I watched Candida R. Moss, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at
University of Notre Dame interview with Bill O’Reilly the other night. I was somewhat chagrined about her insistence that Jesus was a socialist. I puzzled over why she missed the one experiment in Acts where socialism was tried and it ended up with people dying. (So what’s new?)
The other case was in the Parable of the Talents where the master loaned his servants resources to invest and yield fruit. Only the socialist among them buried the talent and returned it un-invested. The master said, “At least you could have put it with a banker so I could earn interest.” The free enterprise types all received a positive reward relative to their abilities. That’s what made our country great - warts and all!
Then there’s the greatest of feminine Proverbs 31:10-31 where the ideal wife made belts for the merchants, clothing for her children, bought a field and raised crops while she and her husband were loyal to each other to the joy of her children. Nothing feminist or socialist about her!
The key to the relationship between rich and poor is the Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” We’re all needy, but we’re not all helpless. The rich man who is poor in spirit has a true option for the poor the Marxists among us try to call Social Justice.
Socialism assumes we are all helpless without the aid of government. This by the way is a violation of the combined application of subsidiarity and solidarity as noted in Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Caritas in veritate – specifically 57. and 58.
Theologians should consider a study some years ago by the National Association of Life Underwriters.
In brief; If I need a dollar and you give me a dollar – I have a dollar
A local church or community resource has to raise $1.20 to pass on the $1 in services..
If the state provides assistance it must collect $2 in taxes for every dollar of services delivered.
Federal programs – EBT, education, welfare, health requires the collection of taxes or an increase in national debt of $4 for every dollar of (usually shoddy) services provided.
It doesn’t take a genius to understand why the nation is on the verge of bankruptcy! Think about the theologically important aspects of being forced to pay tribute for that which is morally and practically reprehensible and untenable such as Obamacare!
It is my opinion we have been playing the “progressive” politically correct Alinskyite game way too long in Academia – especially in the Catholic institutions. We need to return to what made this country and its industries, colleges and universities produce and prosper so well. Even Barack Obama’s handlers from Valerie Jarrett to the Muslim Brotherhood haven’t yet brought her down. It’s called spiritual warfare in the political arena. Just ask your local bomb-vested jihadist.
Theologians, like cops on the streets too long, can become calloused. I’d rather they emulate the old hymn, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows…” Theologians should be required to enjoy a Life in the Spirit retreat with childlike regular people of faith. It changed our lives or I wouldn’t be writing today.
Jerry is a retired engineer with strong experience in environmental innovation which he still applies today with 2 clean water and energy saving technologies. His life avocation in writing and study of philosophical and biblical themes as they apply to the body politic's spiritual warfare. He survived stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2006; now in excellent health. A graduate of the University of Illinois (1958, Industrial Engineering), Jerry had post graduate studies at both the University of San Francisco and the University of Santa Clara in California between 1961 and 1963 (Logic, Marketing). As co Founder and seminar presenter he was awarded a Ph.D. in Philosophy at Valley Christian University operating under California private-post secondary statutes for mid career student, VCU was the pioneer external degree school for mid career students. Its course structures were picked up by several well known Christian colleges. Hosted local broadcast radio and TV shows, "Religion on the Line" and "The News Firm" (jointly with wife, Joanne), respectively. Jerry has published several books that are available at Amazon. Jerry is available to speak as a visiting lecturer at the high school, college or community organization level. Jerry is married 55 years to Joanne Dean Todd – 3 children, 8 grandchildren.
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