Was Jesus a Socialist?

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Jesus was inclined to do his Fathers will and that was to promote the main theme in the Bible which was that of the Kingdom of God.

I suppose so, but what we are wondering here, is if there were to be an economic system for that Kingdom of God. What might it be, and how would Jesus go about setting it up? Hypothetically.

[sky]

Originally Posted by ketzer

I won't be able to ask silly questions?
How will I find out all the silly answers?
I'm doomed!

BTW: Just how long of a time is nigh anyway?
I gotta get my silly questions in while I still can.

Nigh - in a very short time, but I'm not to sure what their ' short ' means... I'll try my best just for you to find out cos I like silly questions.

[sky]

Originally Posted by ketzer

I suppose so, but what we are wondering here, is if there were to be an economic system for that Kingdom of God. What might it be, and how would Jesus go about setting it up? Hypothetically.

Can't you wait and ask Him yourself, your very impatient I personally hope Money is done away with, it's very tedious having to count my coffers before I go on a spending spree....

Originally Posted by ketzer

Was Jesus a Socialist?

From Matthew 25:
…35For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, 36I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?, 38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

Some will read this passage and argue that were Jesus alive today he would be a socialist, and still others will argue that he would be an advocate for socialism.

What do you think?

Ketzer,

Every church, every political party, every form of government would love to have the seal of approval from Jesus. Why ? Because it would give validation to the division from others that they advocate and embrace. God is not about division but is instead for inclusion. What I remember is that Jesus said...”My kingdom is not of this world”.......

God the Father is the Supreme socialist.

Matthew CH6
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

So as Jesus the Christ would say I and the Father are One.
Also Jesus the Christ said something like "I do nothing of myself, I only do that which I see The Father do.
So yes I would say also that Jesus the Christ is socialist too. At least to the extent
that I understand what socialism is.

Originally Posted by sky123

Can't you wait and ask Him yourself, your very impatient I personally hope Money is done away with, it's very tedious having to count my coffers before I go on a spending spree....

I am not sure what you will need to purchase. All you are going to do is sit around on clouds and stare at God.... Which I would think would get to be rather creepy, especially for eternity. I suppose though, some people need to have a separate pair of shoes for every day, and I expect that would be a lot of shoes....or maybe asbestos boots?? There will be no money, so you won't need all those purses.

This is all rather silly conjecture as I don't think a vision of heaven as one big shoe store where all the shoes are free would be considered paradise to very many.

Maybe we best bring this question back down to earth.
Would Jesus, or even was Jesus, advocating for a socialist system of economics here on earth?




P.S. Maybe he would even make you empty your shoe closet and give all your shoes to those who are barefoot.....after we make you wash their feet and anoint them with oil of course.

That is, if a certain sinner wants to avoid a certain set of fiery gates!

[Altair]

Jesus was talking a lot about sincerity and goodness, which is not the same as a political system. Giving to charity because you are truly concerned would be more close to that, than paying more taxes ((which you may or may nor like)) which government then uses to redistribute wealth ((which may or may not be a 'heart' felt decision)). It comes down to you making a heart-felt decision, and that's not the same as a political system.

Paying more taxes so that government can use that does not mean you're doing what Jesus was talking about. You let someone else make the choice. However, you giving food to the homeless because you really want to (whilst not bragging about it!) would be closer to what Jesus taught, I think.

[sky]

Originally Posted by ketzer

I am not sure what you will need to purchase. All you are going to do is sit around on clouds and stare at God.... Which I would think would get to be rather creepy, especially for eternity. I suppose though, some people need to have a separate pair of shoes for every day, and I expect that would be a lot of shoes....or maybe asbestos boots?? There will be no money, so you won't need all those purses.

This is all rather silly conjecture as I don't think a vision of heaven as one big shoe store where all the shoes are free would be considered paradise to very many.

Maybe we best bring this question back down to earth.
Would Jesus, or even was Jesus, advocating for a socialist system of economics here on earth?




P.S. Maybe he would even make you empty your shoe closet and give all your shoes to those who are barefoot.....after we make you wash their feet and anoint them with oil of course.

That is, if a certain sinner wants to avoid a certain set of fiery gates!

But I could dangle my shiny new shoes sitting on a cloud for everyone to admire

Originally Posted by sky123

But I could dangle my shiny new shoes sitting on a cloud for everyone to admire

Well, given that pride is a sin, and it cometh before a fall, and you are dangling off the side of a cloud, I would call that pushing your luck.

Although, I suppose it would not be the first time I heard the sky is falling.

Originally Posted by ketzer

Was Jesus a Socialist?

From Matthew 25:
…35For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, 36I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?, 38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

Some will read this passage and argue that were Jesus alive today he would be a socialist, and still others will argue that he would be an advocate for socialism.

What do you think?

Without having read the replies on this thread, I'd say

1. Most people have no idea what socialism is - especially Americans, it seems
2. Yes, Jesus was anti-Republican policy without a doubt so he was probably "socialist"