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The Fundamentals Some are insisting that Jesus Christ was a Socialist and that the early Church was established on Socialistic principles. Others declare that Socialism is merely the application of Christianity to industrial problems, and that it is the duty of a Christian minister to preach Socialism, and the supreme func tion of the Christian Church to introduce and support Social ism as the one cure for all existing social evils. As to Jesus Christ, it is impossible to identify Him with any social theory or political party. His teachings are of uni versal application and eternal validity; but they do not deal with the questions of political economy any more than with those of physical science. That He insisted upon justice, and brotherhood, and love, and self-sacrifice is evident; but to sug gest that these virtues are the monopoly of any one political or economic party is presumptuous, and to prove that Christ advocated “collective ownership of property” is impossible. The fundamental economic problem relates to the division of wealth; and as to that Christ refused to speak. He rebuked social sins and injustice and selfishness, but when requested to divide a possession on a certain occasion He asked, “Who made Me a judge or a divider over you?” and that question has wide implications for the present day. When we read the story of the early Church there are statements which suggest Socialism or even Communism, as for instance when we read that “they had all things common,” but a fuller investigation shows their Communism was local, voluntary, occasional, temporary. It was practiced only in Jerusalem, no one was compelled to divide or sell his property; not all adopted the practice, but many like Mary the mother of Mark kept their homes in the city. Furthermore, this Com munism was only practiced for a time. I t was prompted by love and designed to meet a special crisis, but never admitted or established as an abiding principle of Church life. As to the Church of today, it would be gross injustice to its members should it be identified with Socialism. While
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