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This article—while still loving Mises—argues that, on this point, Mises was wrong. Why Mises likely made these particular errors in his historical context is a matter for another article. This article focuses on where Mises failed to take full account of the teachings of Jesus on this subject.
While Mises is correct that Christians and churches have often allied with interventionists and socialists—even using Bible verses and the words of Jesus—it is key to read the words of Jesus (or anyone) with regard to context, consistency, and totality. Doing so, it is evident that the socialists and interventionists do not have in Jesus the ally they think they do. In other words, Mises may have failed to apply the “Golden Rule” (Matthew 7:12), reading another in a way one hoped to be read.
Below is a non-exhaustive sample of the teachings of Jesus with regard to such topics. Length considerations limit examination of every statement on the topic, so the goal is not unbalanced cherry-picking but limiting evidence to statements that provide a counterbalance to claims that Jesus was against the rich as such, opposed to private property, promoted wealth distribution, or would have supported the welfare state.
You might say that Mises missed the point of what Christianity has to say about socialism, but Mises was not a Christian! I don’t know how well he was acquainted with the New Testament, but I must assume he had, at least, read it once or twice. I would think he would be somewhat accurate on his analysis of what was said, in regards to socialism< because that was one of his main drivers as an economist. The best you can say is that there are a lot of ways to interpret the New Testament and what Jesus said. It all depends upon your point of view. This may be a somewhat controversial statement, but it is what it is.
I'm also not a Christian, but I don't think Jesus was supportive of a massive monopoly on the initiation of violence, regardless of the aims it claimed to be striving for.
Saying that there are things people should be doing with their property is very different from saying it isn't actually theirs.
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I would have to agree with you on the massive monopoly non-support by Jesus. He also was good with self-defense to the point where he advised people to sell their fancy garments to purchase a sword. AFAIK, he only boosted for charity, not state ownership of all property, so, he was by no means a communist. A lot of people read a lot of differing things into the New Testament, that may or may not be there, except through interpretation.
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