High Moral Ground? Socialist Salvation?
Everyone wants the high moral ground. People want to come across as more loving, more compassionate, and more intelligent than their “opponent.” Gone are the days when people valued humility and recognized that they did not know everything. No, today we paint our opponents as callous hatemongers, and we honestly believe we are intellectually elite.
Lately, the push has been in the realm of forgiveness and student loans. While I do have an opinion in this arena, I refuse to be sucked into that quagmire of continuous bickering. (And…I realize that everyone has an opinion.)
Instead, I want to focus on something far more important. Salvation. How has the current worldview altered our understanding of salvation? There has been a major push, especially in university settings, to embrace and promote socialism.
Socialism is a political and economic system where wealth and private property are assumed by the state and transferred to everyone to make a more equal society. While this equality sounds good in theory, socialism has failed in every country where it has been tried. (And in several cases it has led to communism and dictatorships).
But the idea of socialism has really tickled the ears of many young people. They love the idea of abolishing capitalism and sharing the wealth with those who have less material goods. They love this utopian idea of equality.
It has even caused many to claim that this is the more Christian thing to do.
But is it really? Is salvation and reconciliation to God all about equality? Are we all going to be equal on Judgement Day? Are we really going to be able to spread salvation to everyone? Are we going to be able to take the obedience of some people and magically transfer it to the masses because we think that system is more compassionate? Or is it possible that salvation is about sin and the blood of Christ?
The simple answer is no–when it comes to salvation we cannot count on a socialistic approach.
I don’t say that to be mean, controversial, or judgmental. I say that because Jesus Christ clearly taught that we would all give an account for our own actions. We all have an independent responsibility. We have all been given free will and we will be judged by what we do–not what our neighbor does. I can’t transfer some of my salvation to someone who is lost just because I think that is more compassionate or equal. Who am I to think that I can tell a righteous God what He should do on Judgement Day?
Consider the Truth in the following verses:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12)
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)
“For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Matthew 12:36)
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matthew 25:31-33)
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)
“For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
Notice in Matthew 16:27 Jesus says, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”
Each according to his works. Not their works.
Socialism does not work for salvation. And while it may feel like you are taking the high moral ground by supporting it, you are ultimately condemning people to an eternity in hell by making them think they will be okay. Actions have consequences.
If you really want to help people, then help them learn how to take responsibility for their own actions. You can’t transfer the obedience of a few to the disobedience of many. You can’t transfer the cleansing blood of Christ to those who have previously rejected it. You can’t cry out “This is unfair!” to the Judge of the universe. At that point it will be too late.