Was Jesus a Socialist?
Was Jesus a socialist? Well, the Bible says that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. So Jesus is sovereign, not socialist.
He who is blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings an dLord of lords… (1 Timothy 6:15)
On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:6)
But in Acts chapter 4, we see at the beginning of the church that “those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common” (Acts 4:32). There was not a needy person among them. They gave their lands and their goods and the proceeds were distributed to those in need.
…And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 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 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need (Acts 4:33-35)
See? Socialism!
Uh, no. Socialism isn’t freely giving, it’s forcefully taking. A socialist government believes the state has a duty to take what rightfully belongs to one person and give it to another. That’s called stealing. God was very clear about where thieves will go.
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
Whether one person does it, or ten million people vote for the elected officials who do it, it’s still theft.
That was not the early church, where no one was taking from their neighbor, they were giving to their neighbor. Brothers and sisters in Christ gave as much or as little as they wanted, not reluctantly or under compulsion.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
Nothing was being taken by any authority, and the money wasn’t being misused — like, by killing babies and calling it healthcare.
Socialism costs everyone. Just because socialists say they want to give to the poor doesn’t make it good. Judas wanted to take Mary’s expensive ointment and give the proceeds to the poor! –because he was a thief who cared only about himself. Mary gave freely to the Lord and she was commended.
Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and she anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot said, “why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put in it. (John 12:1-8).
Our Sovereign King has distributed freely, He has given of Himself to poor sinners. Give thanks, for His righteousness endures forever (2 Corinthians 9:9),
…when we understand the text.
(This video is by WWUTT. Discovered by Christian Podcast Central and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Christian Podcast Central.)