Was Jesus Really a Socialist? (An Important Excursus)

Sorry for Being a Troubler-Maker

In part 3 of “Was Jesus Really a Socialist?” I list the claims made by those attempting to present Jesus as this very thing. Amusing enough, having written part 3 before publishing part 1, I got a hostile response to my opening line in part 1—I’ve gone and toned it down since—followed by a replay by the responder of many of the arguments listed in part 3 as common defenses claiming Jesus was a Socialist.

I Love Honest Discussion

If someone wants to have an honest discussion with me, they will always get one. But if someone wants to attack me as if to school me pompously, I have lost most patience for such discussion. Right or wrong, I will respond in kind or not at all. This is my feeble attempt to honor Proverbs 26:4-5: “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.” 

Learning a Lesson Holy Spirit Style

I watched a video years ago of a riot by maddened women trying to destroy a catholic church and mercilessly beating and hygienically defiling a ring of men on their knees in a prayer circle around the church trying to protect it… yes, you read that right… hygienically defiling. Don’t make me go into any more detail than that. You won’t thank me afterward. The women’s behavior was off the hook vile.

I like discussion, definitions, nuanced investigation, considering all sides as honestly as possible. I used to pride myself on being able to teach anything I understood to almost anyone. As I watched these women, however, I felt like God spoke to my heart in chastisement, saying “Teach that!” The message was clear. There are some things that only the power of divine word delivered through the Spirit of God speaking through us can touch. Some are in such darkness that only the light of God can make a difference. I became more “prophetic” in my speaking thereafter.  I speak far more directly now when I feel I’m speaking into some form of soul darkness or stubborn arrogance.

Excerpts Worth Chewing On?

Let me share excerpts of my response to that outraged “fan” who was clinging tenaciously to the label socialist for Jesus… editing out words like moron and fool of course. (😉 😏 😜) In the end, I was glad for the contest, and I hope he was too.

Charity Needs Wisdom

“Charity must be implemented wisely and socialism is anything but wise. Jesus defended property rights and called for charity. The soul of charity is always deeply personal and implemented locally in a manner that befits true discipleship with discipline. Charity speaks to the heart of covenant call and should never be administered by anything but voluntary action.”

Why Would Anyone Claim the Word “Socialist”?

“When a system of thought has led directly to the murder of some 200 million people in under a century, and has the long record of poverty and oppression, starvation and murder that socialism has for millennia, what kind of a fool wants to fight for that label?”

Upside Down Support

“What kind of person is soft on a system of millennia of ruin, but brutal on the system of singular blessing in the most rapid time in world history? Free-market economies have done more for the poor by accident than all the intentional charity of Christians and Jewish believers combined. Why? Because while all socialist-minded efforts defy the way God made man to function, what you call “capitalism” works harmoniously with it. Do you want to help yourself and your family and your friends and your community? Give them products and services they need. If you want to prosper, you serve and serve efficiently. The best of all worlds… free market systems tempered with Christian discipleship and Christian charity.”

If It’s Ruinous It’s Not God

“We cannot call something spiritual that leads invariably to social and economic ruin… like ALL forms of socialism from the very beginning of the articulations of those programs to now. I recommend The Naked Socialist by Paul Skousen. His history of socialism is particularly poignant.”

People are Greedy, Not Systems

“People are greedy not systems. Systems either temper or exacerbate greed. What you call capitalism, and I, “free-market economies.” temper greed by demanding that a person profit by serving the needs and wants of his fellow man and conduct themselves according to the natural rights of man as rooted in man as image of God. Socialism exacerbates greed because it is rooted in envy and force, strips away personal responsibility, rewards indolence and punishes industry, and, thus, radically diminishes incentives to labor.”

Keeping the Baby, Ditching the Bathwater

The great divide of Biblical charity with socialism is found in charity’s call for a free response of discipled hearts to generosity, mercy, and grace, while preserving freedom and the necessary incentives to labor. Captains of industry, for instance, have always been a major source of blessing to society as human capital, creating opportunities and rewarding effort and expertise. This does not make every captain of industry a good person per se, but even if compromised, free-market demands, when constrained by natural rights, leaves them doing far greater practical good than even people like Mother Theresa. This is not “profit over people” which is just another bumper sticker slogan, it is a recognition about what does and doesn’t lead to human thriving.”

Christians Must Disciple Society

“Without Christian discipleship no amount of human thriving can ward off the collective heart’s lean toward evil… but while free-markets tempered with natural rights go there slowly unless discipled aggressively, socialist systems take the fast track to destitution, murder, and starvation.”

There is Blood on the Floor

“Real lives are on the line here. The productiveness of the gospel increases in free-market economies and dies in socialist ones… so real souls are on the line too.”

Chew, Chew, Chew

There are some important thoughts here that I wanted to make sure saw the light of day before finishing this multi-part discussion on the problems with trying to claim Jesus for the socialists.

I hope you found something worth chewing on.

~Andrew D. Sargent, PhD