unBiblical way.

See post 63.

65 posted on 08/17/2011 10:17:34 PM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: lbryce
In Paul’s eyes, Christians who denounce Darwin’s evolutionary science, yet espouse social Darwinism (i.e. capitalism) are doing so without examining the antithetical nature of their thinking.

Some people are economic idiots; some people are theologial idiots; Gregory Paul is both. His first mistake is in characterizing capitalism as "social darwinism", but that is necessary for him to get to the supposed contradiction in his thesis.

66 posted on 08/17/2011 10:25:17 PM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: lbryce

Only a person who knew absolutely nothing about the New Testament would even try to make such a claim. Certainly no one who had actually read all of the Book of Acts (of the Holy Spirit).


67 posted on 08/17/2011 10:35:12 PM PDT by wastoute (Government cannot redistribute wealth. Government can only redistribute poverty.)
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To: lbryce

He turned water into wine and made limited bread and fish feed many.

He didn’t propose progressive tax rates on the rich to create social programs.


68 posted on 08/17/2011 10:41:33 PM PDT by Fledermaus (I'm done with political parties. The GOP is useless. Anarchy is perferable to this CRAP!)
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To: lbryce

Jesus calls us to life. He actually calls it abundant. Hopefully, you’re all finding it.


69 posted on 08/17/2011 10:41:33 PM PDT by Paraclete
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To: Winstons Julia

Ask Barry.

That’s above my pay grade...


70 posted on 08/17/2011 10:56:39 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: wastoute

God, Jesus, Holy Ghost are 3 differ in persons —
jesus says that if you blasphem against me it will be forgiven, if you blasphem against the father it can be forgiven, but if you blasphem against the holy ghost, IT SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN.. - the old testiment peeps had to kill animals and shed there BLOOD for a sacrifice to god so god could forgive there sins- jesus came and died and shed his blood for the worlds(mans) sins before god (gods son)- god demands a blood sacrifice for sins, so thats why jesus did what he did.. so you have to go through jesus to get to the father (jesus says)no one goes to the father unless you come through me first-after your saved the holy ghost protects you and dwells within you the bible says


71 posted on 08/17/2011 10:57:36 PM PDT by chicken head
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To: sayfer bullets
The best answer to this question I have seen thus far. I plan to plagiarize in the future.
72 posted on 08/17/2011 11:00:33 PM PDT by Anti-Hillary
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To: sayfer bullets
The best answer to this question I have seen thus far. I plan to plagiarize in the future.
73 posted on 08/17/2011 11:00:40 PM PDT by Anti-Hillary
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To: lbryce

I don’t recall Jesus telling us to build prison camps-and in the real world, that is what every socialist system winds up being. I guess those who would place Jesus’ name on their schemes forget that His blessing shows on the outcome-not the intent.


74 posted on 08/17/2011 11:07:48 PM PDT by tanuki (O-voters: wanted Uberman, got Underdog....)
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To: lbryce

There is never support for communism/socialism. There is no “force” in the concept of charity, ever. It ceases to be charity, when it is government force.

Socialism/Communism is always forced confiscation from the producers...and it rewards evil with the money—sloth, bad behaviors, etc. It is immoral by Christian standards and Natural Law Theory.


75 posted on 08/17/2011 11:44:53 PM PDT by savagesusie
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To: comebacknewt
comebacknewt: “Show me even one government program that Jesus ever supported, and then I will consider the argument.”

He didn't condemn tax collectors or centurions for doing their jobs, but He spoke pretty strongly against the Pharisees.

76 posted on 08/17/2011 11:52:34 PM PDT by CitizenUSA (Bad is easy. Anyone can do bad. Good, OTOH, is work. It takes discipline.)
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To: lbryce; All

Play Video:
Did Jesus endorse capitalism, weapons?
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=334573


77 posted on 08/18/2011 12:05:47 AM PDT by donna (This is what happens when America is no longer a Christian nation.)
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To: lbryce

Huuuuh errrrr....He is unique, believe it or not ,he claims to be a special embodiement of God revealing people the face , the person,of the hiden “God” who created everything and that nothing can see. And that’s what christians believe.
About his doctrine and teachings anyway some parabols like the one about the talents or also the 11th hour’s worker...are not at all “socialists”.
On a more foundamental level it appears that , according to the Holy Gospels, that each one is seen as an individual person and will receive grace according to hese needs and capacities “ad modum recipientis”....which is very far from the flat notion and dangerous socialist fantasy of a strict equality.

So this point is pathetic and laughable but shows well, once again, that socialism has always, since the beginning, pretended to be a kind of new (fake) religion, parody of religion, with hese fake dogma and true fanatic ideologues which tried to replace christianism


78 posted on 08/18/2011 12:43:25 AM PDT by Ulysse
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To: donna
Was Jesus the Lord of the Old Testament?
Is the LORD (Jesus) a man of war? Has He not dashed in pieces the enemy?
What was the LORD'S (Jesus's) purpose in leaving the nations of "the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites" reference Israel?
And capitalism?
Wasn't it interesting how Jesus treated Ananias, with Sapphira when they agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord. I don't think you would call that socialist.
79 posted on 08/18/2011 1:40:44 AM PDT by Yosemitest (It's simple, fight or die.)
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To: DoughtyOne

“When it came to the poor, and the tradition of allowing the poor to reap the chaff, or leftovers in the field, Jesus never said that the poor should get everything.”

There is a another very important point in this quote. The left-overs were not delivered to the poor in food-parcels. They had to “work” for it.


80 posted on 08/18/2011 2:09:24 AM PDT by Diapason
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