I keep seeing people talk about Jesus as if he were concerned with economics or governments. As if the entire point of the Gospels was to point us toward a political ideology, it’s not. The statements go something like this “Someone should tell Christians Jesus was a socialist” or something like this “It is obvious in Jesus’ parables he was a capitalist.” both of these are wrong and both of these miss the point. It is probably best to say Jesus was apathetic, without passion or care, toward both of these concepts and government as he was establishing his.

In order to properly dispatch of these I first need to start with the one most diametrically opposed to Jesus’ purpose, Socialism. Im a big fan of definitions and starting from a common usage, so by socialism I mean the following:

“any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods” -Merriam Webster Dictionary

The foundational element of Socialism is government is the arbiter of good and morality. The reason why Socialists feel government should be more involved is that, in their view, Government is benevolent and good. I’ve already, I fear, shown my hand on my feeling against Socialism but, this isn’t particularly relevant. Jesus spoke of a government he was establishing and entirely ignores the oppressive structure of the Roman occupation of Israel. Jesus side steps these issues every time they are brought up. When asked if Jews should pay taxes, an extremely hot button issue, Jesus responds “who’s face is on this? Give him what is his”. In response to being forced to walk one mile carrying a soldiers gear, he said carry it two. He was subversive.

Also importantly in more than subtle ways Jesus opposed the government, he takes the title from Cesar, he does pay attention to Roman laws, he isnt concerned about politics. It simply is not relevant to him. The biggest problem for the “Jesus is a socialist camp” is, his treatment of government funding. He encourages giving not to the government, paying taxes is not an offering, but to the communal funds at the temple. Jesus sees the faith community as the answer to the problem of human suffering, it is through care of the poor not by governments, that revolution comes. If Jesus was a socialist he would’ve taken his very popular movement and traded peace for care, he had this opportunity and turned it down.

I must press on Jesus was not a capitalist or at least wasn’t looking to support capitalism. Jesus clearly had no problem with wealth, the tomb he was placed in was owned by a very wealthy man, he also saw what a tendency to oppress the poor and was not ok with it. When Jesus tells the wealthy man to sell all of his stuff, he is not issuing a universal command, he is not making a political statement he is making a statement against the idol of the bull. The idol of money. Jesus declares you cannot serve two masters, “God and money” he is warning us to be very careful with our treatment of money. Jesus kicks the money changers out of the temple because capitalism (and that market is the very fruit of capitalism) is not the solution to oppressive structures it creates them.

Ultimately the point of Jesus is not economics or government, it’s not to heal or solve the problem of poverty, at least not yet. The entire point of the ministry of Jesus is a declaration, that God had come down, he is truth, and his sacrifice brings the new earth with it. We live between the fall and all things restored. As Christians our response to this is, by the holy spirit, to Act Justly, Love Mercy , and Walk Humbly.