Oct 13, 2018
Wonkers of the World, Untie
10-15-18
A robust element of many stories in the news these days, and a subtext of many articles, particularly political stories, is the resurgence of socialism. Significantly, the church is at the center of matters.
Socialism has experienced an awakening, at least in debates as its governmental structure is being somewhat dismantled. Wasn’t it dead and buried after the Reagan years? Didn’t the failure and overthrow of Communist regimes around the world teach people that socialism was a miserable failure? Weren’t the statistics of misery, poverty, and oppression in socialist paradises enough to inform people of its toxicity?
Quite the opposite. In America, anyway, it has been more than resuscitated. More than acceptable again, it is fashionable and urgently desired by broad swaths of the public and media. The Fourth Estate has become the Fifth Column, and Americans are, among other means of propaganda, “guilted” welcoming the socialist agenda.
No less than politicians and media and wealthy foreigners and the academic-industrial complex, many contemporary church leaders – Catholic, Protestant, Jewish – are fervent cheerleaders. For neo-Marxism.
My problem with Marx, Engels, and Lenin, and Left-wing Socialism is that, at essence, it is anti-Biblical. Church Marxists will argue that Jesus was the first socialist because of His dedication to equality and peace and his rebuke of the wealthy and concern for the poor. They say that His Disciples and the early Church were examples of communistic communities.
Why are these viewpoints anti-Biblical?
Jesus was devoted to equality… but never did He pull people down. He always lifted people up. Equality was a thing to be desired, and all are born with equal opportunities (never in history more than in non-socialist states), but Jesus made references to the real world’s ambitions on one hand and charity on the other.
Peace? We all know that Jesus had a temper, yes, and let His righteousness take precedence over peace as the world might define it yesterday or tomorrow. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Jesus’s attitude toward wealth? We know that He commanded to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s; and to “forsake all” and spoke of the rich entering Heaven as easily as camels passing through needles’ eyes. His distinction was not that “money is the root of all evil” but that “the love of money is the root of all evil.”
Were the early Christians prefiguring socialism in their communities of sharing? The answer is found in later, more organized Socialist states that have imploded thanks to inequality, wars and counter-revolutions, inflation, corruption, and – have you noticed? – suppression of religion.
In virtually every Socialist state, religion is oppressed; believers persecuted. In mild “mixed” socialist countries, church attendance and fealty to Scripture drastically has been diminished.
I think Christians should be opposed to socialism, moreover, because it is based on the state planning, state supremacy, or state control. Goods and services… economic choices… private enterprise… educational standards… prerogatives of daily life. When the population is reared on a socialist worldview, the government is assumed to be the ultimate answer to every problem, the ultimate source of every blessing, the ultimate judge of every challenge.
The government, not God, becomes people’s go-to resource. Google the proper agency instead of praying to the Lord.
Major culprits – wolves in sheep’s clothing – are “Democratic Socialist” or “Christian Democrat” or Democrat parties that substitute themselves for the church. How do they attempt to supplant the church? It is not always as blatant as pre-censorship of sermon notes, as the mayor of Houston attempted a few years ago; nor the many attempts to proscribe the Bible, and public monuments and celebrations, as “hate speech.”
It is more in the poisonous worldview of modern socialism: textbooks written by unelected secularists; the aspects of national health insurance that would discourage private and personal care, and force caregivers to sometimes act against their consciences.
The foundational aspects of the welfare state discourage (or attack) the concept so strongly commanded by Jesus that we care for one another as individuals. Massive taxes for a welfare bureaucracy allows people, or obliges them, to transfer their giving to the State – and in so doing, “free” them of the Biblical necessity to care for the poor and sick. Ultimately, allowing people to stop caring about the poor and sick.
I believe, as St Augustine believed and wrote, the real meaning behind “the poor you shall always have with you” is not that poverty is a futilely resisted pestilence, but that we need to be aware at all times of those who hurt. For their sake, and our souls’, not to check boxes on tax forms to fund some program somewhere.
Finally, consider: Marx spoke (supposedly) to the working class. Good at first glance?
But Jesus spoke to ALL.
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hi rick, I would say that there is as big a rise in nationalism as there is in socialism, both of which tend to omit God. I have only read the first two lines so far, if you have highlighted my point then my apologies in advance.
Regards
Kenny Morrison
GOOD to hear from you! Well, I don’t deal with Nationalism here, but in general I prefer it (if we have to choose, which we do not), but also think it frequently is to be desired and promoted.
Of course I am aware of the ugly turns it can take… but so can anything, even a presentation set of butter knives. I opt for Nationalistic impulses anywhere if they lead to respect for tradition, linguistic and artistic integrity, holidays, festivals, pride… even distinctive cuisines.
In my (very generalized) view, Socialism tends to distrust tradition, remake society’s norms, and reject the church in favor of the State. Nationalism tends to revere and perpetuate traditions including religion — ultimately God, as you put it. Even the 20th century’s Nationalist states had relationships with the Church and churches (for the most part!) and Communist states persecuted and shuttered churches.
And of course it was Marx who religion the “opiate of the masses.”
Best to you both!
Thank you, Rick. You are so spot on! Our pastor touched on this very thing this morning in his sermon. I’m surmising that this message is a timely move of the Holy Spirit to the Church.
Our pastor specifically referenced Acts 2:44-45, and said that this section of Scripture must NOT be understood as advocacy for socialism or communism, because those forms of government always mock and and attempt to dispense with the Church as unnecessary, and even regard the Church as a hindrance to its ultimate agenda. As you said, such regimes in the world actively testify to the reality of this.
There is sheer misery in socialistic/communistic states. The few, at the uttermost echelons of power, are the only beneficiaries of this state of affairs in a nation. Socialism and communism need to be seen for what they truly are: a lust for power, wealth, and control over the masses, and a blatant attack on democracy, truth, and common sense.
Acts 2:44-45 is a move of the Spirit on believers as a free will choice, not a statute ordered by law. May the Lord give us wisdom, and the ability to answer well in the public spheres of debate about this topic, so that our fellow countrymen will choose not look to the Government as their savior, but to Jesus. His return grows more imminent. May He find us faithful in every way!
Thank you, Susan, for that Scripture passage as a touchstone. OUR message this morning is that the Lord is staying His hand against the judgment we deserve for the rampant apostasy — His Grace enabling the Remnant to do His work. I pray this is so (but I am skeptical…)
This discussion of Bible-believing Christians attempting to rally behind socialism reminds me of a quote made by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Although I cannot confirm the specific historical context of his remark, it appears to have been made in response to a popular German christian movement which was rallying at the time to create a single Reich church in support of Fuhrer Hitler. Bonhoeffer reflected, “If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction.”
Years ago I visited a friend who lived in a socialist country. I was stunned by how screwed up everything was, not to mention the poverty, crime, etc.
The Sunday after I returned, our church sang “We bring the sacrifice of thanksgiving…” Being thankful that day was not a sacrifice at all. I was never so glad to be back in the USA.