Well, since I do not have any mountains nearby, I am more than happy to shout the news here, if you want to call it that, that I am a socialist. Yep, I sure am. I believe in feeding the hungry. I am fine with the USA having a food stamp program. I believe in helping single parents go to college and do better for themselves and their children. I believe we should have Pell Grants and Federal Student Loans. I believe we should have programs that allow people with low-income to get daycare for their kids so they can work and/or go to school to get an education. I am all for feeding babies. I think WIC is awesome! I also love the fact that we have Health Departments that help children stay healthy and get vaccinations.
I even love it that we have public housing and HUD. I think it is wonderful that I live in a country that wants to ensure that all children have a safe place to live with electricity and clean running water. I think it is great that we have commodities for the elderly. I think it is just dandy that when someone loses their job, they can get unemployment and healthcare for their kids. And, I totally support having an SSI program so that lower-income parents can get assistance for their disabled children and disabled adults can get help too.
And, because I support all those things ... I am called a socialist by some Republicans and Conservatives. But, you know what? I am totally fine with that. I am a Christian and I love my Lord. I thank my Savior that I live in a country where we believe in helping "the least of these." For not one minute, do I believe we can just chuck all that on the "church" either ... because "we" are the church. We make up the Body of Christ. And, as a member of that "Body" ... I am more than happy for my tax dollars to go to programs that help people. That help children. That help the elderly. That help the poor. That help "the least of these."
Oh ... and if you are wondering where this came from ... well, a commenter over at Pursuing Holiness said all socialists are satanists. And, we all know that if you support welfare programs than you are a socialist. I also said that I would proclaim my socialist title from the mountain tops ... so here I am.
By the way, here is the actual definition of socialism, not the right-wing version.
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Good for you!
As for the commentor that said socialists are Satanists, that's just unfortunate. But all too often, people find it easier to demonize those they disagree with than to engage them in civil debate -- or better yet, dialogue. It's an unfortunate human trait that seems to know no political or religious boundaries. (I doubt it knows any boundaries, to be honest.)
I agree. It was hard even trying to talk to him. The comment is so inflammatory and so obviously meant to cause a knee-jerk reaction, that you know civil discourse is not going to happen. I finally had to just call it quits. I have posted before on what the Bible says about arguing and I could feel that it was getting there quick.
I'm on the mountain top too. Guess we will see when we are face to face with the Lord what he thinks about feeding the poor and helping moms and babies.
You ever wonder how someone can be pro-life, but then doesn't want to feed that life after it is born? It really confuses me!
That, sister, is the question of the century! When you get an answer, you let me know. I don't get it either. Some people say they are pro-life, but then they don't care what kind of life that baby has after it comes out of the womb. For all they care that baby could starve to death. They don't want a penny of their money to feed them, give them a roof over their heads, or even care for them when they are sick. Makes no sense whatsoever.
Well, I think anyone who uses the wrong word to label you is a moron in the first place. One should look up the meaning of a word before tossing it around.
The word (s)he wanted was "liberal."
I don't do politics or religion but I do people. I am liberal...and maybe a little socialist too but definitely liberal.
It used to be your neighbours gave you a hand...back before fear of others was fed to us and when we actually knew who our neighbours were. Now our neighbours are right next door but also in other countries.
You don't need to be religious or political to know what is right and right is caring about others.
I totally agree with you on every point...especially your points about a person who has the audacity to call themselves Christian while conveniently forgetting the message of Christ. Christ turned water into wine and multiplied loaves and fishes to feed people, albeit for a party, but the point is no one was left wanting. He healed the sick. Why wouldn't we help with the same?
Satanist. Who throws that word around anymore? What a laugh. I can't imagine Satan handing out foodstamps.
I don't mind my taxes going to help others. I mind it going to things and people that are empty promises and pipe dreams.
Still, that person is a sad person who really needs to learn more about Christ before (s)he cloaks himself in the guise of being a good, Christian person. You can't point the finger when you don't even know what a simple word means or even what Christ's words meant.
I hear you, chickie! I would comment more, but I have to get out of here. I will say this ... he would probably just say liberals are satanists too.
Added 10/11/08: Okay, I have a bit more time now.
You know I have considered myself a moderate for a few years now. And, I am. I lean a little conservative at times too. I may also be a little liberal when it comes to this issue.
I was just amazed ... and still am ... that anyone could be so arrogant as to proclaim that because someone believes in helping the poor that person is a satanist. Many, many Christians believe in helping the poor. Many, many Christians are fine that their tax dollars pay for welfare programs. Many of those programs are directly responsible for feeding and caring for children. It is probably the stupidest statement I have heard all year. And, as I said in another comment ... completely inflamatory. You cannot even begin to have a civil conversation with someone who would say something like that.
Then to say that welfare causes people to covet ... I couldn't even wrap my brain around it. We have ministries at our church that help the poor. We give them food, clothing, diapers, etc. We take up offerings. I have never in my life heard someone say we are causing poor people to covet by doing so.
And, you know what ... I got to receive money via federally funded student loans so I could help myself go to college. I guess I need to repent for coveting an education. Sheesh!
Anywho ... it is over. I am not going to argue and I am not going to go back and see what other inflamatory comments he may have made. It will just irritate me and tempt me. And, I try really hard not to let people get under my skin like that! :)
Let's see if memory serves me correctly, but wasn't the early church the welfare agency? The soup kitchen? This is satanic how?
We are under orders to help the poor - specifically, to feed them, clothe them, educate them, and help bless them so they can go on to be a blessing to others. Since those orders come from Christ, we'd best be thinking about those things, and not how to pervert our beliefs in Christ into something that conforms to our political beliefs.
I know and I don't understand it. I have tried to see it from every possible angle and I have found nothing that would make me understand how obeying Christ, whether it be by giving to the poor via one's church, some other charity, or thru one's tax dollar (I prefer all three), could be satanic or even viewed that way.
Honestly, I think that when a person decides they aren't going to do as the Lord commands, they can find just about any reason to justify it in their own minds ... no matter how unreasonable it may be. Matthew 25:31-46 says it all for me. Also, loving one's neighbor as yourself. I love me and when I am hungry, I feed me. :)
You know that there are comments over there directed at you basically saying you support Obama. I thought it was funny since you started your first comment with how you weren't sure who you were voting for. I guess posting information about Obama voting for the Born Alive Act on the federal level and not on the state level since Illinois already has a law on the books that protects babies who have survived an abortion means you are voting for him. So much for just telling the truth for truth's sake, eh?
I think Christians should spend more time getting their facts straight instead of just spreading around things to try and get a emotional response from people. It is like that woman who survived an abortion and made that ad against Obama. She says if Obama had his way that she would be dead. Why? Because he didn't support a law because there was already a law on the books that provided the same protection?
That is like me offering you a KJV bible and you saying you don't want it because you already have a NIV bible and then I go around saying you are against the bible because I offered you one and you didn't want it. Sometimes I wonder if some Christians don't just check their brains at the door when coming up with this stuff.
If you just think about some of this stuff from the start then you realize how stupid it is. Like all socialists are satanists. You are right. It is completely inflammatory and I would add incredibly ignorant. I agree with your other commenter. Someone needs to read the definition of words before opening their mouth and using them.
I haven't been back over there. I like Laura's blog ... I don't always agree with her ... but, I like her. I have just felt no need to go back and involve myself in a conversation when there is no real conversation going on. The "all socialists are satanists" comment is completely inflamatory ... and as I have said before ... you can't talk about something or to someone when they are saying things like that.
I still do not know who I am going to vote for. It probably won't be McCain ... but it probably won't be Obama either. I really do not like it that he is talking about signing the Freedom of Choice Act, especially if what I have read about it is true. I still have to do some more research on that.
But, I don't agree that he supports infanticide. As I have said on another blog ... if he supported the Born Alive Act on the federal level and Illinois really does have a law already on the books that protects children ... then it would make sense that he believes in protecting babies who survive abortion.
What I think though is that this shouldn't even be an issue in America. No one should be having abortions that far along in their pregnancy. Period.
I have checked out the comments a few times now. One commenter made a lot of sense but the blog owner still tried to shoot him down. She believes social programs do not glorify God since they are not sacrificial givings.
She continues to argue that Barack Obama supports infanticide too even though that has been proven wrong repeatedly. I don't think she cares what is true as long as it gives her a reason not to vote for him.
Well, no ... paying one's taxes is not sacrificial giving as long as someone is complaining about it.
As I said on Jackie's blog ...
Yes, it glorifies the Red Cross when they go hand out water, food, and clothing to those in need. People thank them and praise them for their good works. Same for Jerry's Kids, the Shriners, UNICEF, Second Harvest ... and many others. And, they have people that work for them that are Christians and some who are not. But, the Christians who work for them are glorifying God when they do their work and give their money as long as they are doing it for Him. If they aren't. If they are doing it for praise and so people will look up to them ... then they are not glorifying God.
Same with taxes. Same can even be said for those that work in the offices that provide social services to our public. If they are doing it for the paycheck with no thought to their higher calling, then they are not glorifying God. But, if they are doing it to do for "the least of these" then they are glorifying God.
As far as her comments regarding Obama supporting infanticide, that is her opinion. It doesn't make sense to me since the logical conclusion is that he doesn't. It is like the example you gave in an earlier comment.