Many of us have seen this picture all across the internet and commented on it or used it to get a point across. But how true is it? Here we will detail from a Christian perspective what is or is not Christian from socialism.
Often times socialism is mistaken for communism. Nothing can be further from the truth. Anything that tries to replace our Lord our God is anti-Christian. Communism is just such a movement and has leveled churches and their places of worship. Its aims have openly failed for a good many reasons echoed in history and economic books across our great nation.
On the opposite side of the same totalitarian coinage are certain formations of nationalism. Let us make this even more crystal clear, any malformation that twist Biblical text to get their way and even more so in a dictatorship is neither socialism or Christian in nature.
For those who only knew of Karl Marx through their limited readings and several of the hyphenated variables created after his death, this non-Marxian, yet socialist styled website more than likely is an affront. It is meant to be. There are plenty of other socialist writers who might not have had their works published as widely as Marx, but have equal status here. Many lived before Marx and during his lifetime Søren Aabye Kierkegaard who wrote an anti-Hegelian view was very Christian. In the later years of U.S. history many more have refined socialism away from dictatorial malformations - communist states - of Friedrich Engels doing in propagating Marx's works through his capital genteel payments to Marx.
The first plan is to reflect and know that neither Christianity or socialism is totalitarian in nature. This is very important as dictatorships have abound in the known past.
Secondly, we have to know and fully understand the range of authority given of freewill from that of human dignity.
Third, to never make slaves by knowing ourselves from society and capital. In the first part by giving of ourselves we loose some freedom to our representative (size of government) and in the second we self-enslave by gluttony (over purchasing of goods is a deadly sin).
Value towards a quality of life over materialism (quantity) must always be realized. Saving 10% for a raining day and having a proper budget keeps cost down and prices realistic. Reciprocation of 10% isn't a bad idea either. There is no 'get rich quick' without extreme risk to the mind and soul.
Activism in the form of self-evaluation, 'am I honoring God's ...' is always an important perspective. In being social we have to remember conceptualization of 'being respectful' and 'honorable' to nature, our fellow mankind, and in the Holy Spirit of unity that is Christianity.