I have a few comments about your posting. I too believe that Christ taught us to share our goods with one another and to live a life that was centered on the spiritual rather than the material. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also".
I also believe that this is a conveniently overlooked issue in the Church. He didn't mean just to skim off the top, did he?
Here is where I take issue with you. I don't believe you can call Jesus a Socialist. You can't call him a capitalist either. Remember when Jesus tells the lawyer to "Render unto Caeser the things that are Caeser's , and to God the things that are God's"? I'm sure the Roman government did things Jesus didn't like, but did he say not to support it? NO. I think he was telling us that the governments of men were things to endure. That our hearts should be somewhere else. That what happens on this world is not the end-all. In Titus, Paul instucts us to be subject to rulers and authorities.
The Jewish people were looking for a messiah, and many thought this Messiah would help overthrow the government. Jesus didn't.
He didn't speak out against the slavery in his day either, except to admonish masters to treat their slaves well. He didn't call for action against the government.
If you want to say that Christ taught us share what we have with others unselfishly I agree. If you want to say that Christ taught us to place money at the bottom of our list of values I agree. But I don't agree with calling him a Socialist( especially with the S capitalized.)
And I won't call him a Capitalist either.
Now if Mike Bacon eats meat and believes that his conscience is clear as far as Christianity is concerned---thats his business. And who knows maybe Mike even gives to the poor and shares his belongings. Charity is not the sole property of the Socialist.
Now,didn't someone said we shouldn't judge others?
