How The Christian Left Misappropriates Jesus

Paul Zummo on the Christian left’s “theocratic” leanings :

Aside from the promoters of the Prosperity Gospel, few conservative Christians actually try to advance the idea that their particular economic theories have been especially endorsed by the Lord. Of course we’ll argue that our ideas do not conflict with Christian values, and Catholic conservatives will cite passages from both Scripture and the Catechism to disprove the notion that our ideas are at odds with Church teachings. But rarely will you these same people act as though their ideas and their ideas alone are the only God-approved ways of thinking about economic issues.

The fact of the matter is that we probably all fall short when it comes to economic matters. There is a strand of conservative thinking that is uncaring when it comes to addressing the needs of the poor and is influenced by a Randian worldview that places far, far too much stock in individualism. But leftists are guilty of violating subsidiarity, and I believe their reliance on government assistance de-emphasizes personal responsibility and charity.

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