Socialism's not in the Bible

[nebula]

Going back to the OP:

Sorry, Mr. President: Socialism's not in the Bible

John Aman - Guest Columnist - 5/22/2010 5:00:00 AM

Having placed 50 percent of America's economy under government control, the Obama administration is now angling for a tighter grip on the financial sector.

The operative word is "fairness," which is shorthand for Obama's famous campaign promise to "spread the wealth around."

When critics said that this remark to "Joe the Plumber" displayed Obama's socialist leanings, Obama justified it by citing Scripture:

"My Bible tells me there is nothing wrong with helping other people," said then-Sen. Obama. "That we want to treat others like we want to be treated. That I am my brother's keeper, and I am my sister's keeper. I believe that."

But Obama, who once dismissed the Bible's relevance to politics, saying, "People haven't been reading their Bibles lately," may need to go reread his Engels. Co-author with Karl Marx of The Communist Manifesto, Friedrich Engels knew better than Obama about collectivism's clash with Christianity, stating, "...if some few passages of the Bible may be favourable to Communism, the general spirit of its doctrines is, nevertheless, totally opposed to it ...."

Despite Engels and Marx (who dismissed religion as the "opium of the people"), Obama and many others still manage to see socialism in the Bible. They point to the early church which, at first glance, seems like a model socialist community. The New Testament reports that these first believers "had all things in common" (Acts 4:32) and "all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need" (Acts 4:34-35).

But unlike socialism, the sharing was voluntary, not coerced, and the money was given not to the state, but the church. As Southern Baptist leader Richard Land puts it on the new Coral Ridge Ministries documentary, Socialism: A Clear and Present Danger, "It's one thing for you to give out of compassion to someone who's less fortunate. It's an entirely different thing for the government to confiscate your property and give it to someone else." (Part 2 of the documentary airs Sunday, May 23, nationwide on The Coral Ridge Hour.)

While the Bible asserts property rights and the rights of inheritance, socialism assaults them. Marx and Engels put the "abolition of property" first in a ten-step program for implementing communism. That's not exactly a Christian thing to do. The eighth commandment, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15) applies every bit as much to the men and women who hold the reins of political power as it does to everyone else.

So does the 10th commandment, "You shall not covet" (Exodus 20:17). Coveting, or envy, is a powerful driver of socialism, which is in a perpetual snit that some people have more than others. So when President Obama castigates "Fats Cats" on Wall Street, decries "economic inequality," and warns, as he did in his 2009 budget statement that a "disproportionate share of the nation's wealth has been accumulated by the very wealthy," he stokes a destructive impulse that is condemned by Scripture.

Socialism also runs afoul of the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). Socialist governments seek to play God

[~candice~]

Neb, I don't think it is.

[nebula]

Nice to know!

Have yourself some Vegemite!

[~candice~]

Nice to know!

Have yourself some Vegemite!

Kraft is American owned now . Vegemite is yours (have you tried it???? I can send you some LOL).

[Burning_Ember]

I am not forced to give anything under compulsion. I pay my taxes because they are owed, and the government spends it as they see fit. That is not socialistic. Paying for social programs out of taxes is not socialistic. It is when my money AFTER taxes is taken from me and given to someone else, that it becomes socialistic.

And yes, it is pure capitalism.

It is not a pure free market system. Under a pure free market system, everything is decided by the free market. That is not the case. There are regulations for business saying that they can't form monopolies or make harmful products, like coffee or food laced with nicotine, there are anti-trust laws... It is law that US Currency is the only legal tender to be produced in America... There are permits, inspections, and codes of standards set by the government requiring money from business for them to legally operate, under penalty of fines, jail time, etc. Interest rates are set to curb recessions

Under a PURELY Free Market system, ALL of that would be dictated by the free market. Back in the days of Robber Barons, a Company could own an entire town and the places of work, pay it's employees in coupons redeemable only at the town store also owned by the company, and not allow people to buy train tickets with those coupons, only Dollars/Gold.

That, my friend, was pure capitalism, and laws were put in place so that was prevented.

And yes, the US is purely capitalistic, whether your pride can make room for that or not.

I'm afraid repeating that does not make it so. Very Capitalistic? Yes. Completely? No.

No.

You are forced, under obligation, to pay money in taxes to support welfare for others. The fact that it is taken out of your tax money, instead of post-tax earnings, makes no difference whatsoever. Either way it is forced giving to the government, to support the welfare of others

Taxes are part of your responsibility as a citizen. You pay taxes, which are then used by the Government to spend as dictated by officials you elect by your vote. You have no direct say over how those dollars are spent.

It does make a difference, as after you pay your taxes, they are no longer yours. They belong to a different entity. You may as well be saying that buying gasoline/petrol for your car supports oil spills that destroy the economy and wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico.

[Guest man]

13And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. 17And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

I dare you to spend some time researching what government welfare has done for the Native Americans in their reservations.

[JustinM]

I think welfare should only be given to the disabled and widowed. Our Christianity requires that we take care of those needs. Everyone else can find something useful to do to earn their things.

[nebula]

Kraft is American owned now .

Did Kraft's take-over affect the outcome any?

Vegemite is yours

Well, they still don't sell it here.

(have you tried it???? I can send you some LOL).

I tried some when I was in Oz.

It tasted to me like solidified Soy sauce.

[Guest man]

Kraft is American owned now .

Did Kraft's take-over affect the outcome any?

Kraft has been making Vegemite since 1935.

And Kraft has always been American owned.

[nebula]

I was just thinking -

Isn't it funny how a thread titled: "Socialism's not in the Bible" got turned into a debate over whether or not Capitalism is Biblical.