“Jesus was a socialist”

I’ve seen this meme / comment several times circulating on social media. Mostly (always) from folks that seemingly have a very different worldview from me. That’s ok. In all honesty, I entertained the thought when I was younger. On the surface, it seems to fit.

Then I grew a bit, learned a bit, and realized there was a huge difference between Jesus and socialism.

Let’s start with a definition, shall we? Good ole Merriam-Webster defines socialism in a few ways. The second definition is the one I’m using. It says

“ 2a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property

b:a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state”

It’s often 2:a that people wanting to challenge believers will use. On the surface, this seems to jive with what it means to be a believer. However, in studying scriptures, this one is not similar at all to our faith walk. I have yet to find anywhere in the scriptures where it says that believers do not own anything and are happy. I could be wrong. It’s ok. I’m still learning. That’s a huge part of what this writing is all about – to discover, learn and grow and really wrestle with what it means to be a Christian.

So, often when people challenge this ideology, they use Jesus’ own words, which, let’s be honest, is a great place to start. Let’s take a peek at the book of Matthew. In chapter 8, beginning in verse 18, we find the Messiah in the region of Galilee preaching and teaching. After a very productive time on one side of the sea, lake, large body of water, Jesus and his disciples head to the other side. Scripture does not specify where they exactly went, but we have some textual clues to find the location. Just before departure, a scribe approached Jesus and told him that wherever he went, the scribe would follow. Jesus’ response in verse 20 was “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Many will claim that this meant Jesus was a wanderer and lived off of the good graces of those around him. While it is quite true that many people funded his ministry, including very wealthy women, there are scriptural indicators that lead people to believe Jesus owned a home, had a livelihood, and more prior to his earthly ministry.

Let’s be real for a second, Jesus’ ministry started when he was around 30 years old. It’s not like he was living in his mother’s basement until the time of his calling. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that his earthly father, Joseph, passed away at some point prior to his ministry beginning. Being the eldest son, the responsibility of supporting the family would have fallen on him. Why is this not mentioned in the scriptures? It’s truly not important to who he was and what he came to do.

The second chapter of the book of Mark also indicates that Jesus owned some property. Verse 15 states ” And as he reclined at the table in his house…” He was the ultimate host teaching people to be accepting and inviting, gracious, and honoring to all that darkened his door.

To be fair, there are plenty of scriptures where The Lord speaks on being sacrificial. He did offer the ultimate sacrifice for the redemption of the world, after all. The point is we are to be loving and gracious, kind and giving, generous with all that we have, willing to share in all situations, and moved with compassion for those around us. It’s not about being forced by God to do this. It’s the exact opposite. It’s because we are so grateful for what the Lord has done for us that we are generous. We understand that all we have been given is a gift from the Lord and we are to steward it and share it with those around us. Not out of obligation or force, but out of love for one another. Huge difference from Socialism.

Own nothing and be happy? NOPE! Share freely with those around us? Absolutely!!

So, was Jesus a socialist? Study the scriptures and decide for yourself. As for me, I’m going to go with a hard NO.