TX Congressman and SBC Leader Speak Out: the Bible Does NOT Support Socialism

Surge Summary: Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw – and others – take issue with the declaration by a Christian minister that the Bible supports socialism.

Enthusiasts of the economic system of socialism just won’t let it go, will they? Lamentably, this includes some professing believers in the Jewish/Christian Scriptures. Thank God for men like Dan Crenshaw who aren’t letting collectivist codswallop go unrefuted.

Tré Goins-Phillips/Faithwire (via CBN.com) reports:

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) is firing back after a prominent progressive minister and political activist claimed the Bible endorses socialist policies.

Over the weekend, the Rev. William Barber said during a Democratic National Committee event that Scripture “promote[s] socialism.”

“If someone calls it socialism, then we must compel them to acknowledge that the Bible must then promote socialism,” Barber asserted, drawing cheers from the DNC event attendees, including party chairman Tom Perez. “Because Jesus offered free healthcare to everyone and he never charged a leper a co-pay.”

How silly … and pernicious. Happily, the congressman/former Navy Seal from the Lone Star State’s 2^nd Congressional District isn’t having any of it: He tweeted a dissection of the minister’s claims, letting the progressive activist have it for his “deliberate misreading of biblical principles.”

Deliberate misreading of Biblical principles by DNC to promote socialism. 👇

The Bible teaches charity with one’s own time and money.

Socialism teaches charity with other people’s time and money.

So….not the same thing. https://t.co/9Z9bUQNntX

— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) August 24, 2019

“The Bible teaches charity with one’s own time and money,” the Republican lawmaker continued. “Socialism teaches charity with other people’s time and money. … So … not the same thing.”

Phillips points out Crenshaw isn’t alone in his objecting to the alleged connection between socialism and Holy Scripture.

In June, Dr. Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, addressed the issue of socialism and Christianity.

“The Bible,” he said, “does not mandate a particular economic system and the Bible does not give us an economic blueprint.”

Moore echoed Crenshaw’s assertion: there’s a meaningful difference between those who are generous out of the goodness of their heart — because they choose to be so — and government-coerced charity. You give or we’ll throw you in jail!  The former notion is robustly biblical. The latter, thankfully, is not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=172&v=j4eD9mDm1ao

“When you come to the New Testament,” Moore explained, “some people will say, ‘Look, you have the early church. They are sharing their resources.’ Yes, but this is not state action. This is voluntary — the work of the spirit within people who are forming a counterculture.”

The ERLC leader withal reminded listeners it’s good for Christians to cultivate a healthy skepticism of the government. Human depravity isn’t limited to the private sector, to individuals. It also touches groups: public offices and organizations.

With socialism, he said, “the state tends to become nearly all-encompassing in dealing with the economic aspect of life in a way that just doesn’t work” because it’s propelled “by an ideology that attempts to see the world through a purely economic lens,” which just isn’t the reality.

Let’s all say it aloud, together, slowly: Socialism is not biblical.

Kudos to Rep. Crenshaw and Dr. Moore for sounding the message. May many others echo them for as long as needed.

Related Columns: 

No … Sigh … Christianity Doesn’t Recommend Socialism in Any of Its Forms

Socialism Is Theft—So, Why Are Candidates Espousing It?

Socialism Is So Wickedly Thorough It Violates ALL Ten Commandments

Image: Adapted from: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America – Dan Crenshaw & Candace Owens, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75403826

Image: By Theology147 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22498114