Isn\u2019t it contradictory to take what Jesus said devoid of his intent? People who don\u2019t believe the Bible frequently usurp its authority for their theories, but those who champion the inerrancy of Scripture rarely espouse secular socialism. Reducing Scripture to secular ideas rejects its authority. Truth doesn\u2019t come from the Bible. The Bible comes from truth as God\u2019s revelation.<\/p>\n
Christ never elevated the body before the soul and rarely focused on worldly matters. He preached repentance, hardly a worldly topic, then died a horrible bodily death to rescue mankind from spiritual damnation. Those verses bandied about promoting socialism were given to reveal the ultimate truth: that man is incapable of effectuating his own salvation.<\/p>\n
As were other teachings that clearly reject egalitarian socialism. If removed of their spiritual punch, many verses advocating property rights or esteeming success contradict those cited by Salsman. Matthew 25 includes both the \u201cwhatever you do for the least of these\u201d vs. President Obama relishes and the parable of the talents, \u201cFor to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reading Scripture in its spiritual context overcomes all such seeming contradictions. And woe to those who cite one passage but neglect its corollaries.<\/p>\n
We absolutely have moral obligations to help others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
When asked to explain his teachings, Jesus stated repeatedly they were to be intoned spiritually. He admonished not to fear those who can only kill the body, but fear the One who can kill the body and soul in Hell (Matthew 10:28). Because, as Christ told Pilate, \u201cMy kingdom is not of this world\u201d (John 18:36). Therefore, Christians are to live as sojourners, primarily focused on Heaven. While here, we yield unto Caesar that which is Caesar\u2019s but must never yield that which is God\u2019s (Matthew 22:21).<\/p>\n
Salsman deserves commendation for citing Scripture (Philippians 1:17-18) and hopefully a deeper search finds his heart fertile soil. Although, I am curious what translation states that \u201ca rich man cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n
We absolutely have moral obligations to help others. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves and to love God even more. Self sacrifice is noble. Pride is sinful. It is better to give than to receive.<\/p>\n
But Christians\u2019 moral obligations dispute the welfare state and heavy taxation. As the Apostle Paul instructs in 1st Timothy 5, the church shouldn\u2019t dole out relief to unworthy widows nor to those with families thus depriving their relations of opportunities to exercise their faith. Hard to believe Paul would make such decrees concerning church benevolence yet favor godless welfare programs.<\/p>\n
If as James relays, true religion sees to the needs of widows and orphans. Or, as Isaiah instructs, to defend the fatherless; it\u2019s passing strange to claim biblical support for public subsidies encouraging unwed mothers to produce fatherless children.<\/p>\n
Biblical benevolence bears moral accountability seeking to restore broken lives and reconcile lost souls, not create government dependents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Biblical benevolence bears moral accountability seeking to restore broken lives and reconcile lost souls, not create government dependents. Opportunists have always invoked helping the poor to enrich themselves. This awful trait resembles Judas Iscariot (John 12:4-6) more than Jesus Christ. The welfare state yields to Caesar that which is God\u2019s and the results are predictably dire.<\/p>\n
President Obama exemplifies this. And no, I\u2019m not comparing him to Judas and pray his faith is sincere and salvation secure. Salsman quotes Obama prolifically to make his point. But citing Scripture for personal gain doesn\u2019t make the president biblically fluent any more than misquoting Thomas Jefferson makes him a standard bearer for limiting government.<\/p>\n
Paul instructed the Thessalonians to work diligently and mind their own business so to never unnecessarily burden others; and later, that if one doesn\u2019t work he shouldn\u2019t eat. A command still relevant today as minimum wage earners enjoy more material abundance than the rich young ruler who confronted Christ.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s amazing how frequently that passage is misappropriated. When Jesus instructed the rich young ruler to give away everything in exchange for treasures in Heaven, he made a spiritual point illustrating the gravity of the choice.<\/p>\n
This cannot be a universal teaching to forgo possessions any more than everyone should pluck out their eyes or hate their parents. But we should all gladly forgo anything that hinders salvation because losing relatives or an organ pales compared to eternal damnation. And Jesus didn\u2019t instruct him to sell his neighbor\u2019s possessions. Nor, give them over to a godless state.<\/p>\n
If MSNBC\u2019s Lawrence O\u2019Donnell believes otherwise, why hasn\u2019t he sold everything? Read Romans 14 about living according to your beliefs.<\/p>\n
We aren\u2019t justified by selling our possessions and turning them over to a secular state.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Misquoting Jesus aside, \u201cit is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God\u201d (Mark 10:25). Riches expand our temptations and lessen one\u2019s ability to recognize their spiritual poverty (Matthew 5:3). But nobody achieves salvation by merit, for we all fall short (Romans 3:23). If perfection were attainable, the cross would have been unnecessary. Thankfully, what man finds impossible God finds possible.<\/p>\n
Taking that passage in a materialist rather than a spiritual sense errs. In Matthew 11, Christ said his burden is light. This was not some prosperity gospel bunk about living well in this world for Christ had just told us in Matthew 10 to die to self. But the burden is light in that God\u2019s grace liberated us from the law\u2019s condemnation.<\/p>\n
We aren\u2019t justified by selling our possessions and turning them over to a secular state. We are only justified by Christ\u2019s atoning sacrifice on the cross and sealed by his resurrection.<\/p>\n
![\"Jesus](\"https:\/\/www.orthodoxytoday.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Christ_Good-Shepherd_stained-glass_03_640x480.jpg\")
by Bill Flax –