No, Jesus Was Not a Socialist

No, Jesus Was Not a Socialist (Excerpts]

According to a new poll from the Barna Group, Americans think Jesus was a socialist who would vote for Bernie Sanders. When asked whether capitalism or socialism best aligned with the teachings of Jesus, 24 percent said socialism and just 14 percent answered capitalism. The rest answered "neither" or "not sure..." Socialism is based on the involuntary transfer of wealth from some citizens to others, which is nothing but theft. Just because it is done under color of law, and done by the government rather than a guy with a gun in an alley, does not make it right.

But even a cursory review of the parables of Jesus reveals that he was anything but a socialist. In his parable of the talents (Matthew:25:14-30 [14] For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. [15] And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. [16] Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. [17] And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. [18] But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. [19] After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. [20] And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. [21] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. [22] He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. [23] His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. [24] Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: [25] And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. [26] His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: [27] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. [28] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. [29] For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. [30] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
See All...), for instance, the main character is an entrepreneur who recruits three employees to manage his property while he is gone on a trip. Note that the property was his own and not the state's; the story is predicated on the concept of private property.

And the entrepreneur entrusts his property to his employees based on merit, not on affirmative action, quotas, or any other such thing. He gave "to each according to his ability." Note how socialism is upended right out of the chute. Socialism piously asserts "to each according to his need," while in Jesus' worldview it's just the reverse.

The owner expected them to work hard, invest, and return a profit on what he had entrusted to them. And he held them accountable through performance reviews upon his return. The ones who proved dependable, trustworthy and capable were rewarded with praise and promotions: "You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much."

The employee who buried his talent in the backyard received no sympathy from the owner. Rather, he was rebuked as a "wicked and slothful" servant....

This is not to say that Christianity does not teach the redistribution of wealth. Christians believe in the redistribution of wealth just as passionately as the most ardent socialists. We simply believe that the redistribution of wealth is to be voluntary, not involuntary. While liberals believe generosity is giving away other people's money, followers of Christ believe generosity is giving away our own money, motivated by compassion for the poor.

The bulk of Americans obviously lack a robust and mature understanding of Christ's teaching and are similarly unlearned in basic economic theory. But fortunately for us all, ignorance is not an incurable disease.

(Fischer, "No, Jesus was not a socialist," OneNewsNow online, 5/18/16).