Assyrian
Basically pulling an Obama (Thanks Calminian!)
The bible never says that tax is stealing people's money, instead it tells us to pay our taxes, and it tells rulers to rescue the poor and the needy. We can give to the poor too, but democracy means we have a say in how the government is run which makes us responsible for choosing governments that follow God's standards in caring for the poor and oppressed.Jews and Christians share the view that a man has inherent dignity and worth due to the fact that he was created in God's image. In socialism/Marxism and some of the philosophies lad led to it a mans worth is what he can provide the State. Essentially men are slaves of the state. We can debate at what point of taxation we become slaves, over 50% or 100% perhaps but the goal of socialism is 100%. That is when all property becomes property of the state.
A common idea these days is that socialism is somehow like Christianity because it is "concerned" about the poor. One of Marx's goals was to create a society without a need for charity (love) but instead stressed justice. Christians note; none of us can stand up to justice nor can we provide it. We require mercy and we are called to be merciful, loving.
When Jesus speaks of care for the poor, a class of people He said will always exist, he expects personal sacrifice on our part, not for our glory but for His. He never suggests that we become holy by using someone else's money to help the poor. Those who want that kind of system are simply stealing someone's money to promote themselves.
You need to distinguish two different aspects of what the bible says about justice. We know we live by grace, by God's mercy not what we deserve, but there is another aspect to justice you see throughout the bible. The widow in Jesus' parable had been treated unjustly and was appealing to the judge, not that her opponent would be sentenced for his actions but that the injustice should be set right. The fact we have been saved by grace and are told to 'judge not lest we be judged', does not mean we shouldn't fight against injustice. We are called to be salt in this world.
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