The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum An Economic question

Tom, as you know I live here in Canada too, although a "transplant" and one who will never seek citizenship here for many reasons. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> My take on this "Socialism" thing is that it is anti-biblical. Why? Because, like organized labour unions, its philosophy begins with the presupposition that all men deserve to be economically and socially equal. The most hated word in Socialism is "discrimination". Yet, in Scripture we find that discrimination is something which God Himself has decreed and applied in every facet of life. Some are given sustenance; others not. Some are given health; others disease and infirmity. Some are given grace unto salvation; the majority not. Likewise, we as followers of the Living God and of Christ Jesus or Lord are required to discriminate in every facet of our lives. Discrimination is wisdom and the application of sound judgment and discernment concerning material goods, which are from God's gracious providence, of time and talent. . . and even in the matter of proclaiming the Gospel to the world. For example, we are admonished not to "cast your pearls before swine, nor give that which is holy to dogs". If we enter into a city or house and the Gospel is not well received, we are to shake the dust off our shoes and move on.

Another basic principle which is antithetical to Socialism is that while we live in the world, we are not to be part of the world. An excellent illustration of how Socialism, as currently practiced (read: forced upon Canadians)in Canada, is the "equality of sexual preference", where homosexuality is to be accepted as an 'amoral' issue and thus it is forbidden by law to discriminate in any way against anyone who is not heterosexual or who practices deviant sexual behaviour of any kind.

I see that Kuyper and Dooyeweerd have been mentioned in some of the replies here and in other places. While Kuyper had some things right, e.g., that as Christians we should view all things through the eyes of Scripture, I think he went too far. Dooyeweerd went to an extreme in his philosophy, expanding upon Kuyper's ideas, particularly in his premise re: "Sphere Sovereignty". (For a summary of his "Sphere Sovereignty" see here: R. Knudsen on "Sphere Sovereignty".) When I read in Scripture about the Body of Christ, I do not see a clear bifurcation of its members, despite the various gifts given discriminately to them by the Spirit. What I see is a unity that is built upon a basic oneness in Christ and the various gifts given are inter-related and co-dependent, not mutually exclusive spheres with superior and inferior authority. The same phenomena exists, albeit on a differ scale and for a different purpose, in the world where God has bestowed "gifts" upon all men. The fact that unregenerate men misuse and/or distort these bestowals is another matter.

Okay... enough rambling! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,