Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-09
BIBLE AND SOCIALISM.

BIBLE AND SOCIALISM,
A correspondent ~ the Chicago Rec.
ord-Herald maintains that the "funda-
mental truth NJ Socialism is On per.
feet harmony with the teachings Of the
Bible. re quotes a number Of passages
from the Old and New Testameuts 20
prove this. The manner On which BE-
reads and interprets the sacred yolulo
may be seen from The following para
graphs from his communication. lie
writes
Socialism says that no man has
right % live upon the sweat and blood
Of another man. The Bible says. Thou
shalt not eat the flesh with the blood
which Il the lie thereof Gen. tx l.
Socialism says. II any VIII not work.
neither shall h. eat The Bible says
the same, II. Thess li 10.
socialism says that 10 L. not right
for one TO XIII another in the field as
Cain killed Abel his brother. On tine
Held. The Bible says the same,
Socialism says that % Is not right to
KIN men. women ana children In the
shops. in the factories, On the mills and
mines, that few may dress in 'huc
linen and purple. and fare sumptuously
every day The Bible says. Thou shalt
not KIN al all
Socialism says the money system
rs the root Of an cyil' The Bible says
The love of money Is the root Of al
eva
socialism says that the system az
/ buying ana selling. the money systcm.
4 h the curse OF the world The Bible
I says Touch not The accused thing.
| lest ye make yourselves acursed Whpn
| you take of the accused thing
Socialism SAYS there should be Meth
er Interest, rent nor profit. The Rihic
SAYS, Thou shalt not give him thy
money upon usury 0ucreascl, nor leni
him thy yictuals for Increase. Ley.
XIV 81, EX xxi q.
Socialism says that the man nation
or world that takes usury and increase
win sooner or later come "a destruc.
ton
This Is a fair sample of the methods
by which some people force the Scrip
lures to agree with them. IN order that
they may have the reputation ~ s,ai1.
ing on Scripture ground They do not
90 TO the Word Of God in order 10 learn
the truth and conform their views 20
that which has been revealed. They
first make up their mind as 20 what
they want 10 believe and then search
the Scriptures ln order 20 find some.
thing that appears TO support their mo-
tives and ideas. BY this process Il =
possible 10 find support for every o.
ror imaginable. even for crimes such
as murder and suicide
Referring 10 the above given quota
tions. what has this to do with social
Ism Thou shalt not eat the flesh with
the blood. which is the life thereof"
or this N any viii not work. neither
shall he eat?' j. that Socialism. any
more than &c is every other ism" IN
which common sense mas retained
some influence Nearly every quota
ton is either torn away from It's con-
uection and therefore rendered mean
ingless or it is distorted and Is there
fore. not a quotation az an Where.
for Instance. does the Bible say. or IN
innate, that the money system" is an
"accufscd thing The Juggling with
Scripture verses is of interest as an
Illustration o. an exegesIs. too common
in our age. by which the Bible itself IL
in danger Of helms brought into con-
tempt.
Socialism, as FAR as 10 embraces true
doctrines and true prIncipies--and sy-
cry system contains some TRUTHS Pa
harmony with the BIBLE All truth. 40
matter where found. or by whom K
pounded. agrees with tho Bible. For
truth always agrees with truth
But the Bible does not teach Social
ISM Moses Who founded the Hebrew
state. was not O. Socialist Jesus was
not a Socialist be d.l not found COM
muHitss IN which private ownership
end private enterprise were abolished.
he recognized The social conditions sx-
ls..ng. though he taught the prncl-
pies Of the Fatherhood % God and IN,
universal brotherhood o. man. IN which
the world when those truths are under
stood ana accepted. viii hnd salvation.
The best proof that the Prophet Of
/ Nazareth was no Socialist may BE-
found Ia the fact that no mention T.
made by The EvangelIsts o. His ever
/ having ioinei the only soclalIstic or
communists organization that existed IN
Palestine in His day. They do not even
mention the name o. that organization.
Has Jesus Joined the brotherhood OF
Esswnc' or sympathI1ei With their
/ peculiar teachings ana practices. they
could NOT have failed 10 sllude 70. or
mention them. The Esssenes formed
brotherhood They had unique Ideas OF
family duties. Property they held in
common. They had many followers
bat Jesus ana HIS disciples were not
among them. They were not Socialists
We have no quarrel with Socialism.
or the expontnts ~ the social reform.
aimed Al by the systems ,ha; 20 under
that name. provided they are honestly
/