Posted on 10/02/2015 9:53:13 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The last temptation of Christ may not have occurred in the desert when Satan confronted Jesus. In the biblical book of Matthew, Christ goes alone into the desert and fasts for 40 days. While he is starving, the Devil confronts and tempts him: “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Christ answers, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
The Christian church, both Catholic and Protestant, has faced a similar temptation to turn stone into bread in the form of socialism. Many seem surprised by Pope Francis’s criticism of capitalism. Modern liberals trying to push for a more socialist agenda in Europe, South America, and the United States have used his statements as fodder. While it is commonly assumed that Christianity would be opposed to socialism because of its historic opposition to communism, the two are not the same.
Russian and Chinese communism did not allow for religious belief and practice, but the economic system of socialism itself has no such restrictions, and has been embraced by many Christian leaders and sects throughout the development of the modern industrial society. In an effort to create a Christian society, believers have lent support to and embraced socialism to the point of revolutionary action as a way to create heaven on Earth—bread out of stone.
In his “History of Anarchism,” Peter Marshall writes, “Alongside the libertarian trend in Christianity has been a communal one. Jesus’ voluntary poverty, his attack on riches… and his sharing of goods (particularly the bread and the fishes) all inspired many early Christians to practice a form of communism.” He cites Acts 2:44-5: “And all that believed were together, and had all things in common;
(Excerpt) Read more at thefederalist.com ...
Excellent analogy, and I have not heard put in this most appropriate context before. Great post SeekAndFind, and thanks.
This article is missing a key detail. It is not Christianity itself which convinces people to adopt socialism, but rather a slavish devotion to church bureaucracy. This is exhibited not only by the Catholic Church, but also many of the liberal Proteatant “churches”: a splintering of the church is viewed as the greatest sin in these pretenders’ eyes. These churches are also the ones which heavily promote their irresponsible charity through the church bureaucracy, keeping welfare queens alive so that they may vote Democrat.
Meant “the article points out a key detail”
In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov,” Ivan relates a fictional story to his brother. It posits that Christ refused the Devil’s temptation to create bread from stone so humanity could remain free, and that by doing so Jesus made freedom the ultimate gift from God because man would happily enslave himself for free bread. “So, in the end, they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us: ‘Enslave us, but feed us!’ And they will finally understand that freedom and the assurance of daily bread for everyone are two incompatible notions that could never co-exist!” Christ may have been able to turn stone into bread or feed 5,000 with three loaves and two fish, but the state is no miracle worker. Any time the state embarks on a miraculous quest, it is always an act of power, not faith or charity." - Peter Marshall"Socialist Christians seek to punish, not change, those whom they believe are not willing enough. In seeking power in the guise of spiritual change, they violate not only a separation of church and state but place their own political goals over their spiritual calling.
Luke 12
13Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”…
I’m not the least bit surprised by the Pope’s criticism of capitalism. Having deployed to Latin America rather frequently, I’ve seen liberation theology, as practiced by very liberal Catholic priests who fervently believed in the hollow promises of socialism. The things they were willing to do or overlook in the pursuit of socialism were truly disturbing.
Socialism, as explained by its true adherents, looks wonderful from afar and in theory, even to Christians. Up close, it’s pretty damned ugly.
If there is a Stamp that says National Council of Churches
Get up and leave
Its a human thing; humans are forever looking for an earthly king.
That is what socialism is. It presents itself as democratic but it provides people with an earthly king they can see and touch. It provides people with an earthly someone they can focus their hopes on and lay blame on.
Christ offers the Creator of the Universe as your king but people demand the mess of pottage.
When asked by the rich man how he could get into heaven, Jesus answered, “Sell everything you have; give the money to the poor; and follow me.”
What he did NOT say was “Establish a progressive system of taxation so you can redistribute wealth to those who make less.”
There’s a big difference between performing acts of charity yourself, and making believe the government will do it for you.
I think socialism and Marxism are fundamentally un-Christian, and it has little to do with possessions or income. God recognizes man as a free moral agent, free to accept God’s lordship over his life, and free to reject him.
Socialism and Marxism do NOT recognize man as a free moral agent. Any time any person stands in the way of what the State wants, that person’s rights, property and everything else is swept aside in favor of the state’s wishes.
That being true, I view the ideologies of socialism, Marxism, etc., as being utterly and hopelessly evil.
HE continued...
...I could do that, but my followers can't.
Someone has to plow the field, plant the seed, get rid of the weeds, chase away the birds, pray for rain, cut down the crop, thresh the grain, store the grain, build storehouse for the grain, grind the grain, build an oven, get fuel for the oven, make the dough, and, finally, bake the bread.
Socialism is incompatible with God-created human nature, God-given natural rights and the Biblical concept of justice.Christianity believes that the Bible encourages a system of private property and individual responsibilities and initiative (Is.65:21-22;Jer.32:43-44; Acts 5:1-4;Eph. 4:28).
Why be ‘rich’ if the church encourages the ‘poor’ to be fed, housed, clothed, children taught, doctors provided for by you?
Why did GOD create COWBIRDS?
1 Samuel 8
And this was addressed to ONE man.
No where can I find that is was meant to be universally applied to all.
bkmk
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.