With every social program that is enacted, every attempt at a re-distribution of wealth by our political "leaders" we are shamed into reluctant submission by our vague notions of Christian charity. We have been raised to "feed the hungry" and "clothe the naked" and "provide a home for the homeless". Politians and religious leaders, who have made social justice their god, quote scriptures to us, validating their own agenda; "He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need" (Proverbs 21:13), "If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied! But a curse upon those who close their eyes to poverty." (Proverbs 28:27), "Happy is the generous man, the one who feeds the poor" (Proverbs 22:9). Even the Pope, who is arguably the most important religious leader in the western world, uses God to bolster his own vision of fairness and equality. But these leaders, both political and religious, are at best, ignorant or at worst, true masters of deceit.
The truth of the matter is that Jesus spoke directly to people, never to "the state". He expected His followers to clothe the naked, feed the hungry and provide homes for the homeless, never did He expect (or want) "the state" to enact these mandates by force. He expected His followers to use judgment and discretion. He expected them to be good stewards of what He provided for their use. He expected His followers to be accountable to one another and to Him. He expected Christians to get involved, to get their hands dirty. And to change the world in His name.
We know that Jesus was speaking to the individual Christian rather than "the state" because that is exactly who He spoke to. The Sermon on the Mount was delivered to individuals, not to political leaders. Over and over in the Bible, we see God speaking to the hearts of men, never to the political establishment. He spoke to the individual because He had given them freedom of choice, to choose to obey Him, or not - not to the "state", whom He knew would always seek to oppress and rule men rather than give them freedom. And when He did speak to the religious leaders, it was almost always to chasten them for being "a den of vipers" and condemned them as hypocrites - laying heavy burdens upon the people yet doing nothing to lighten their load.
By allowing the political and religious leaders to take the word of God out of context and use it to further their own personal agendas, we have failed in the mission that Jesus gave to the Church. We no longer feed the poor, because the "state" does it for us. Nor do we clothe the naked or provide homes for the homeless, again, because our pockets have been picked and our government has inserted itself as our conscience and moral authority. Yet their stewardship has not only failed, it has destroyed the souls of men and fettered them in chains fashioned in the pit of Hell.
We cannot accept the deceitfully honeyed words of our politicians and our world "religious" leaders as the gospel truth. We MUST know the Word of God for ourselves, searching the Bible as one searches for gold and silver. The men and women leading our country, our world, are masters of deceit, twisting what is right and calling it wrong, and legislating evil as enlightened truth. If we call ourselves Christians, we must first know the Word of God, know Jesus. And then, we have to be willing and able defenders of the Truth.
Only by studying the truth will you be able to identify deception and ultimately, the deceivers. Remember, these masters of deceit often appear as voices of hope and change and enlightenment, but in their wake they leave a trail of death, destruction and hopelessness. It's up to you to know the difference.
