Democratic socialism and the willful ignorance of the religious right

     You can almost always count on me to go on a bender over 'Christians' who cherry pick passages and suborn the faithful into making them believers of their own political or religious agendas. And then, the arrogance with which these individuals purport that they are the true faith. It angers me to no end the evil that is perpetuated in the name of Jesus.

         I'll try to reign myself in here while I contemplate today's passage. What do these modern Pharisees think when they read this? Or, do they only read the passages that serve their own agendas? Whatever, this passage seems to reek of socialism or some 'commie' commune of the 60's.  Not only does it point to some kind of socialist organization, it calls out someone who tries to keep something for themselves. The accused both die, presumably of guilt and shame.  How is it that some people seem to bifurcate their faith and the rest of their lives, making nether particularly decent in the process?  

         A prime example is the religious right who claim that their actions towards immigrants is lawful and faith based. That argument is quickly shot down. It might be lawful but even for the nation that they purport as a "Christian nation", it is horribly immoral. The scripture passages they use to support their actions are laughable and quickly exposed.  

     Once again the judgment of a person's faith is their actions.  If we are claiming to be true followers of Christ and are trying to emulate his actions, how do we act the way we do? It is willful ignorance of the highest order. 

      We are called to make a society that is equal, loving and filled with justice for all. As Christians ( and many others faiths ), that means the realization that everyone is our brother and sister.  We are called to foster a society that is closer to socialism than many want to hear. Our task is not to look back to Socialist states that were evil and contriving, lead by madmen. Our goal is a just democratic socialist state. And that is based in Scripture. Stop the cherry picking already.

Acts 4:32-5:11

 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.‘Ananias,’ Peter asked, ‘why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!’ Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.’ And she said, ‘Yes, that was the price.’ Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.