Was Jesus Christ A Founder Of Socialism
Lucas is trying to argue that Jesus Christ was really a founder of Socialism since his “whole being was one flame of hatred for wealth, and all that wealth stands for...” Lucas claims that in regards to the type of life Christ lived that he is totally against the rich people of the world. Lucas even goes and quotes scripture to back himself up; however, all the scripture he uses is taken largely out of context.
For example, Lucas quotes the first section of Matthew 6:19, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth”. However, he leaves out the rest, which says, “where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Out of context, it seems as if the Bible is saying having wealth is wicked; but in context it actually
explains one should not store up treasures on earth considering those treasures will not last. Also Matthew 6:20-21 says, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. The Bible is saying that the life one should live should not be focused on the treasures of this world, since these things will not matter in eternity, but rather be focused on the treasures of heaven.
Another verse Lucas quotes is “Verily, I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of Heaven!” which is found in Matthew 19:23. Lucas is taking that to express that as a result of him being wealthy, he could not get into heaven. But in reality what the Bible is saying is that due to him loving his wealth so much he could not give it up for God. It was not the wealth he had but how he acted because of his wealth.
Overall, Lucas is trying to show, without a doubt, that Christ has a hatred for wealth and the wealthy and as a result is, for all intensive purposes, a socialist. But just because Lucas had a few verses to, seemingly, back himself up does not mean that everything he said is exactly true. Lucas took almost all of the verses he quotes out of context, making them seem to convey something other than what they truly mean.
For example, Lucas quotes the first section of Matthew 6:19, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth”. However, he leaves out the rest, which says, “where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Out of context, it seems as if the Bible is saying having wealth is wicked; but in context it actually
explains one should not store up treasures on earth considering those treasures will not last. Also Matthew 6:20-21 says, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. The Bible is saying that the life one should live should not be focused on the treasures of this world, since these things will not matter in eternity, but rather be focused on the treasures of heaven.
Another verse Lucas quotes is “Verily, I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of Heaven!” which is found in Matthew 19:23. Lucas is taking that to express that as a result of him being wealthy, he could not get into heaven. But in reality what the Bible is saying is that due to him loving his wealth so much he could not give it up for God. It was not the wealth he had but how he acted because of his wealth.
Overall, Lucas is trying to show, without a doubt, that Christ has a hatred for wealth and the wealthy and as a result is, for all intensive purposes, a socialist. But just because Lucas had a few verses to, seemingly, back himself up does not mean that everything he said is exactly true. Lucas took almost all of the verses he quotes out of context, making them seem to convey something other than what they truly mean.