I recently had this exchange with a friend on Facebook and I thought it might be worth sharing here.

My friend:

“Jesus was a socialist.”

My Response:

“Re: Jesus was a socialist.

Tell me more. Why do you believe that? Maybe you’re right. I don’t think you are but I’d be curious to hear why you believe that.

I assume you’re thinking of the whole “do unto others” command and the fact that his disciples shared all that they had in common with whoever had need, no?

I can see why people would look at the church in Acts (after Jesus ascended) and think that. But I don’t think there’s really much evidence to support that claim.

I would argue that Jesus is something wholly different.

He is a dictator. In the truest sense of the word. He dictates to the creation. It’s a one way communication.

He is an autocrat with only a Father that he submits to.

More accurately he is a Monarch. He’s not only a king but The King. By his own confession to Pilate at his trial (if you can call it that) he admits as much.

His rule is total, completely, without question. His commands are not optional but dictates to be followed, ultimatums to accept without question or reservation.

He also happens to be entirely benevolent. Supremely kind and undefinably gracious to his subjects.

His rule is perfect, no one has ever, at any point had anything on him. He is without question, perfect in all his ways and judgments.

But again he is a King, and he demands that all his subjects, rather the whole of creation, acknowledge him as sovereign and obey his commands or else wise perish.

The King, has rebels throughout his kingdom, he offers his subjects terms of peace. And the terms are exceedingly gracious. He calls them to repent (change their mind) of their rebellion (sin) and believe that he has already paid the just price for their lawless deeds by dying on the cross.

What’s more, he proves his dominion and ultimate power over all creation by resurrecting from the dead.

And now he patiently waits. Sending the Holy Spirit into the world to convict his subjects of their sin, to grant them repentance and belief in the good news of his atoning death.

But he doesn’t wait forever. He will return. And he will bring his recompense (repayment) with him.

I could start listing verses from scripture from Genesis to Revelation to support this if you care to see what I mean but I’m on my phone and it’s a little difficult.

Anyway, that ain’t a socialist. That’s a king.

The church is so often misunderstood to function in some worldly capacity but that’s not at all what it is. It’s not socialism, it’s not capitalism, it’s is a theocracy with Jesus Christ as absolute sovereign. His people did those things because he commanded them to. He commanded them to love one another as he had loved them. No greater love does a man have than he lay down his life for his friends. He calls us, his people, the rebels from before, his friends.

Jesus ain’t no socialist friend. He is a really, really, really good King.”