Jesus and Socialism

As I recall the story, Jesus picked up the tab too didn't he? He provided for those in need.

Jesus was a hippie!

hippie? really? lmao...to each his own interpretation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippie

Jesus is an undecided voter.

Jesus didn't tax people against their will.

SS109 wrote: Jesus didn't tax people against their will.

Correct... he did this on his own dime... not the taxpayers.

Silliness aside, there was nothing socialistic about the early community of believers. The body of folks who attended the home churches were charitable and looked out for the other members of the assembly, but hard work and self sustainability was always encouraged. You will see this in statement such as Philippians 4:11 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." In Vincent's Word Studies we see the original meaning behind the word "Content" (αὐτάρκης) - Lit., self-sufficient. Only here in the New Testament. A stoic word, expressing the favorite doctrine of the sect, that man should be sufficient to himself for all things; able, by the power of his own will, to resist the shock of circumstance. Paul is self-sufficient through the power of the new self: not he, but Christ in him. The kindred noun αὐταρκεία sufficiency, occurs 2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Timothy 6:6.

From your resident atheist... Dr. Philban.

znovkovic wrote: hippie? really? lmao...to each his own interpretation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippie

Well, maybe not "hippie" exactly, but he did profess forgiveness, love and peace - prince of peace comes to mind. He accepted everyone, regardless of background. That sounds more like a hippie than any other modern comparison I can come up with.

towermonkey wrote:

znovkovic wrote: hippie? really? lmao...to each his own interpretation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippie

Well, maybe not "hippie" exactly, but he did profess forgiveness, love and peace - prince of peace comes to mind. He accepted everyone, regardless of background. That sounds more like a hippie than any other modern comparison I can come up with.

Except for the fact that this was like 2000 years ago and he was simply following a tradition that was common in Judaism. He was an itinerant preacher, a Rabbi to be exact. He was not unique, there were other historical Jewish preachers of his time speaking on the same topics, and his teachings were in line with the common dogmas as found in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). There is nothing historically or dogmatically to equate Jesus with the socialistic tendencies of modern day "hippies." Topics such as forgiveness, love and peace were not regulated to just people like Jesus and you can find his counterparts in a few thousand years of biblical history in the Hebrew Scriptures and the numerous mythical and "historical" documents of other cultures in the region. And "Prince of Peace" is an Old Testament reference to a future political leader of the nation of Israel... Christians co-opted that term without any historical or allegorical reasons. Jesus did not become a political leader of the Roman occupied land of Israel.

I think I know who you are now Mr. Know It All... It is really annoying to throw out something as a bit of a joke and have some idiot come back citing a bunch of history to prove that your joke is incorrect. You must be Mitt Romney...