I'm a Socialist? Thank you!

The theme of Public Radio's "This American Life "this week was "Red State, Blue State" and included stories of friends (or former friends), relatives, elected official and co-workers who had differing political views. It included sisters who could hardly speak to each other, one man married to the sister of another man's wife who said if his sister-in-law's husband votes for President Obama, he wasn't going to let him eat any of his astoundingly good barbeque, tri-tip steak, pulled pork and prime rib sandwiches for the four years of Obama's second term.

In most of the interviews, the biggest insult the conservatives could unload on liberals was "socialist." Oddly enough, none of those who were so labeled thanked their antagonists for putting them in such august company since Jesus could be considered an uber socialist.

Matthew 25:35-40 – ³⁵“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” ³⁷Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Mark 12:13-17 – ¹³And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. ¹⁴And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” ¹⁵But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” ¹⁶And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” ¹⁷Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.