The Pope Is NOT On Sound Scriptural Grounds In His Attack Against Capitalism
I understand this will be a contentious post, so I want to make a few things known. I was raised Catholic. As soon as I was old enough to make my own choices, I left the Catholic Church – much for the very reason I am now writing. That said, I am not trying to attack the Pope or Catholics. I believe there are many good, faithful and saved people in the Catholic Church. However, I have grave concerns with the leadership of the Church. To me, the leadership of the Catholic Church is little different in spirit than the Pharisees and Sadducees were when Christ was ministering to Israel. So it is from this perspective that I now offer a strong word of caution to my Catholic friends over this story:
‘Not to share wealth with poor is to steal’: Pope slams capitalism as ‘new tyranny’
Pope Francis has taken aim at capitalism as “a new tyranny” and is urging world leaders to step up their efforts against poverty and inequality, saying “thou shall not kill” the economy. Francis calls on rich people to share their wealth.
The existing financial system that fuels the unequal distribution of wealth and violence must be changed, the Pope warned.
I pray I am missing something, or that something in the Pope’s message has been gabled in translation, but I know this is not the case. The Catholic Church was infiltrated by the Spirit of ‘social justice’ a long time ago, and it is that voice that we here now in the Pope’s words. Social justice is just another form of the collective, and the spirit of the collective is an anti-Christ spirit (I have written more on this issue here, and again here). What’s more, though I am far from being worthy of teaching Scripture, I have read and I believe I understand enough of it to know the Pope is not standing on Biblical ground here.
First, Spirits may use a system, but they are not found in a system. Thus, Capitalism, itself, is neither good nor evil. The free market merely reflects the hearts of those who employ it. This means that ‘Capitalism’ is not tyrannical; the people who are manipulating and abusing it are evil. And even here, the Pope does not make it clear what he means by Capitalism. From the tone of what he said in this message, I think he is using the term to describe State Capitalism. If so, we need to understand that State Capitalism is not the free market. State Capitalism is an entirely different thing. Most of us know it by another name – Fascism! So I wish the Pope had made his definition of Capitalism more clear because, as it stands now, I can only assume he is using the term in connection to State-run markets. This understanding is made all the more certain by the Pope’s call to change poverty and work toward equality of outcome. My friends, that is the voice of Satan speaking.
Look to Scripture. Christ tells us we will always have the poor, so why is the Pope be calling for us to try and change that which God has ordained? Does the Pope not realize that poverty can be a blessing for many people? It is for me. Many people would fall into spiritual ruin if they were wealthy. Scripture also teaches us that what we owe each other is not what this world is claiming we owe. In Timothy, the Apostle Paul tells us that if we have food and we are clothed, we are to be content. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find Christ telling us we owe anything more to each other than to feed and clothe each other and to tend to those who are sick (and possibly those in prison). Well, to me, the Pope seems to be advocating a standard of ‘charity’ far in excess of this. If all we do is feed and clothe people, they will still be considered poor, and the Pope is saying we need to eliminate wealth inequality, so I see a disconnect between what the Pope is calling for and what Scripture actually teaches.
But there is more. If we look to the Temple Tax, we see that God called for an equal tax on both the rich and the poor. At the time, the Temple was the government of Israel, so – to my understanding – God seems to support equality of burden when it comes to matters of government. Since the government is supposed to serve each member of society equally, every member of society has an equal burden to support government.
Then we look to Acts, where so many think they find Communism in the early Church. But those who think Acts describes Communism have not read Acts closely enough. If we look, we find the members of the Church willingly shared what they had, and that there was no need. Now remember, need is defined by Scripture as food and clothing. Everything else is want. Acts also tells us that the members of the early Church were not equal in their possessions. Some were still wealthy while others were poor. Finally, when we look to what happened to Ananias and Sapphira, we learn that they were allowed to do with their property as they wished. They were under no obligation to give it to the Church or the poor. Scripture tells us their lives were not taken for being greedy, but for lying to the Holy Spirit.
In truth, Scripture teaches us that the free market is closest to God’s economic model for man. If we go back to the books of Moses, we will find many laws dealing with free but fair trade. This is key to understanding where and why the Pope has gone astray. God has nothing against wealth. Study Job or Solomon and you will discover that God often blesses His faithful with great wealth. However, you will also find that He blesses those He knows will be responsible with it. At the same time, God also uses wealth as a stumbling block through which the character of our heart is tested.
I could go on, but those who have read Scripture as a complete work instead of looking for passages they can twist to their purposes should already know that Scripture is very clear on this matter. Yes, we are commanded to care for the poor and the widows (i.e. those who truly cannot care for themselves). But the command is meant to teach us to love each other. It is difficult to hate someone to whom you are giving help because you are actually giving a piece of yourself. By learning this, we learn that giving is a blessing in itself. But this means it has to be done willingly and freely. Otherwise, it is not charity and there is not blessing connected to our giving. By looking to government to ‘make things right,’ the Pope is advocating a negation of Christ’s Gospel, and Scripture clearly teaches this is an anti-Christ spirit.
So, to my Catholic friends, and to all Christians, I offer a word of caution regarding the Pope’s call for ‘social justice.’ Please be careful because, as it appears to have been presented, and as best I can understand Scripture, the Pope’s message is not in line with sound Scripture, but it is in line with the spirit of Satan.
The Oil for Your Lamp 
Reblogged this on Brittius.com and commented:
Maybe the Pope is hanging out with Obama, and that means the opposite of what he says? No, wait… Obama says Vatican City is too dangerous, but the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Qaeda, and Sharia Law, are safe. Why couldn’t the Pope simply be like the other popes and say anything else but a priest, is a matchbook fake? No, can’t say that, the Jews will laugh, like they always do. How about, the Pope saying, “If you like your wealth, you can keep your wealth”. Has a certain ring to it. Hmmm…
I really just see this as another call for Christians to be charitable like God asks us to be. Obviously if elderly people are dying due to exposure in a Christian Country we are not responding to Gods call. On that he has an obligation to call us out. I don’t think that should be controversial.
On the other hand yes some of what he says does seem to suggest he may want more welfare programs. But I do think most Catholics understand the church more as a religious body than a guide to politics. For better or worse.
Trueandreasonable,
Yes, Christ did tell us to care for the needy, but it was a command for individuals — not the government. If people will read His message, Christ never condemned wealth, only what we do with it and how we use it. However, He DID condemn coveting what others have (even the rich) as well as theft (taking from one to give to another is theft).
And YES, I you are correct: I could be misunderstanding the Pope. I just don;t think I am. The “social justice” movement is closely connected to the Catholic Church and “social justice” is a decidedly socialist (i.e. humanist) notion. According to Scripture, this makes it “antichrist,” because it is in opposition to what Christ actually taught.
What many Christians seem to miss is that Christ’s Gospel was VERY political — just not in the sense we think of politics today. Christ did not threaten armed revolt, but He did use force. Why do you think the Pharisees had Him killed and Rome tried to eliminate His Church? It was because Christ and His message threatened the power structure of the time. He did not threaten them with force, but by converting the people, themselves. Think about it: how can you serve the government if you serve Christ above all?
This is what I am asking Christians to consider here, nothing more.
I agree Christ’s command was to us each as individuals. I don’t really think Christ was political.
I don’t find your view that the story of babel proves the collective is the anti-christ. I think the story of babel just shows that we shouldn’t think we can compete with God.
Catholics come from all sorts of different countries and have all sorts of different political views. Sometimes those views make it into what they teach but for better or worse its pretty moderate.
trueandreasonable,
Christ, Himself, said He was being political. In fact, that is what the Great Commission is all about: changing the world. You cannot NOT be political if you are trying to make disciples of the nations. Like I said: we just don;t see it the way Christ intended it, but it IS political because it not only drives the Gospel into every corner of our personal being, but also into every aspect of life.
As for Babel being of the spirit of ntichrist, the story admits to it, itself. The people were seeking to become like God. They say so in the story. As for the collective, it is also antichrist because it subjugates the individual. EVERYTHING about Christ’s Gospel message deals with the individual’s relationship with the Lord. To lump everyone together is the opposite of this individualistic message.
Finally, please do not get the impression I am attacking Catholics or the Catholic Church. However, the Church — especially in America — is directly connected to the Progressive doctrine of social justice. This is a fact of history that can be traced. What’s more, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Satan would seek to undermine God’s people through the Church. The majority of the New testament is about watching for false doctrine, and Paul repeatedly teaches that a good deal of it will come from within the body of those calling themselves by Christ’s name.
Again, these are ALL things I am cautioning believers to consider and guard against.
First I think you are very respectful toward Catholics. That is not an issue at all.
As for Christ being political you say “EVERYTHING about Christ’s Gospel message deals with the individual’s relationship with the Lord.” I tend to agree with you on that.
I think Christ was apolitical. I like it if the state encouraged people to follow the 10 commandments and especially his commands to love each other. But really whatever government we live in we are all called to be the same. Our focus should be the beam in our own eye.
Also let me ask this – what about the Book of Acts where it seems some of the apostles were living in a somewhat communist state?
Sorry I don’t have chapter and verse, but weren’t there some people who claimed to give everything to the community of believers and were lying and then were struck dead. So it seemed like the earliest apostles lived in something like a collective.
Now I do not take this to mean we should be communist or socialist. But I think Jesus just didn’t really care about that. We are called to much higher callings than the politics of the day. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s give to God what is Gods. What is Gods? Our whole heart our whole mind our whole lives.
A person can either serve God or some other master, but they cannot serve both. Christ said this. So, if we love Christ, we serve Christ. This means we cannot obey a secular government without rejecting Christ’s Gospel message in some way. The early Christians understood this and this is why they went to the lions rather than renounce Christ. How is this NOT political?
Yes, the early Church in Jerusalem (under James) tried communism — and failed. They failed because communism is not God’s way. Paul had to save them from themselves. HOWEVER, they did not give everything to the community. This is a misreading of Scripture. Read that section of Acts and you will see that it says the people shared what they had and there was no need. It does not say this was forced (as in communism) nor does it say there was not want. Scripture defines need as clothing and food and no more. Acts also says our property is ours to do with as we will, as a gift from God. So, again, not communism — at least, not as Marx intended it. BUT I WILL NOTE THIS: in its purest form, Christ’s Gospel message would yield something akin to Communism but it would not be Communism because people would not share for the sake of sharing but as a form of obedience and worship to God. BIG distinction, don’t you think? 🙂
So, you don’t think Christ had a political message? What is God’s? Scripture says EVERYTHING about the Christian belongs to God. If you would save your life you must lay down your life… So, how does one obey a godless government and still claim to be Christ’s disciple? 😉
This community seems very collective. And I am not finding anything to suggest it was run by the Antichrist – unless you think the Antichrist was working miracles through the early apostles.
Acts 2:42-47
King James Version (KJV)
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 4:32-37
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Here’s the scene were a husband and wife held back their possessions and were struck dead by Peter:
Acts 5:1-11
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
And yet, history records that Paul had to save them from the poverty into which they fell. How many times do Paul’s letters make mention of the money gifts being collected from all other churches to be sent to Jerusalem? Why is it this one church had so much more need than all the others?
If you read the rest of Scripture, you will find there are some principles that these passages make it appear the Church in Jerusalem neglected. Christ NEVER condemned wealth, nor did He condemn trade and investment. And the last passage you cited makes it clear that private property was not condemned, either — not even by the early church these passages describe. And yet, the fact remains that they had to be rescued from poverty. Scripture does not tell us why, but other records of the time do and this is something of which most seminary students are aware. It’s where I learned about it. And the mistakes were repeated in the Pilgrims and Puritans attempts to live according to these words you just cited.
Now, that said, HEAR ME, please. I am not saying we are not to care for each other. What I AM telling you is — where matters of right and wrong are concerned — God does not see the collective. He sees either the individual within society or the individual nation among nations. Treating all people as one is NOT taught by Scripture, so those who argue Scripture teaches Communism are missing the whole of what the Bible teaches.