There is a lot of talk of triumph for conservatism these days, but the truth is this country has not seen a genuine biblical conservative in the major parties for several decades (honestly, not even Reagan in practice). The problem is this: at the heart of conservatism lies a great compromise with the nastiest of moral enemies: […]
The Base Metal of “Christian Socialism”
“Christian Socialism” developed in the mid- to late-1800s and promoted moderate forms of socialism at first. But even these proponents made the redistribution of property central to their pleas. For example, Edward H. Rogers, a carpenter, Methodist lay preacher, and member of the “Christian Labor Union” of Boston (1870s-80s), preached this way: “The church, he declared, ought to demand that wealth be managed for the common good of the people.… He asserted that the fulfillment of God’s will ‘on earth, as in heaven’ involved the equitable distribution of the products of labor.”
The violence inherent in “Christian Socialism”
Socialism means the denial of private property to a great or even total degree. It means the use of State power – violence inherent in the power of the sword and gun – to redistribute property according to the dictates of some officer or committee of officers. Violence is therefore inherent in socialism. Why some Christians see this as a means of fulfilling God’s will defies reason (and revelation).
Lutherans cry out against the state: too late?
I was pleasantly surprised to see the President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), in his official capacity, publish an overt outcry against statism on his church’s blog. The article, “Tired of Hobby Lobby?,” warned Lutherans not to be weary of this important battle: our country was founded on inalienable rights, including freedom of […]