We are living in a culture where anything goes. Because of man's fallen state as a result of sin there seems to be a lot of confusion. This confusion even extends to gender identity where some men believe they are female and vice versa. 

Those who believe and support this idea of gender-neutrality have simply rejected the design of creation by God Himself. 

To get a better understanding, we must take a look and understand how and in what manner God created human beings. In Genesis 1:27 the scripture declares 

27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

This simply means that there are only two genders that are revealed by God and His word. Although society views gender identity based on individual beliefs, perceptions, and social construct, the Bible always associates gender with the two sexes...male and female. So the idea that there are multiple genders is an unbiblical concept that seeks to destroy how God designed us and His entire purpose for creating us in the first place. 

Many will argue that gender and sex are two separate things, and what a person wears is a product of social construct in the first place. However, the scripture tells us in Deuteronomy 22:5 that a woman is not to wear men's clothing and men are not to wear women's clothing because that is an abomination to God. 

The idea that clothing, high heels, and make-up are all just socially constructed today is preposterous seeing as the bible speaks this issue. This means that there has been a distinction between male and female clothing for thousands of years.

As Christians, we are required to confront the sinful issues of today with biblical truth. God made men and women different (Gen. 1:27). Contrary to mistaken interpretations, sexual difference does not exist on a continuum where some men are more like women or vice versa. Men and women are different at the deepest levels of their being. Our chromosomes are different. Our brains are different. Our voices are different. Our body shapes are different. Our body strengths are different. Our reproductive systems are different. Most everything about us is different.

Because men and women are different, it’s philosophically impossible for a man to become a physical woman or a physical woman to become a man, no matter what the culture may say. Those who say otherwise are trafficking in fiction about human nature. In fact, there is no scientific proof to verify the claim that one is trapped inside the wrong body.

If God made men and women fundamentally and comprehensively different, then the idea that a man could ever become a woman (or vice versa) is simply impossible. According to one author, the differences between men and women can’t be overcome simply because one person feels they’re a member of the opposite sex. Your psychology (feelings) cannot change your ontology (being).

This starts early in life with our children growing up in this confused world that are bombarded with messages of confusion. Little boys are told they don’t have to be boys; girls are told they might not really be girls. Whatever they feel they are is what they are—boy, girl, or a mixture of the two. The world tells them it doesn’t matter. The confusion and ambiguity are reinforced in many ways: gender-neutral days at school, the banning of terms such as boys and girls in the classroom, unisex restrooms, curricula that promotes homosexual marriage, and the list goes on. It’s little wonder that some people grow up struggling with their sexual identity.

As Christians, we should be concerned about those who are struggling with gender dysphoria. Whether or not we think there confusion is real, we should 
welcome all into the grace of the gospel, because our gospel is applicable and available to all (1 Tim. 2:4; who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.)

2 Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.) So, first and foremost, we must offer genuine love to our gender dysphoric neighbor 

Mark 12:30–31
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

In understanding why people may be confused on the issue of gender, it is important that we not just parrot what the world says. As Christians, we must meet the world with truth, and at the same time offer hope and love through compassion. 

(Prov. 3:5–65 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.)

Biblical counsel would begin by helping a person embrace, however difficult it may seem, that their birth sex is a testimony to their true nature, and that perceptions of a different gender identity, while sincere, do not constitute an actual identity change.

The Bible says that God created “male and female” and He pronounced His creation as "good" (Genesis 1:27, 31). God’s plan was perfect, but, as with everything in mankind’s sphere, perfection was corrupted by sin in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. 

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Sin brought deviations from God's perfect creation and standard and we would be hard pressed to understand where sin's contamination ends in the creation. Could this contamination of sin affect people physically and mentally? The answer is yes. And the answer resides in salvation in Christ.

Truth is, we are involved in a spiritual battle for our souls. According to Pauls letter to the Romans in 12:1-2, we are being forced to conform to the world's mold. Instead, we are commanded to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That means those with gender confusion must have their minds renewed and the only way that can be done is through personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Satan does everything he can to kill, steal, destroy and deceive us into questioning God's plan. One of the devil’s ploys is to make us dissatisfied with how God made us. 

We know that the whole world longs for the day when Jesus returns to make right all wrongs. The curse of sin will one day be lifted. This is possible because of the redemption that we have in Jesus Christ. Through salvation, Jesus Christ grants us forgiveness of sin and deals with all of our brokenness, even those struggling with gender identity issues. 

Many people battle with temptation, greed, pride, anger, or any number of sins. Someone else may battle gender confusion. Regardless of the battle with sin and the devil’s lies, the question we must answer is, “Is Christ and His redemptive work sufficient for our battles?” The answer to that question is a resounding YES! 

Jesus definitely claims to be sufficient for any and all of our battles, and He desires to sanctify us through His Word of truth (John 17:17).

As children of God, we should be content in this life (Philippians 4:11) Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.)

2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We realize that we all have limitations, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. But when we yield to God's design and plan for us, those limitations can be overcome through His strength and power. 

If a person feels he or she has been born as the wrong gender, the answer is not gender-reassignment surgery, hormone therapy, cross-dressing, etc. This is simply giving in to the devil’s lies.

Listen, God does not make mistakes and any person who feels like they were born in the wrong body needs to come to the understanding that they are desperately in need of the to experience the transforming power of Christ. 

And as Christians, we should be willing to sit down with or walk alongside someone who is experiencing gender confusion and help them understand the Gospel and the transforming power of Christ.

It is often viewed by many in our culture that being homosexual is outside of a person's control. Just like a person cannot decide their race or eye color. Despite this cultural view, the Bible clearly and consistently declares that homosexual activity is a sin (Genesis 19:1–13; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). This ignorance of the scripture has lead to controversy, debate, and even hostility from people on both sides of the issue. 

It is important for us to get a right view on homosexuality and to do this we must take a look at the holy scriptures. 

In Genesis 19, the Bible tells us that God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone because of the wickedness of homosexuality which was referred to as an unnatural and abominable act. 

There are many other instances of homosexuality in the Bible, Romans 1:26–27 teaches that homosexuality is a result of denying and disobeying God. 

Romans 1:26-27
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged the natural function for what is against nature. 27 Likewise the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men with men doing that which is shameful, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.

When people continue in sin and unbelief, God “gives them over” to even more wicked and depraved sin to show them the futility and hopelessness of life apart from God. One of the fruits of rebellion against God is homosexuality.

There is also the belief that a person can be a homosexual and a Christian. A careful examination of 1 Corinthians 6:9 tells us that those who practice homosexuality are not saved or Christian.

1 Corinthians 6:9
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."

When looking at homosexuality, it is important to distinguish between living in a openly homosexual lifestyle or just having homosexual thoughts or attractions. There is a difference in thinking about sin and actually carrying out or acting upon it. Homosexual behavior is sinful, but the Bible never says it is a sin to be tempted. Even heterosexual couples are tempted to sin sexually. Many marriages have ended in divorce because one spouse chose to act on the temptations of lust towards another person.

A person may be born with a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, just as some people are born with a tendency to violence. That does not excuse the person’s choosing to sin by giving in to sinful desires. Just because a person is born with a greater susceptibility to something doesn’t make it right for them to give in to those desires. The same is true with homosexuality.

No matter our attractions, we cannot continue to define ourselves by the very sins that crucified Jesus—and at the same time assume we are right with God. Paul lists many of the sins that the Corinthians once practiced (homosexuality is on the list). 

But in that same passage of 1 Corinthians 6, verse 11 tells us that there were those who were homosexuals that were saved and delivered from that lifestyle, 

11 Such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, and you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus by the Spirit of our God. 

This should remind us that no sin is too great for the cleansing power of Jesus, not even homosexuality. Once we are cleansed, we are no longer defined by sin.

The problem with homosexuality is that it is something God has forbidden. Same-sex attraction is an expression of our fallen nature. Romans 1 tells us that there are ho humans that are good. All of us have wicked hearts and desires because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden. We are sinful people living in a sinful world. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and missed the mark of God's standard of perfection. 

This world is full of temptations, lures, and entrapments because of sin and the devil, including being enticed to engage in a homosexual lifestyle. 

The good news is there is hope for those looking to be redeemed from this lifestyle.

The temptation to engage in homosexual behavior is very real to many people. Those who struggle with homosexual attraction often report suffering through years of wishing things were different. People may not always be able to control how or what they feel, but they can control what they do. We all have the responsibility to resist temptation according to Ephesians 6:13 which says 

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Romans 12:2 tells us to not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. 

According to Galatians 6, We must all “walk by the Spirit” so as not to “gratify the desires of the flesh” 16 I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. These are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Finally, the Bible does not describe homosexuality as a “greater” sin than any other. All sin is offensive to God. Without Christ, all of us are lost, no matter what sin we engage in. According to the Bible, God’s forgiveness is available to the homosexual just as it is to the adulterer, idol worshipper, murderer, and thief. God promises the strength for victory over sin, including homosexuality, to all those who will believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

If you or a loved one is struggling with homosexuality and needs help let me give you a couple of resources. First is Living Hope Ministries....you can plug into the many resources and spiritual help through this ministry by visiting www.livehope.org

You can also find great information from Focus on the Family. Dr. James Dobson has helped many people find their way into the will and purpose of God through promoting biblical truths and the God-ordained family. Visit www.focusonthefamily.com for information and resources of this ministry.

One last great resource is a book entitled "Coming Out of Homosexuality" by Bob Davies and Lori Rentzel. This is not a theoretical book: it is a practical guide for people struggling with same-sex desires. You'll find answers to your questions about what it means to be a man or woman, how your past relates to your present tensions, how biblical principles apply to your daily life, how you can form healthy relationships, and how your healing may eventually prepare you for heterosexual romance and marriage.

Get your copy today by visiting www.americanchristianpodcast.com and click on the book link at the bottom of the page under book recommendations.

What does it mean to be established in righteousness? Can you earn your way to heaven?

Isaiah 54: 6-15

1. Righteousness is imputed, not earned

2. It’s God’s righteousness, not man’s

3. Righteousness is received by faith, not works

No, there is nothing wrong with being prepared, nor is there anything wrong with stocking up on things. We all have fears, but not all fear is the same. How do we know when fear is sin?

Unbelief is the root of fear. Fear causes worry and anxiety. Therefore, unbelief is at the heart of anxiety. Stop for a moment and think how many different sinful actions and attitudes come from anxiety. Anxiety about finances can give rise to coveting and greed and hoarding and stealing. Anxiety about succeeding at some task can make you irritable and abrupt and surly. Anxiety about relationships can make you withdrawn and indifferent and uncaring about other people. Anxiety about how someone will respond to you can make you cover over the truth and lie about things. So if anxiety could be conquered, a lot of sins would be overcome.

But what is the root of anxiety? And how can it be severed? To answer that we go to our text in Matthew 6. Four times in this text Jesus says that we should not be anxious.

Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life.”

Matthew 6:27: “And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?”

Matthew 6:31: “Therefore do not be anxious.”

Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow.”

The verse that makes the root of anxiety explicit is Matthew 6:30: "Therefore, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is here and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” 

In other words, Jesus says that the root of anxiety is lack of faith in our heavenly Father. As unbelief gets the upper hand in our hearts, one of the results is anxiety.

How many of you know that when you are anxious and fearful, it can lead to irrational thought? That is true for anyone. 

As believers, we are commended in 2 Timothy 1:7 "You have not been given a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and of a sound mind."

"What does the Bible mean when it refers to a sound mind?"

In other Bible translations, the word rendered “self-control” (ESV), “self-discipline” (NIV, NLT), “discipline” (NASB), “good judgment” (GW), and “sound judgment” (CSB). What is Paul referring to when he tells Timothy that God has given us the spirit of a sound mind?

The influence of the Spirit of God is required to produce a genuinely sound mind. The sound mind Paul speaks of is a mind under the control of God’s Holy Spirit. In the sense of self-discipline, the word denotes careful, rational, sensible thinking. Having a sound mind requires a thought process based on the wisdom and clarity that God imparts rather than being manipulated by fear.

Today, as in Timothy’s day, fear is a driving force in the world. Fear inspires the news headlines, motivates advertising campaigns, and stirs up social media frenzies. Fear is one of Satan’s favorite devices to confuse our minds, cause irrational thoughts, misunderstandings, and derail us from the will of God. For this reason, the Word of God encourages us to cultivate a healthy, renewed mind that can process right-thinking based on God’s truth: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

A sound mind is a stable, healthy mind. A healthy mind is linked to our attitude and outlook as believers. A sound mind is not overly concerned with the cares and problems of this life but is set on God and His Kingdom (Colossians 1:1–2). A sound mind is alert and sober, focused on the eternal hope we have in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13). A sound mind recognizes who we are in Christ, and does not depend on human wisdom and strength (2 Corinthians 10:3–5). A sound mind is guarded through prayer and purity: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:6–8).

A sound mind stabilizes our entire inner world. When Paul says God has given us the spirit of a sound mind (or self-control, discipline, and sound judgment), he doesn’t mean we’ll be able to train harder, eat better, or study more. Paul recognizes that God’s Spirit yields obedience, right living, and moral judgment. From the inside out, the Holy Spirit reshapes and transforms not just how we think, but who we are.

If we yield to our own understanding, we will be led astray. Our hearts are desperately wicked and the scripture even declares "who can know it". This is why it is sinful to act in ways that display unbelief, or lack of faith in our God. The beauty of the gospel is that even when we mess up, we can be forgiven. Hallelujah! If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

So we need to surrender to God's will and His way daily. That is why the Apostle Paul told us to not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. We have to renew our minds daily. We have to die to self daily. That way we can be controlled by the Holy Spirit. 

We are all going to be ok. The coronavirus will be gone and life will return to our version of normal. Until then, we need to exercise faith in the promises and hand of God and not succumb to our human fear. Amen?
 

Here are a few things that God would speak to us: 

1. We need to trust in who God is, not fear of what could be

2. We need to understand the virus is a result of the fall of man

3. We should be smart and seek to practice wisdom

4. We should allow this to remind us of repentance

5. We should take the opportunity to share Christ with others

Scripture makes it clear that the cornerstone of the biblical witness against abortion is the sanctity of human life. People possess innate worth because God created humans in His own image.  

Let's build a case against abortion.

1. We are created in the image of God

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26-27

We do not have time to dive into the implications of all of this passage, but if we take this verse, we have the case for the sanctity of all human life, we have the case against homosexuality, transgenderism, the case against animal rights.  Sorry PETA, God gave us dominion or rule over all the animals.

But again, all of those issues we will tackle on another episode of the podcast.

Those who do not value human life are in rebellion against God rejecting what the Lord says about human life. Those who claim to be Christians and yet advocate these evils do so in contradiction to what it means to be a Christian, one who is a disciple, a follower Christ. Whether they admit it or not, they blaspheme and offend God by their disobedience to His commands clearly given in His revelation of Himself and His will in the Bible. They want to play God in deciding who lives and who dies based on their own reasoning instead of what the Lord has declared.

Abortion, euthanasia and genocide are just different names given to the willful taking of a human life, which by definition is murder. Each are blasphemy against God because they willfully destroy a creature made in God’s image. These are very serious sins that have brought God’s judgment upon individuals and societies in the past. One of the reasons God had the Canaanites annihilated was their practice of infanticide as part of their worship of Molech (Lev. 20:2; Deut. 12:31; 18:10-13)

Any conversation concerning human value must begin with this scripture in Genesis 1.  

2.  Life is valued from the womb

A detailed exegesis of Exodus 21:22–25 manifests that unborn children are also created in God’s image and that the unborn and adults are of equal value in God’s eyes.

If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that her child is born prematurely, yet there is no serious injury, then he shall be surely punished in accordance with what the woman’s husband demands of him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if there is any serious injury, then you shall give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. Exodus 21: 22-25

We can see here the value of life in the womb.

Psalm 139:13–16 is a very significant passage of scripture when we talk about abortion because it shows that the biblical concept of personhood is present at conception.

13 You brought my inner parts into being;

   You wove me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder;

   marvelous are Your works,

   and You know me completely.

15 My frame was not hidden from You

   when I was made in secret,

and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth.

16     Your eyes saw me unformed,

yet in Your book

   all my days were written,

   before any of them came into being.

Wow!  This passage tells us that God's hand is upon the forming of a baby in the womb.  Look science may explain in the physical realm how all of these sequential biological processes work with sperm and eggs and fertilization, but science doesn't tell us who?  Someone testify!  It's God. God's handiwork is all over the unborn child from conception.  

The entire corpus of Scripture argues for the personhood and the incredible worth of unborn children.

What about Genesis 9:6 that explicitly connects the intrinsic worth of every individual to the image of God in which they are created. This verse reads, “‘Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.’

Whether a person wants to acknowledge it, God's hand is all over creation.  Here are some quick examples.  

Sarah – the wife of Abraham. In Genesis 16:1-2 Sarai tells Abram, “Now behold the Lord has prevented me from bearing children.” She understands that it is the Lord that opens or closes the womb. In Genesis 17:16 the Lord says, “I will bless her and indeed I will give you a son by her.”

Hannah – 1 Samuel 1:5 states, “. . . but the Lord had closed her womb.” In verse 11 Hannah prays that the Lord would give her a son. Verses 19-20 state, “And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her and it came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, ‘Because I have asked him from the Lord.”

The testimony of the Psalms.

Psalm 100:3, “Know that the LORD, Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Psalm 127:3, “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; The fruit of the womb is a reward.”

Jeremiah 1:4-5

“Now the Word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Don't tell me that the bible has nothing to say about pregnancy, the value of human life and killing babies. It's all in there.  I'll say it again, how can you read the scripture, claim to know Jesus Christ, and come away with it is ok to kill babies?  You can't. You either have deny the bible, deny the teachings of God, or deny God Himself.  

But the last piece of evidence is

3. The love of God for all humanity

The entirety of scripture is about God's love for all of humanity despite our sinful condition.  The bible tells us that "God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

One of my favorite passages of scripture is John 3:17 which tells us that God did not send His son Jesus into the world to condemn the world but that the whole world through him might be saved.  Talk about love for all humanity.  Wouldn't a person think that would include the life that God formed in the womb?  Of course it would.  This is why abortion is sinful.  And may God have mercy on us as a nation for the millions of babies we have murdered on the altar of convenience.  

Jesus himself even stated that the poor would always be among us. But, socialism is not the answer. Though it may sound compassionate and Christian, it's actually antithetical to everything Christianity teaches.

Here's why:

1. Socialism is based on a materialistic worldview.

According to socialists like Bernie Sanders, the greatest problem in the world is the unequal distribution of wealth.

His website declares: "The issue of wealth and income inequality is the great moral issue of our time, it is the great economic issue of our time, and it is the great political issue of our time."

To socialists, suffering is caused by the unequal distribution of stuff — and salvation is achieved by the re-distribution of stuff. There's no acknowledgment of spiritual issues. There's just an assumption that if everyone is given equal stuff, all the problems in society will somehow dissolve.

This worldview contradicts Christianity, which teaches that mankind's greatest problems are spiritual. The Bible says the cause of suffering is sin and salvation is found in the cross of Christ, which liberates us from sin. Because of sin, though, there will always be inequalities in wealth. As the parable of the talents shows, those with good character tend to accumulate more; those with bad character may lose everything they have. Yet, even if we are unable to accumulate wealth, Christianity teaches that we can still have an abundant life. That's because our quality of life is not determined by how much stuff we have, but by our relationship to Christ.

2. Socialism Punishes Virtue

Socialists want to distribute wealth to individuals according to their need, regardless of virtue.

As Karl Marx, famously said, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."

However, whenever any institution provides aid, it runs the risk of removing God-designed rewards and consequences. It can punish those who are industrious by making them pay for those who are not. And, it can reward those who aren't industrious by giving them the fruits of another man's labor. This is precisely what socialism does.

Interestingly, Marx mooched off others his whole life, and failed to provide for his wife and children.
 

The Bible teaches that aid should be tied to responsibility. First, anyone who refuses to work should be refused aid.

As 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat."

Next, no one should be given aid whose family can provide for him. In fact, the Apostle Paul said that a man who fails to provide for his family is "worse than an unbeliever." (1 Tim. 5:8) The church also required widows receiving aid to have "a reputation of good works." (1 Tim. 5:10) So, even in dispensing aid, the church rewarded virtue and discouraged vice. Unfortunately, socialism does just the opposite.

3. Socialism Endorses Stealing

Barack Obama once defended his socialist policies to a little girl by saying, "We've got to make sure that people who have more money help the people who have less money. If you had a whole pizza, and your friend had no pizza, would you give him a slice?"

That sounds pretty Christian, right? What Christian wouldn't endorse sharing your abundance with someone who has nothing? However, Obama wasn't endorsing people voluntarily sharing their wealth with others; he was endorsing the government forcibly taking a piece of the pie from one person and giving it to someone else. Put another way, that's saying that if you have three cars and your neighbor has none, the government has a right to take your car and give it to your neighbor. That's not Christian; that's stealing! and that’s clearly against the teachings of Christ. Hey, it’s one of the basic 10 right? 

But, socialists don't believe in private property. And, some Christian socialists actually assert that the Bible doesn't either. That's preposterous. God blessed Abraham. He had livestock and money and lots of land. So don’t come to me and tell me that God is against having wealth. 

Both the Old Testament and New Testament unequivocally affirm private property. We can't even obey the eighth commandment to not steal, unless we accept the notion of private ownership. Nor, can we steward our money as the Bible commands if the state owns our money, not us. So, for an economic and political system to be Christian, it must protect private ownership and allow individuals freedom to allocate their resources according to their conscience.

4. Socialism Encourages Envy and Class Warfare

Socialists demonize the rich, blaming all of society's problems on them.

Bernie Sanders once posted to his Facebook Page: "Let us wage a moral and political war against the billionaires and corporate leaders on Wall Street and elsewhere, whose policies and greed are destroying the middle class of America."

Here, Sanders is mimicking Karl Marx, who viewed history as a series of class struggles between the rich and the poor — and advocated overthrowing the ruling class.

Scripture strongly warns the rich and powerful not to oppress the poor.

In fact, Proverbs 14:31 says, "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for his maker . . ."

But, Sanders — and other Leftists, including Hillary Clinton — go far beyond decrying specific acts of injustice. They basically condemn an entire class of people simply for possessing wealth. And, they encourage those who are poor to overthrow them. In fact, Clinton once said the U.S. economy required a "toppling" of the wealthiest 1%.

The rich are not causing all the problems in American society. People like Bill Gates are not acquiring wealth by stealing from the masses. They're creating great products, which produce wealth, and actually provide jobs for many people. But, even if they were exploiting the poor, nowhere does Scripture support the have-nots demanding money from the haves. Instead, it teaches that we should not covet (Exodus 20:17) and should be content in all circumstances (Phil. 4:11-13). 

God never gave the responsibility of giving to the needy to the government. In fact, scripturally that is not the role of the government. He left the responsibility of meeting the needs of the poor to the church, His people. 

I John 3:17-18 says, "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

And until we follow God's pattern, we will never see things change. Socialism is not the answer, nor is it biblical. What is biblical is the church being obedient to God's Word.