Posted on 01/31/2012 7:05:50 PM PST by billflax
It’s fascinating how frequently modern dilettantes re-make Christ in their image via Matthew 25. Socialists finesse Scripture to justify redistributing wealth to “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40), while capitalists overplay the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Both tout Christ’s teachings as a trump card.
Other passages are mentioned. Socialists highlight descriptions in Acts of voluntary, privately orchestrated, local and temporary communalization to prescribe permanent, coerced communism under a distant, godless government. But Matthew 25 leads from both directions.
The rapidity and carelessness of these misappropriations of “End Time” parables startles anyone who actually reads Matthew 25. Either these essential lessons are torn from context transforming Christ into favored worldly philosophers, or he contradicted himself within several sentences.
He demanded sustenance for “the least of these” twenty seconds after declaring “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Like most of Christ’s ministry, Matthew 25 teaches spiritual lessons. We are to serve Christ with all our talent which entails supporting brothers and sisters being persecuted. The “least of these” in Matthew 25 are Believers enduring the tribulation described in Matthew 24.
Taking these passages in an economic sense eschews their essential meaning. Christ’s mission wasn’t to elevate our physical status, but to redeem mankind. Christ came to ransom sinners, not to cure cancer and extend voting rights; nor implement free markets. He comforted temporal afflictions to authenticate his claims so we’d believe, not for physical comfort.
Politicians expand power by sowing discontent with our worldly estates relative to others – what the Bible calls covetousness. Demagogues encourage jealousy to justify looting taxpayers. They violate the eighth and tenth commandments through programs enabling recipients to avoid the fourth commandment’s requirement of work.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Of course they're none of those things and they always fail.
Two things are needed for success in society: God and freedom. Simple as that. God + freedom = astounding prosperity.
He did not seem to view Ceasar as the center of Christian action and life. He said that we should give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and give to God what is God’s. I take that to mean alms and Christian service belong to God. Ceasar does his thing in taxes, which is different than the action of God on earth through Christians.
“The very idea that Christ was a Socialist or a leftist is absurd.”
You’re right; in the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus in no way implied that the civil authority had any responsibilty for the injured traveler. He made clear how He felt about the general public’s inaction, but certainly didn’t expect Herod or Pilate to send out the “camelance” to bring him to a hospital.
Psalm 2:8
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thanks for the ping. This is a good article. It is true that all kinds of -ists take His words out of context to support their own worldly agendas, but Jesus is not an -ist and does not endorse any worldly agendas.
Jesus is my King, and His kingdom is not of this world.
The Old Testament also says that Usary (interest) is sinful and that charging interest when loaning to the poor is wrong. Something tells me that that idea isn’t exactly a popular one nowadays, least of all here.
Act 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Act 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
The wine was no different than today, it was quite capable of getting someone “drunken”.
Christ expected moderation in all things.
1Ti 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
If a religious, but still carnal mind, can't grasp this, than everything else will be askew in its reasoning.
Christ was “Pro 4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”.
Socialism is entrenched in both right and left politics.
True conservatism is of Christ, but, not as we know it today. Conservatism was on a personal level, in other words, moderation.
The liberal aspect of Christ was generosity with ones own blessings from God, and neither were a endorsement of a form of government.
Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s.
A Christian's concern must always be the foundation....thy neighbor....taking care of the widow, orphan, stranger, but not a form of government.
When selfishness permeates the citizenry, there will be those that rise up to take care of these ones, under pretense, all the while, bringing those not mindful of the poor into a political/spiritual slavery.
Political polarization is counted upon to create confusion while the author of confusion, Satan, assembles his final opposition to the return of Christ....to no avail.
Actually, unless I am mistaken, the Word only forbids charging usery to brethren. I do not think it addresses charging interest to those outside of God's family. This fits in also with making a slave out of a brethren who is poor. It is only for a few years, and then they are set free. Unless they choose to stay with you after that.
I don't think I have ever read in Scripture where it says that lending to the poor and charging interest to those outside of the family of God is wrong, in context. Perhaps it is there, but I have not seen it. I find it interesting that this point is rarely brought up.
Good One!!!
You are right. Usury is about ‘oppressing other people & in particular oppressing the poor.’ When interest is charged, it must not oppress people.
In Matthew25:27 (Jesus speaking),”should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with >interest on my return?”
This parable is told before the explanation about the Judgment of Nations when God is looking for acts of Corporal Mercy on Judgment Day. “All parables are an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning.” >All the Commandments can be summarized by: “Love God above all things & love your neighbor as yourself.”
Well, about two months back I decided to finally read the Bible all the way through, front to back. It’s interesting the stuff one finds.
The bit on Usary I was referring to is in the section of Exodus where we have Moses laying out the laws and rules for the Jews, as conveyed to him by God. In 22-25, it says “If you lend money to any of my people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as creditor to him - you shall not charge interest.”
Then there is also another section on it in Leviticus - again, where we have Moses laying down the laws of God. In 25-27 it says “Now, in case a countryman of yours becomes poor and his means with regard to you falter, then you are to sustain him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. Do not take usurious interest from him, but revere your God, that your countryman may live with you. You shall not give him your silver at interest, nor your food for gain. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.”
There might very well be more in the Old Testament, past the point where I’ve read to, or in the New Testament (as gghd mentioned). Now, whether or not this is meant to apply only to those who are, as you put it, God’s family, isn’t clear, though considering the rest of sections those quotes where in, I’d wager you’re correct. But even so, roughly 77% of the US is Christian or Jewish.
The old Catholic encyclopaedia has an interesting entry on usury: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15235c.htm
It traces its history from ancient times and in various cultures.
The entry refers to the OT passages you cite as only applicable to the Jews, and also states that the NT is silent on the issue.
Interestingly, the Church was fairly silent regarding the subject until the Middle Ages, when it was legally prohibited, but not dogmatically so. Ironically, the Jews were exempted from this prohibition.
Jesus ministered to individuals about individuals and their responsibilities to each other and to God.
Jesus was not the state and did not teach the state did anything. He did not say: the state should love your neighbor, the state is your neighbor’s keeper, etc.
IMHO, Jesus understood that the problems we have are from people. A truly Godly people can have many forms of government that will be good; a Godless people will increase suffering under any form of government.
So.. The question is moot.
:)
Jesus is a royalist.
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