Jesus a Socialist?
Terry Dashner (www.ffcba.org)
A socialist once came to see Andrew Carnegie and soon was railing against the injustice of Carnegie having so much money. In his view, wealth was meant to be divided equally. Carnegie asked his secretary for an assessment of everything he owned and at the same time looked up the figures on world population. He did a little arithmetic on a pad and then said to his secretary. "Give this gentleman l6 cents. That's his share of my wealth."
On January 10, 2007, Hugo Chavez took the oath of office at the National Assembly after a sweeping re-election victory that has given him free reign to pursue more radical changes, including plans to nationalize power and telecommunications companies.
His right hand raised, Chavez declared: "Fatherland, socialism or death -- I swear it," invoking the Cuban leader's famous call to arms. Chavez also alluded to Jesus, saying: "I swear by Christ -- the greatest socialist in history." http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-01-10-chavez-venezuela_x.htm
Jesus was many radical things to the first century Jew but a socialist Jew? A socialist Jew is an oxymoron. Jesus was a Jew--true. He was not a socialist. He championed the rights of the poor and the social outcasts of Israel that is true, but he never advocated taking another man's property under the auspice of state and dividing it equally among the peasants. Why? Jesus knew the heart of man was deceitful above all things and giving handouts for the sake of social equality would only make stingy and greedy socialists out of the peasants. Unless the heart of man is changed by spiritual "new birth," a man will go on being what he is whether poor, rich, repugnant or famous. The Bible says that Jesus gave up His riches in glory to become in the likeness of man a servant. It goes on to say that through His poverty, we become rich. Granted, the riches we receive in Christ are not silver and gold but eternal life; however, eternal life is the abundant life in Christ and that means living life fully on this planet. Just because someone doesn't have money doesn't make that one more spiritual or more favored by God. On the other hand, someone who does have money is not condemned by God simply because he is rich. The tomb given to Jesus was from a rich man. Some of the women who supported Jesus financially were of considerable means. Although, difficult according to scripture, nevertheless, a rich man can be saved just like a poor man.
Let me put this in layman's terms. God is okay with you having material things as long as the material things don't have you. Could you give it all away for the sake of Jesus? God uses men and women of means to spread the Gospel around the world and to support local ministries. I believe that God is raising up millionaires at this time to help finance the missions of His word around the world. I believe that these men and women raised up in businesses and wealth are as vital to the body of Christ as is the preacher, the missionary, or evangelist. God owns all the silver and gold in the earth, and He is certainly not stingy. If I need some silver or gold to do what He has called me to do, I can go to Him in pray, asking Him to pass along some of His gold to me. And I can testify to this: God has met all of my needs according to His riches in Glory through Christ Jesus and I've never missed a meal. I have a strong sense that as long as I trust Him as my total source, I will have all I need to do the work of ministry in Jesus' name.
Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming soon. Pastor T.
About the Author
www.ffcba.org