Jesus hates capitalism

[Fandago]

Ezekiel 16:49 :

Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread , and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Luke 17: :28-30

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Luke 18:18-27

And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'"

And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth."

And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich.

Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"

But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Depart and repent from your sinfull ways, or the wrath of God will fall upon thee.

[Pastor Isaac Peters]

Re: Jesus hates capitalism

Our Lord obviously has no issue with investment banking:

Matthew 25:14-30:

14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Nor is He a bleeding-heart liberal when it comes to welfare cheats:

2 Thess. 3:10: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

1 Timothy 5:8: But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

[Fandago]

Re: Jesus hates capitalism

Our Lord obviously has no issue with investment banking

I didn't mention investment banking. That's a totally different thing from capitalism. God has no problem if you save money. But God will sent you to hell if you are a capitalist.

We posted verses for two completely different topics. God has already answered clearly to both.

[Pastor Isaac Peters]

Re: Jesus hates capitalism

I didn't mention investment banking. That's a totally different thing from capitalism. God has no problem if you save money. But God will sent you to hell if you are a capitalist.

We posted verses for two completely different topics. God has already answered clearly to both.

Do you even know what capitalism is? Please provide your definition.

[Fandago]

Re: Jesus hates capitalism

Capitalism is the social system which now exists in all countries of the world. Under this system, the means for producing and distributing goods (the land, factories, technology, transport system etc) are owned by a small minority of people. We refer to this group of people as the capitalist class. The majority of people must sell their ability to work in return for a wage or salary (who we refer to as the working class.)
The working class are paid to produce goods and services which are then sold for a profit. The profit is gained by the capitalist class because they can make more money selling what we have produced than we cost to buy on the labour market. In this sense, the working class are exploited by the capitalist class. The capitalists live off the profits they obtain from exploiting the working class whilst reinvesting some of their profits for the further accumulation of wealth.
This is what we mean when we say there are two classes in society. It is a claim based upon simple facts about the society we live in today. This class division is the essential feature of capitalism. It may be popular to talk (usually vaguely) about various other 'classes' existing such as the 'middle class', but it is the two classes defined here that are the key to understanding capitalism.
It may not be exactly clear which class some relatively wealthy people are in. But there is no ambiguity about the status of the vast majority of the world's population. Members of the capitalist class certainly know who they are. And most members of the working class know that they need to work for a wage or salary in order to earn a living (or are dependent upon somebody who does, or depend on state benefits.)




Also, wikipedia has an extremely well-sourced plethora of information about capitalism.

[Ezekiel Bathfire]

Re: Jesus hates capitalism

Ezekiel 16:49 : Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread , and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

this mentions sloth and pride and a lack of charity. Capitalists buy the labor of the workers, thus enriching them.

Luke 17: :28-30 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

These verses give absolutely no indication of capitalism – who was doing the buying, selling, planting and building?

Luke 18:18-27 And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" […]. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." […] Depart and repent from your sinful ways, or the wrath of God will fall upon thee.

Do we know how the rich man became rich? No! He might have been a plumber, or an artist, or a lawyer, he might have been an unemployed bum who won the lottery – so what does this say about capitalism? Nothing.

One can be a poverty-struck capitalist or one might be a rich worker.


Of course, this is where slavery wins: If you give your workers money, you make it difficult for them to enter Heaven. If you have slaves, they might well get to heaven because they are grindingly poor.

[Pastor Billy-Reuben]

Re: Jesus hates capitalism

<copy-pasted biased definition of capitalism from WorldOfSocialism.org>

Hey "Comrade", what's wrong with the dictionary definition?

Main Entry:cap·i·tal·ism Pronunciation: \ˈka-pə-tə-ˌliz-əm, ˈkap-tə-, British also kə-ˈpi-tə-\ Function:noun Date:1877 : an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market

Now, in your own words, explain how the verses you posted requiring Christians to give to the needy are somehow also a condemnation of capitalism as defined above.

Pastor Billy-Reuben

[VictoryOS]

Re: Jesus hates capitalism

The Pastors here are very kind to even entertain such a ridiculous argument. Capitalism built America into what it is today, which is Jesus' Favorite Nation. Case closed.

[Pastor Isaac Peters]

Re: Jesus hates capitalism

The Pastors here are very kind to even entertain such a ridiculous argument.

Yes, especially from someone who starts a thread about capitalism without even being able to define it.

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Jesus hates capitalism

Fandango, tell me: If the means of production are not privately owned, exactly WHAT would an investment bank invest IN?

I have seen nothing in the Bible that decries any economic system. I HAVE seen warnings about LOVING MONEY instead of God.

Plenty of socialists and communists love money, and they're all God-hating atheists, to boot!