"This Here Is What It Is" Or "Musings of a Pinko Commie Leftycrat"

First of all, I am not a Socialist. Not in the Marxist sense of the word (not that there's anything wrong with that). Actually, in my heart of hearts, I am an Ayn Randian flavored Libertarian. (don’t judge) Unfortunately, both Socialism and Objectivism are fiction. Both rest on the assumption that man is rational and operates according to his better nature. If only it were true.

Socialism is the ideal result of the dialectical process described by Marx. The idea is that our economic system is on a evolutionary path. The rise being from an agrarian economy to industrialization to capitalism to communism to socialism. (a VAST oversimplification of the dialectic, but bear with me). Not even the Soviet Union could be considered a communist economy, since they bypassed industrialization and capitalism all together. To say, "socialized" medicine, or whatever, bears little if any resemblance to socialism itself. It simply means providing for the common good of all citizens, something the US does regularly. We maintain a public education system, a common national defense, health-care for children, veterans, the disabled and the elderly. Does this make us Socialists? The answer is no.

Let's talk about symbolism in politics and pendulum theory. In my opinion, this is what has happened in the United States. These could very well account for the election of President Obama. I think that a rising majority of Americans were fed up with what they saw happening in America. I think it had less to do with Obama, race, or the downward spiral of our morality and more to do with a rejection of corporate welfare, a growing American underclass, and the disenfranchisement of young voters (among other things). America finally said, "ENOUGH!" Voters didn't necessarily embrace Obama, so much as reject Bush (resurrected as John McCain). I think this happened symbolically again when President Obama was awarded the Nobel Prize. The whole world was saying, "Thank you for coming to your senses America!" Most recently (and just as controversial) we saw the passage of the Health Care Reform Act. The majority of legislators, who have been bullied and manipulated by special interests and lobbies, finally said, "Enough!" as well. Enough of catering to big business and large insurance companies. Enough of capitalism run amok. Free market capitalism is a fiction. Stop drinking the kool-aid.
 
Here's my thing. The system is broken. It was broken when we got here. It was broken when Bush was in office and it is still broken. The few prosper at the expense of the many. The rich get richer - not by working hard and adding value to our society, but by siphoning off our wealth into offshore bank accounts and foreign factories. If we have to embrace a broken system, why can't the system benefit those who really need a leg up, even if it is just once in awhile?

Here is a great example of what is wrong with the status quo. My friend's husband was laid off recently. He was then rehired by the same company as a temp, with no benefits and less pay, to do the same job. WTQ?
 
Is the Health Care Reform Act perfect? Of course, its not. But did you know that in as little as a few weeks children who were denied coverage on their parents insurance because of a preexisting condition will now be covered? Would we be a better society if they weren't, because that is the world we lived in before the bill passed. The uninsured are one catastrophic illness away from complete financial ruin.
 
The hardest thing for me to accept is that most conservative Christians voted against Obama. Most supported our intervention in Iraq. Most were passionately opposed to health care reform. Most are afraid when the right wing media shouts, "Socialism".
 
Here is what the Bible says of the early church,
Acts 2:44-47 (NIV)
44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and no goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Does the church in Acts 2 sound like capitalism to you? Does this sound like the U.S.? Does this sound like the church in America? I am not asserting that the Bible condemns capitalism, but hasn't God called us to be set apart from the world? Haven't we been called to a higher standard and a higher law? Are we standing up for the disenfranchised and the poor? Let's not forget the real reason why Sodom was destroyed.* From scripture we know that the Lord commanded that every third year the tithe should be given to the poor. Caring for those in need should be the task of the church. When there is a vacuum, the government sometimes steps in (and thank God for it).

We have had some shining moments in the last few years. I think back to a post-Katrina New Orleans when the church flooded the city with workers, resources and money. We rose to the call in Haiti. When we give up our own comforts and rights to benefit those in need, shining the love and the light of Christ, then we are truly the church. Let's throw off our selfish natures and rise to the calling of our better nature - not in our own wisdom and strength, which is what Socialism falsely claimed, but in the strength and power of Jesus.

You don't have to be religious to appreciate the Amish and the Mennonites. They stand as a stunning contrast to the world. The are a literal representation of what it means to be set apart as a people of God. Recently, when a gunman opened fire in an Amish school, the community responded with forgiveness. These people are pacifist, honest, and humble. They are a positive reflection of the church. Wouldn't it be nice if that's how all of the church represented the Kingdom of God?

I don't want you to agree with me. I am just saying this: if you are yoked to Christ, test every political ideology with scripture. Heck, test everything with prayer and scripture. Don't just accept what the conservative media and neocon politicians serve up as gospel without checking it out in the real Gospels. Don't let insignificant political differences divide us. Remain united by the Truth, by those things that are "main and plain". Let love be what motivates you. Let your personal activities guide your larger ideologies. Remain philosophically consistent in action as well as belief. Don't give the world a reason to call us hypocrites. Love is the only voice they will hear. ~

Warm Regards,
Debby

* Ezekiel 16:49 (NIV) 49“‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

~ Loose papraphrase of Jason Morant - Thanks!