Marxism, Catholics, and Liberation Theology (legal, abortions, Jesus, retirement)
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The pro-North Korean "Catholic Priests Association for Justice" (CPAJ), a leftist anti-war group promoting Korean reunification through appeasement of the communists has been actively working against the South Korean government, and opposes sanctions against the North and also its "National Security Law" which forbids communism and Marxist activism, and opposes all organizations sympathetic to the North.
Korea is an illustration of the failure of communism, and the success of capitalism, the South becoming "a vibrant economic power house and world technology leader," while the North continues to decay, with nothing but starvation, brutality, and hopelessness for it's people.
Why do these priests sympathize with the North, in view of the North's record of inhumannity and oppression of it's people? The author offers this:
"The priests, as their action committee's name declares, are for "justice," which in modern Catholic parlance, of course, implies economic equality achieved through redistribution, i.e., the universal annihilation of profit, property, and prosperity. In short, they favor "democratic" slavery in the form of progressivism. I will not hold my breath waiting for expressions of surprise on this point.
For generations, the global Catholic Church, at leadership levels, has been deeply invested in progressive collectivism." (That is Marxism, for those who don't know it)
Further, the author states:
"Thus in almost every instance in which progressive political forces have dispensed with the anti-religious rhetoric, one may find priests and bishops standing on the side of authoritarian collectivism, and against individual freedom. From the long Catholic-communist alliance in the African National Congress (warmly praised a few weeks ago by South Africa's Minister of Justice) to the role of the clergy in the radicalization of Central and South America -- the birthplace of Marxist liberation theology -- the pattern is monotonous. Pope Francis, though perhaps more moderate than other Catholic leaders hailing from [t]his part of the world, is representative of the general trend.
So then, last week we had Rush Limbaugh making the statement that the Pope is promoting Marxist ideology, and Leftists come unglued and begin their usual (and expected) rant against his astute (as usual) observation of Pope Francis's folly.
The current teachings of the Catholic Church, and sadly some Protestant Churches as well, is what is known among those of us who are "born again" believers (not to be confused with "charismatic") as the "social gospel." This is the gospel that almost entirely ignores the reason Christ came , which was to announce the "good news" of God's plan of Salvation (reconcilliation of man to God) through Faith (believing in the Son of God, Jesus Christ), and instead focuses on social issues relating to Christ's teachings of love for one another (Christ was specifically speaking to believers), and other "feel good" warm fuzzys that they take out of context from the pages of scripture.
All the trappings of Marxist/socialist thought can be found in many of our churches, while the truth of the Gospel of Chirst is nearly non-existent.
I implore everyone who may wish to comment to read the full article first, as there is much more information than I have included here, and it is well supported.
I now understand where this misguided idea that Jesus was a socialist comes from.
Like many you only see religion in political terms. That is what separates many from Op's views on religions that see it as a relationship that is first personal rather than for some motive other than what the belief is. My guess is Op sees charity as socialist also.Pure spin by Op ;IMO.
What did Jesus "actually teach" in the Gospels (in your opinion) if it wasn't salvation by grace, through faith? What do you think was the reason for Christ being sent?
I agree that there is a faction of the Christian Church that teaches a "prosperity gospel," but they are not mainstream (and it is heretical), and capitallism itself is not a "prosperity gospel," it is an economic system, and it has done more in to lift people out of poverty than any government has ever done, and more than the Catholic Church (or any church) can do on it's own.
The problem here is that the Catholic Church is preaching against capitalism, and promoting Marxism, an oppressive, evil political philosophy. It is also what the Democrats are pushing (Progressivism).
It's funny that you say focusing on why Jesus came (salvation) is "cherry picking." After all, it was THE reason He was sent.
Love God, Love your Neighbor. (Matthew 22:36-40)
And bashing a someone else's religion does neither. We spend so much time arguing over who has it right that we forget the message.
We ask "What would Jesus do?" then do the exact opposite.
To say that social justice has no part in Christianity is to deny most of the actions of Christ. One can totally hang their hat on a "personal relationship" and their status as "born again" and conveniently ignore the charge given by Jesus all they want, but James 2:14 has something to say about that. Additionally, degradation of the poor and the prosperity gospel idea that God rewards the faithful through material gains and wealth is a poisonous theology that is antithetical to the teachings of Christ regardless of one's beliefs.
John Mac Arthur states that the great theme of the Bible IS the the salvation of man. It is "the one constant message througout the Bible."
Having said that:
James 2:14 (Dead Faith)
Faith without works. Works are the outgrowth of Faith. The evidence of true saving faith. If one claims to have Faith, but there is no evidence in his life that it is genuine, his Faith is said to be a Dead Faith. He is not saved.
To put it another way, as it is elsewhere in the Gospels, salvation is not of Works, but by Faith, the Gift of God.
Christ did not teach "social justice." That is a modern term, which is a redistributionist idea. Christ did not teach "redistribution" but he respected private property. Rather, he taught charity.
Christ didn't come to be a political leader. He had no use for politics. He came to preach the "good news" (Luke 4:18 cited above)
And bashing a someone else's religion does neither. We spend so much time arguing over who has it right that we forget the message.
We ask "What would Jesus do?" then do the exact opposite.
..sad
Our greatest responsiblility, other than Believing in Christ, is to "rightly divide the Word of God." It is absolutely paramount, that we "get it right."
Like many you only see religion in political terms. That is what separates many from Op's views on religions that see it as a relationship that is first personal rather than for some motive other than what the belief is. My guess is Op sees charity as socialist also.Pure spin by Op ;IMO.
No, I do not see religioin in political terms. But some are bringing politics into Christianity, such as my post points out, mixing Marxism with the message of Christ.
This is dangerous, not only for the Church, but for the message of Christ, which is being perverted. It is heresey.
John Mac Arthur states that the great theme of the Bible IS the the salvation of man. It is "the one constant message througout the Bible."
Having said that:
James 2:14 (Dead Faith)
Faith without works. Works are the outgrowth of Faith. The evidence of true saving faith. If one claims to have Faith, but there is no evidence in his life that it is genuine, his Faith is said to be a Dead Faith. He is not saved.
To put it another way, as it is elsewhere in the Gospels, salvation is not of Works, but by Faith, the Gift of God.
Christ did not teach "social justice." That is a modern term, which is a redistributionist idea. Christ did not teach "redistribution" but he respected private property. Rather, he taught charity.
Christ didn't come to be a political leader. He had no use for politics. He came to preach the "good news" (Luke 4:18 cited above)
As a Catholic, I don't care what some fundamentalist heretic has to say. His religious beliefs are of absolutely no interest to me. Get it?
As a Catholic, I don't care what some fundamentalist heretic has to say. His religious beliefs are of absolutely no interest to me. Get it?
[MOD CUT/off topic]
I'm sorry you are offended, but that is not my intent at all, and further, Johh MacArther is no heretic, and the introduction of Marxism into the teachings of Crist is just as dangerous whether you are Catholic or Protestant. It is a "social gospel" and not in accordance with the Gospel of Christ, which was reconcilliation of man to God (salvation).
Last edited by Ibginnie; 12-05-2013 at 11:41 AM..
Reason: edited quoted post
Christians and communism light go hand and hand.. or rather more socialism then communism they usually outlaw religion in communist countries. But lets see, give your money to the church, so some priests and others can do good on the behalf of the needy and live in luxury in ROME and retirement centers. If you don't give your money and service to them they tell you your going to hell. Socialism just does it the government system with taxes and then throws you in HELL (jail) when you don't comply.
According to the OP, when Christ said to "love your neighbor as yourself" he was only referring to loving other believers, not humanity as a whole:
Isn't that a nice, convenient way to redefine Christ's words so you don't have to actually follow his teachings?
Yes, this pope is really hitting a nerve with these types of Christians.
So, where, exactly, does the Bible preach that taxes are charity and loving your neighbor is gay marriage, and that the government not taking what you work for is wrong?
Your argument utterly fails. There's NOTHING about the Gospel that supports government redistributing wealth. In fact, everything about the Gospel is personal in nature - your obligation to your fellow man is PERSONAL. Handing government money, or voting for someone to take money from someone is is NOT charity, it is NOT a personal obligation to your neighbor.
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