“Jesus Christ was a Socialist!” Really? By: Tom Russell

Someone once said “Words are vehicles that convey ideas,” and it is true. However, they may be used to accurately present an idea or hide its flaws. In the Moral Civil War taking place throughout Western Civilization, those on opposing sides in the conflict seek to persuade the undecided middle through the use of words. Sometimes a story, if told well and often, is perceived as the truth in spite of contradicting facts. In this short treatise we are going to consider the effort made by leftists to convince the middle that socialism is the best form of government by presenting Jesus Christ as a Socialist.

What is a “socialist”?

In every example of national socialism, from Hitler’s Germany to Venezuela today, the regulation of “production, distribution, and exchange” is carried out by those in positions of governmental power, not direct voting by each citizen. Those in power use force to seize private property and labor to control and redistribute as they see fit. Force is usually necessary since most business people who have risked and sacrificed greatly to build a business will not surrender it to a polite request. Socialism is achieved through violence, or the threat of violence, not just artful articulation or propaganda.
If you doubt this, let me ask you, if a business owner refused to surrender ownership and/or control of his company to a socialistic government, what would be the result? The record is undeniable; property/business has always been taken by force.

Was Jesus a Socialist?

To answer that question, we must ask if Jesus promoted socialism or directed others to do so. Some claim that He did based on the following passages:

“render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”

Matthew 22:21 “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

In this passage Jesus directed His disciples to give Caesar/government that which it has a rightful claim to, but says nothing about authorizing government to take the business or income of one man and giving it to another man who has not labored for it.

“go, sell what you possess and give to the poor”

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Again, the Lord says nothing about government power. The passage involves a particular individual’s responsibility, not a collective responsibility.

Christians who owned property sold it and gave the money to the apostles to feed the poor.

Acts 4:34-35 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Again, the passage says nothing about government being granted authority to take the business or income of one man and give it to another man who has not labored for it. Rather, the issue here involves the responsibility of Christians to meet the needs of other Christians who were unavoidably destitute.

Leftist attempt to spit shine socialism with sophistry, empty promises, and associating it with Christ, but history and scripture expose it as a tragic failure. Socialism is simply the concentration of power/force in the hands of the state to control economic planning, to coercively redistribute wealth, and punish anyone inconvenient to that effort. Jesus Christ nowhere promoted this.

The “collective” responsibilities given by Christ primarily involve spiritual matters and very limited benevolence by local congregations toward Christians who were unavoidably destitute. In fact, through the Apostle Paul, the Lord instructed His people “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11

Using force to take the property of one man and giving it to another man who did not labor for it is antithetical to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

JESUS CHRIST WAS NOT A SOCIALIST!

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