“We Are All Socialists Now,” proclaimed the cover of Newsweek for February 16. In the featured article, the authors described how American political culture has changed to embrace a more “European” approach of governmental control of the economy. As a citizen and a Christian, I find this notion troubling.
Big Brother
As a lover of freedom, I oppose socialism for the reasons outlined by Friedrich Hayek in his 1944 classic The Road to Serfdom. Providing a defense of capitalism, Hayek demonstrated that all forms of collectivism create tyranny. Within a centrally planned economic system, a small group uses the coercive power of government to impose their vision on the whole of society. Central planning of the economy is the destruction of all individual economic and personal freedom. As the government increases its control of our lives through taxation and regulation, it transforms us from free men and women into slaves.
Socialism is also unattractive for practical reasons. Looking to the bottom line, the record of the 20th century should be evidence enough that socialism is not effective in producing prosperity. Repeatedly, as governments move toward socialism, productivity plummets whereas free-market reforms uniformly produce economic growth.
Political Atheism
More important than economic success and even more important than civil liberty, I am opposed to socialism because it is an enemy of Christian faith. Not all atheists are socialist, and not all socialists are atheist. There is, however, a strong correlation between atheism and socialism. Abandoning the God of the Bible, atheists are prone to make a god out of the state.
The animosity between socialism and religion runs deep. From its origin in the 19th century, socialism has often positioned itself as an opponent of Christian values. The more thoroughly socialist a nation becomes, the more it is prone to persecute religious conviction.
Christianity teaches that human nature is not perfectible. This understanding argues strongly for limited government because all people are prone to sin and may abuse power if given the chance.
The Bible consistently champions the right to own and to enjoy private property. In the book of Philemon, Paul showed the freedom we have in Christ has a social dimension as well. Christianity has been the greatest source of liberty throughout the world.
Although the Lord’s church is not called to be involved in political activism, Christians must let their faith inform our politics. We must consistently stand for the truth that God has revealed, and we must stand opposed to any political system that undercuts the message of the Bible.
Gregory Alan Tidwell – Gospel Advocate, May, 2009. P. 5.
Not long ago I was informed about a set of books by Herbert Lockyer. A two volume set titled “Twin Truths of Scripture” and a three volume set titled “Triple Truths of Scripture.” After a fairly extensive search on eBay and book search engines I was not successful in finding the volumes in the condition or price range I desired so I listed them on my “want” list and went on with life.
J. W. McGarvey: Commentary on Acts and the Civil War
In the fall of 1863 the manuscript of the Commentary on Acts was completed. The composition had occupied all spare time for three years. Twice the work had been slightly interrupted by Military operations; once by the siege of Lexington, Mo. When a Federal brigade which had established a fortified camp there was besieged and forced to surrender by the army of Gen. Sterling Price. The cannonading was distinctly heard at my desk, and the excitement such that writing suspended till the struggle was over. Oldest half-brother was in the battle on Confederate side and was prostrated by a spent minnie ball that struck him on the head.
The second interruption was in Lexington, Ky. when, after the battle at Richmond, the first Confederate army was seen marching into the city under Gen. Kirby Smith. Was at my desk writing when the roll of drums announced the approach of the victorious army, and I went out to the sidewalk to see them march by. Had I been as much excited over the war as most men no such work as a sober commentary on a sacred book could have been prosecuted. Most men then read nothing but newspapers, and when, not thus engaged they were discussing the incidents and prospects of the great struggle. When the manuscript was completed it was a serious question whether amid the absorption of all minds in the issues of the war, it would be wise to publish the book. On counseling with Franklin and Rice, then publishing the American Christian Review at Cincinnati, decided to publish the Introduction and call upon such brethren as were willing to encourage the publication of the book to make advance subscriptions for it. In a short time subscriptions were made for 1600 copies, and this more than justified the undertaking. It was published by the firm of Franklin and Rice, and met with a gratifying sale until it was superseded thirty years later by a new and enlarged edition of which we will speak farther on.
Autobiography of J. W. McGarvey, pp. 29-30.
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on July 10, 2009 at 3:46 PM Leave a CommentTags: Civil War, College of the Bible, Commentary on Acts, KY, Lexington, McGarvey, New Testament, Restoration Movement