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A popular Christian author wrote recently about Yeshua being a Socialist. At one point in his book, he says he is often a labeled a Communist, and kinda laughs it off, but doesn't reject the label.

If you have read my story on my personal website, IsraelAnderson.com, you would know that I grew up in abject poverty. I lived on the streets for 2 and half years from 14 to 17. I know what it is like to be very needy. So I have a perspective the comfortable Church kids writing best sellers do not. I didn't choose to go sleep in slums with the homeless to open my eyes to another world, that was simply my life.

So it may surprise you, that I see Socialism as wrong and totally contrary to Yeshua's Kingdom. Those who claim Yeshua was a Socialist, fail to understand the voluntary nature of charity. What our Lord wants is free and liberal giving of our prosperity, our time, our love. Charity, not Socialism is what Yeshua advocates. When men are reliant upon a ruling authority, they become slaves to that authority. But Yeshua came to set us free. Freedom, liberty, these are ideas Yeshua espoused to His followers. And Yeshua talks all the time about a monetary system that is nothing other than a free market.

But Socialism frees no one, it destroys a person's spirit. It traps them in a system that is near-impossible to escape from. It destroys the courage and strength of the man who would otherwise be forced to rise out of their poverty, by seeking work and making something of himself. It was the free enterprise system that empowered me to change, not Socialism, in fact it was government hand-outs that kept me on the streets for so long. Change, does not come from politicians. If we have not even learnt that much already, then God help us.

Socialism purports to support the poor, say that 3 times really fast, but does so at their expense, and the expense of those being forced through the threat of violence and further loss of their freedoms and property. Socialism takes the property of another person and redistributes it as "they" see fit. When this is done by individuals, we call this larceny, theft. When Government does it, we call it taxation, either through a direct tax or an inflation tax caused by the printing of money that is backed by nothing. But the size or the scale or the word we use does not change what it is, it is still theft. The result of Socialism is an irresponsible society crippled by a sense of entitlement. So it's ironic, that when we steal we're called a thief and sent to jail, but when a man in a suit and big smile steals, he's called a politician and sent to the seat of government.

As believers in Yeshua, let's give deep critical thought to this important issue as we consider the direction we may be heading as a people right now. It is a voluntary virtue to provide charity to another, stealing is never the answer. And when God said, thou shalt not steal, He meant it. If Charity is not voluntary, it is thievery, it is moral hypocrisy. The responsibility for my neighbor, is mine, not the governments. It's time for us, the Body of Yeshua, to take back the reigns of charity, and that means we need to see the world differently. We need to be people of action, care and concern for each other. If we don't, God will give us the government we deserve, and as history has well shown, Socialism will destroy us.

My Scriptures for today.

Matthew 25:34-36 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. for 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 into your home. 36 I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
and
Exodus 20:15 & 17 Thou shalt not steal. and Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors possessions.

God Bless you, and may you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.

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