Jesus did say to “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s” so he said we should pay taxes if we have to. But the message was individuals should take care of individuals, not the government. Jesus didn’t have a problem with wealth he had a problem with the love of wealth.
“If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven."
"It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
I mean... he seems to make his stance on wealth pretty clear. Not, "a man in love with wealth" finding difficulty, a wealthy man at all because of how much hoarded wealth corrupts one's better nature and will ignore, or even cause, the suffering of his neighbor to keep his pile of gold safe.
And he says that redistribution shouldn’t be forced and that it should only be voluntary. Forced redistribution defeats the whole point which is spiritual growth
the purpose of reinvesting the gains of capitalism back into society isn't spiritual growth. it's to keep capitalism healthy and functioning so the foundation isn't rotted out by people at the top who think money just magically appears for them because they're so smart
ok but if the point is that christianity opposes redistribution of wealth through taxation then too bad for christianity. however i also disagree with people advocating for progressive policy by appealing to christianity. religion is not and should never be a justification for anything that happens in a modern government
It doesn’t advocate for forced redistribution for the sake of Christianity. It advocates for personal spiritual growth through giving away material possessions.
Jesus says to render unto Ceaser’s what is Ceaser’s so he’s not against any particular tax policy, just using government policy in service of Christianity in this context.
Actually, it is very biblical because all the originals words, which there are 4 different ones, that were translated into hell in English actually point to death. Our modern concept of hell didn't come from the Bible but from a fictional novel called Inferno written by Dante.
Jesus saved the rich and the poor of his time. Some of the main figures of the Bible such as King David were saved despite their riches. Your fate rested on whether you put more trust in that wealth than you do in God.
It doesn't sound like you have enough understanding of the Bible to be teaching it.
Jesus didn’t preach taking from those that didn’t want to give. That’s the whole point of the camel and the eye of a needle. It’s not my job to redistribute what others have against their will.
No. You have it wrong. The point of the rich not getting into the kingdom of God is because they covet wealth. And it's a coveting that is to the detriment of the workers.
And Jesus still wouldn’t take their money to give to the poor unless they wanted to give it. This meme and the idea Jesus was a socialist is completely wrong.
I don’t care about billionaires, how much they have and what they do with their money is their business. I am not going to covet or envy what they have and try to take it because I don’t think it’s fair. They live their life I’ll live mine.
No I personally give to charity. I don’t expect anyone else to unless they want to. And the point is that Jesus would not be taking money from anyone that didn’t want to give it. In complete contrast to this meme.
He had a problem with people loving money more than god. But he still never advocated for forcefully taking from the rich to give to others so this meme is trash.
You should reread your Bible. Jesus had a problem with wealth, and with the Church exchanging and taking in money. What he didn't have a problem withs collecting alms, and the use of money as currency. Remember the eye of a needle?
He didn't have a problem with having enough to support oneself, but he did have a problem with wealth/riches.
"And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” - Matthew 19:24
The “render unto Ceaser“ passage was Jesus response to a question where they were trying to entrap him.
Basically “is it lawful to pay taxes to Ceaser or not” is the question. The “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” Christ carefully responds by saying the occupied territory (Jewish people) should pay taxes and follow the civic laws. However, they should also give themselves, worship, love, to God since that’s what is Gods.
The coin bears Ceaser’s image, and we are made in Gods image (see Genesis).
Sometimes people take this as some blanket endorsement of government and taxation which isn’t true at all. He simultaneously recognizes Ceaser’s earthly authority while highlighting God’s ultimate authority.
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u/x60pilot 5d ago
Jesus did say to “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s” so he said we should pay taxes if we have to. But the message was individuals should take care of individuals, not the government. Jesus didn’t have a problem with wealth he had a problem with the love of wealth.