By Judith Niewiadomski
Contrary to claims that Jesus was a socialist, he was not. He told individuals to give—He did not say to empower bureaucrats to seize money from those who worked for it. God calls that theft, not giving. You can only give what is yours.
There is a spiritual dimension to wealth and poverty. In Malachi 3, God promises to both multiply back and protect what we have worked for when we put Him first by tithing. If you give nothing there is nothing to be multiplied back. A million times zero is still zero. Farmers only get a crop when they put some of their seed into the ground.
Families are responsible for their older relatives and widows. Biblical principle is: “Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” (2Thesslonians 3:8-12)
Government programs cannot build a whole, successful, self-functioning person, family, nor society because they are not grounded in love. Often what is behind them is uncaring bureaucrats and power-hungry politicians who want to keep people dependent and gain power and money for themselves. In contrast, people have a relationship and moral responsibility with their family. Voluntary giving has a dimension of self-sacrifice, the willingness to give without expectations of a return, which God, per Malachi 3:7-12, will multiply back and protect.
In the gospel and first century church periods rabbis and ministers were supported by their communities at times, but quite often they worked. The Apostles had jobs or small businesses and gave of their income and time to bring the light of God’s Word to others. Even religious scholars like the Apostle Paul were skilled in trades by which they could support themselves.
In the gospel of John, Jesus Christ rebukes people who followed him only because they wanted to see a show or miracles or get free food. “ Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.” (John 6:26-36)
Here, Hebrew idiom and the figure of speech heterosis emphasize that Jesus Christ is not telling people not to work, but to put more effort into their spiritual life that will provide for them through eternity. The context shows that some people were following Jesus to get free food-eternally– not to hear and understand and live by his teachings. They didn’t ask how they could do the works of God but for him to work a sign—-like manna from heaven (free food). By calling him the son of Joseph, they showed that they did not believe he was the only begotten son of God.
No where does the Word of God show Jesus nor his disciples doing mass handouts of money to the poor. There are two miracles of the multiplication of food because there was not enough for all those gathered to hear him teach. As faithful believers, he and his disciples tithed and any necessary distributions were handled by temple or synagogue officials. In the age of grace, after the followers of Jesus Christ were cast out of the synagogues, the Christian church chose disciples to organize support for believers’ widows who did not have children old enough to support them or did not have children. Their support came from voluntary giving by other members of the believers’ community. The church did not forcibly seize what they had, nor distribute it to someone outside the community.
Socialists have rejected the Word of God and substituted the ideology of an extremely devilish God, Jew, and Christian-hating manmade ideology and often distort the message of Matthew 19 trying to justify their envy of those they see as “rich.”
“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:16-22)
The word perfect is the Greek work teleios, (used also of the ultimate completion of Jesus Christ’s ministry when he returns for his church. ) The young man had already done everything he knew to do to serve God, and asked how he could do more. The young man would not be denied eternal life if he did not choose to give up his life and serve full time in the ministry. Eternal life is a gift available to all, contingent on doing Romans 10:9,10, not on man’s works. But rewards are awarded for works done, such as speaking and teaching the Word of God or serving in other ways.
Not everyone has to be a full time minister, priest, rabbi, nun, or monk. (If all were, who would they serve and preach to?) God is not a respecter of persons (Deuteronomy 1:17) i.e., showing partiality or favoritism. The principle of impartiality in judgement and its ultimate application comes in the revelation to Peter in Acts 10. Peter receives a vision that no longer are certain foods to be considered unclean (not kosher) but cleansed by God because by the work of Jesus Christ, the law was fulfilled. This preliminary revelation in Acts 10 prepared Peter to go into the house of Cornelius, a Gentile and Roman officer, teach him the Word of God and get him born again.
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)…While Peter yet spake these words, holy spirit fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.” (Acts 10:35, 36, 44-46) Cornelius’ prayer and free will giving of his own opened him up to receiving greater spiritual understanding.
John 12 shows the motivation animating people who are always concerned about other people’s money. When a woman follower anointed Jesus with a very costly ointment, one of his disciples
had his heart and mind on the money, not the loving heart of the woman who was giving one of her most precious possessions. “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.” (John 12:3-8)
Judas, the wolf in sheep’s clothing, sounds like socialist politicians we hear today. In verses five and six God reveals for all time the real motivation of the complainer who wanted to appear benevolent: “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”
Don’t be deceived by socialist politicians. Virtually every well known socialist politician is a millionaire, usually without working for it, and most became millionaires by becoming politicians. They did not labor many hours a day for many years, building a business that eventually produced a finacial return; they took it from the taxpayers and by manipulating government regulations. You are rewarded for what you give voluntarily of what is yours, not by voting for government to forcibly take what someone else has worked for.
References for further learning
https://fee.org/articles/no-jesus-wasnt-a-socialist
Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 10
Judith Niewiadomski, Yonkers