( Photo by Jorge Salvador on Unsplash )

Many on both sides of the political coin have reservations about the talk of socialism creeping into the 2020 presidential election conversations.

As the topic of socialism has become more prevalent in America, the American Pastors Network (APN) has explored the hot-button issue on its popular daily radio program, Stand in the Gap Today, which airs on over 400 radio stations nationwide; many carry the show live from noon to 1 p.m. ET.

APN President Sam Rohrer says if he made the bold statement, "God is a capitalist," how would many react? Agree or disagree? Be indifferent? Have to consider the question further?

"Or how about these questions: 'Does the Bible teach the tenets of capitalism?' 'Does God hate communism and its younger sister socialism?'" Rohrer added. "These issues are confronting the American people and our entire perspective of freedom—capitalism versus socialism—moral versus evil. Many discuss these questions politically, economically and emotionally. But we should be looking at it biblically—from the pages of Scripture—as well."

Rohrer added that there is a basic case to be made that God and the Bible support capitalism, why it is moral, albeit not the perfect economic system, and why the foundational principles of capitalism are moral and why socialism, communism and all the other forms of collectivism are evil.

"The Bernie Sanderses and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezes of the world want to be a part of a 'mass movement,' a movement to embrace socialism and tyrannical big government and a movement to upend capitalism," Rohrer said. "However, the Constitution rests on the foundation of capitalism and free enterprise, so this 'movement' has the aim to jettison all remaining vestiges of the Judeo-Christian underpinnings of our laws and view of life, the environment, the home and marriage as defined by God as Creator and giver of all rights. It is a movement to reject the reality of absolute moral truth accountability to God and to embrace government as God. It's also the elimination of the right to private property, the hinge pin of God's design for capitalism and the bottom-line hatred of socialists and communists. After all, it was Karl Marx himself who said in his Communist Manifesto, 'the theory of the communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.'"

Additionally, Rohrer said, the national rejection of God in the courtroom, classroom and public square is producing consequences beyond our imagination. The rise of the popularity of socialism and tyrannical government is but one indication, with radical environmentalism another.

"But as economic systems are concerned, the contrast between socialism/communism and capitalism hinges on the matter of private property," Rohrer said. "Our founders knew this and it is why the debate at the introduction of the Declaration of Independence was so intense, as it stated, 'We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights that among them are life, liberty and the 'ownership of private property,' which was ultimately agreed to as 'the pursuit of happiness.' Understanding what God says about private property should dispel any support for socialism by anyone who fears God and believes the Bible."

Rohrer added that while God embraces the tenets from which came the economic system called capitalism, thereby making capitalism moral, it also of necessity makes socialism, communism or "-ism" immoral and, therefore, evil.

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"It is no accident that socialism in any form rejects God as God, God as Creator and God as the ultimate owner of all creation," Rohrer said. "Under communism or socialism, 'profit' is a dirty word when it applies to individuals operating under capitalism and free enterprise. But capitalism is not perfect, because man is sinful, and government is always trying to control the other areas of individual, family, the church and commerce. But we must remain focused on the fact that God has delegated to man—not government—the role of steward or manager over creation and the environment. It is no accident that the profit—the rewards—of proper management of that property will result in prosperity, blessing and the ability for individuals to bless their neighbors, the poor and the needy, and to provide the tithe and offerings to the church to do what the church is to do."

APN hopes thousands will join the ministry for its national prayer movement called "52 Tuesdays," in which the faithful from around the country will come together to pray for the moral and spiritual renewal of our nation every Tuesday leading up to Election Day 2020.

This dedicated season of prayer not only addresses the important 2020 presidential election but also other topics close to Christians' hearts. Prayer warriors nationwide can add their name to the growing "52 Tuesdays" list here.

Rohrer, along with Pennsylvania Pastors Network Executive Director Gary Dull and North Carolina Pastors Network President Dave Kistler, invites cultural experts to discuss a variety of pressing topics and headlines from a biblical and constitutional perspective to Stand in the Gap Today. Archived programs can be viewed here; find a station here. Rohrer also hosts the daily short radio feature Stand in the Gap Minute, and "best of" shows from the week are broadcast on Stand in the Gap Weekend.

Likewise, Stand in the Gap TV considers transcending complex and divisive cultural issues, seemingly difficult to navigate, from a biblical worldview perspective while bringing clarity to cultural confusion and making sense of the nonsense around us.

View the media page for APN here, which also details information about Stand in the Gap radio programming. For more information on APN, visit AmericanPastorsNetwork.net , its Facebook page or follow APN's Twitter feed, @AmericanPastors. For information about forming a state chapter of APN, contact amy@americanpastors.net.

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