It's not 'Class Warfare,' it's Christianity

Interesting article on how wealth & Christianity are not compatible.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on- ... _blog.html

Let me be clear as I can be. We need to understand the so-called “Christian” underpinnings of the anti-tax, anti-government, anti-the-poor, “let him die” approach to economics and public policy today as completely un-Christian, as well as un-American. What we need to do is re-establish our national values of fairness, equality and opportunity for all, values that I believe are actually the core of the Christian faith, (as well as of other religious traditions and of humanist values).

First, in order to do that, we need to understand how we got to the place where the “ownership of private property” and amassing wealth is accepted by many as the “biblical perspective,” and taking care of each other through shared sacrifice, is dismissed as secular humanism. Nothing against humanists here, but the Bible is all about taking care of each other, including taking care of each other by sharing what we have, not through amassing wealth.

Part of the way we got here is by Christian conservatives ignoring a lot of what the Bible says on wealth and poverty, and being highly selective in what they call “biblical.” In all these reference to the “Bible,” the self-styled Christian capitalists don’t ever seem to recall that in the Book of Acts, the early disciples “shared all things in common.” As I wrote for On Faith, the early church is Glenn Beck’s worst nightmare because it was socialist.

This is what the Bible actually says about the economic practices of Jesus’ followers: “Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common... There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need.” Acts 4:32-35.

Early Christians were quite the religious communists and even had laws against interest rates. I think this was eventually perverted by Protestants.

Still many Catholic religious orders operate in communistic ways, turn over their earnings to the community and have to ask for money if they need anything.

It's a constant struggle to honor Christ and his words in our materialistic society. I don't believe this struggle has a political bent. I don't know any Democrats who live as Christ bid us either.

Interesting, but not my cup of tea. My beliefs and guidelines are not of this world.

There is a fight for control of the Democrat Party between Christians who believe in social justice and the athiest secular far right. I think the seculars are leading right now and they continue to attack Christians, especially those on the Right.

Yes, those poor outnumbered "christians"... You almost have to feel sorry for them.... almost....

The Christians in the Dem Party who want to help out the poor and unprotected are in the minority when it comes to promoting an anti-abortion plank.

Secular Dems: We need to help out the weak and unprotected, unless they are still in a womb, then we want to kill them.

Christians are fully compatable with capitalism- even after a socialist like this blogger tries to spin it otherwise. It is fully compatable with owning property, and it is fully compatable with earning one's own wealth.

Let me be clear as I can be. We need to understand the so-called “Christian” underpinnings of the anti-tax, anti-government, anti-the-poor, “let him die” approach to economics and public policy today as completely un-Christian, as well as un-American. What we need to do is re-establish our national values of fairness, equality and opportunity for all, values that I believe are actually the core of the Christian faith, (as well as of other religious traditions and of humanist values).

Socialism is what's not compatable- it uses government force by public policy to extract what people earn and force redistribution. That's not charity. That's just socialism.

Charity that stems from religious traditions and of humanist values is somthing one CHOOSES to do on their own, not by the force of public policy. And how can one give to others if they can not posess more than they need for themselves? These are things that the blogger wishes would just go un-noticed.

What we need to do is re-establish our national values of fairness, equality

This quote is exactly somthing that a socialist would say, without understanding that hard work is how people create enough to willingly give to others.

Fleecing wealth by government force is not charity- it's opression, and opression is NOT compatable with the christian faith. What's un-American, is the suggestion that socialism is the better alternative!

As a Christian, I believe in the goals of Christian thought. When Christians want to use government to accomplish their goals (be that goal liberation theology or conservative theology) - you can count me out as an enthusiast.

Christianity is about doing what's right because it's right ---- not doing what's right because you're told.

I think that's the difference between Christian community and theocracy. I support the former.

It is much easier to have communism work in a small religious community than a diverse group of citizens. Just ask the Soviets.