I wrote this article several years ago on my old DP blog before the advent of Obamacare--One of the things you often find useful when you've written a blog as long as I have now, (especially when it comes to answering the tired arguments the liberals regurgitate from some website, or equally bad scholarship flowing from shallow minds) is that you have pretty much covered everything they gleefully toss out as if it is earth shattering revelation.
At no time is this behavior from leftist more unfortunate, than when they cherry pick some verse of Scripture out of context, believing it bolsters their woefully ill-informed opinions. They cannot seem to grasp Scripture is a whole and it bears witness for itself. All that to say, I am re-posting this for my new friend and readers who may have missed it in the past to arm you with what you need to overturn this particular leftist fallacy!
Last December I wrote an article titled “Capitalism for Dum Dums” in an attempt to shed light on the leftist’s propensity for perpetually clinging to failed economic models, particularly as it pertains to their distressing healthcare schemes. Think of this article as “Theology for Dum Dums”.
Last December I wrote an article titled “Capitalism for Dum Dums” in an attempt to shed light on the leftist’s propensity for perpetually clinging to failed economic models, particularly as it pertains to their distressing healthcare schemes. Think of this article as “Theology for Dum Dums”.
For those of us clinging to a rational view of
reality and history, not rendered pie-eyed by the intoxicating rhetoric of
utopian collectivists sitting about campfires singing Puff the Magic Dragon and
reeking of Patchouli Oil, we know that socialism does not work. Whether it is
“The Peoples” farm and toilet paper factory, or universal healthcare, it all
invariably collapses, primarily driven by a spirit fostering sluggardly
behavior.
The more adventurous leftists, the ones more
likely to refer to themselves as “progressives” even hazard a go at selling
socialized medicine, even socialism proper, by means of the Holy Bible. They
try to accomplish this most often by quoting from the second book of the Acts
of the Apostles, verse 44,45:
“And all that believed were together,
and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted
them to all men, as every man had need.”
This would appear to be a compelling argument
for socialism on the surface for those inclined towards that sort of
tomfoolery. Though, “ as every man had need” suggests that this was not an even
distribution of resources, some obviously had less need. The problem with
secular leftist Bible experts is that they do not apprehend and cannot
comprehend that the Spirit driving acts like the ones depicted in Acts 2:44,45
is just that, spiritual. I like the way the great theologian Matthew Henry puts
it:
“The greatness of the event raised
them above the world, and the Holy Ghost filled them with such love, as made
every one to be to another as to himself, and so made all things common, not by
destroying property, but doing away selfishness, and causing charity.”
We see the behavior in Acts 2 repeated in Acts
4. Lets look at the whole thing in context:
And when they had prayed, the place
was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude
of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of
them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all
things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any
among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold
them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down
at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he
had need. Acts 4:31-35
So we see these people were filled with the
Holy Ghost, the very Spirit of God. Inspired by the resurrection of the Lord,
these saints were convicted to lovingly act in concern for the welfare of their
brothers. This was a voluntary action not an obligatory one and therein lays
the power.
What we see in Acts, is the ultimate
manifestation of Christian fellowship, what is mine, is yours and I share it, the
ultimate in “mi casa es su casa”. Socialism says what is yours is mine and I’ll
take it, an entirely different paradigm, a different Spirit. In fact, the liberal who favors big
government says; you can’t be trusted to do what’s right with what you have, so
we’ll do it for you.
The goal in the Acts of the Apostles was not to
bring about social or economic justice, this would nullify the Bible’s
teachings on sowing and reaping taught with regularity throughout scripture. In
fact we are given a harsh lesson in the hypocrisy of false giving in the story
of Ananias and Saphira in the very first few lines of Acts chapter five
immediately following the liberals celebrated “all things in common” verses.
The Apostles were not in the habit of
subsidizing those who could work but refused to, as illustrated by Paul.
“For even when we were with you, this
we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we
hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all,
but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord
Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye,
brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this
epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be
ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy,
but admonish him as a brother.” II Thessalonians 3:10-15
The fact that the first century church was not
a communal society is further illustrated in I Timothy:
“ Honour widows that are widows
indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew
piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable
before God. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and
continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 3:3-5
We see here that it is family that is foremost
responsible for the welfare of its own. If families take care of their own
needy, Paul shows they will not be an unnecessary burden on the church, or, to
take it further, society on the whole. This of course still requires the
spiritual component; you have to have a heart for God. Paul says trust in God
and His people. The progressive says trust in the state to do what is right
with what it takes from you.
If Christ, the Apostles and the early church were socialist like
so many leftists purport, they were not very good ones. If Christ were to
appear in Communist China or Cuba and began teaching the parable of the “Laborers in the
vineyard” Matthew 20:1-16 , the “Pounds” Luke 19:11-27 or God forbid the “Ten Talents”
Matthew 25:14-30 were Jesus Christ begins; “For the kingdom of
heaven is as...” and goes on to share a lesson on capitalism that would make
Donald Trump blush. It is safe to say they would find themselves in a
re-education camp at or even more likely up against a pitted wall before you
could say Trotsky three times fast. Come to think of it, that’s exactly what
happens to people in those places who teach those parables.
You would think that socialist societies would
be more welcome to the teachings of comrade Jesus. No, only the fevered mind of
the most dedicated progressive liberal can perceive socialism in the Good News.
This is made possible by eyes covered with the cataracts of ideology dimly
focused on the teachings of the God quite often they don’t even believe in.
What we find in socialist experiments in
history, are that the results of forced and often times indiscriminate
redistribution of resources, delivered into the hands of a flawed oligarchy
whatever nomenclature is in vogue, leads inevitably to waste and lack.
This is in strong contradiction to the God of
the Holy Bible who is conspicuous in His blessing of those who are wise,
industrious, and generous. Unlike many of the Eastern philosophies, we who
follow Christ are not taught to forsake the physical, but, we are to be mindful
that God is less concerned with the physical and temporal.
Christ preached the Kingdom of God above all
else and that is eternal and heavenly. He did not teach dependence upon secular
government for anything, including universal healthcare in any permutation. It
may not be progressive by today’s standards, but it is still true.
Digital Publius
II Samuel 24: 18-24:
