Sanders Eastern European Roots of Socialism Extended

Recently, Politico interviewed long time best friend of Bernie Sanders, John Franco, on the early life influences and origins of Sanders’ philosophies. It seems that Sanders works diligently to keep his private affairs separated from politics. What little we do know is mostly inconsequential. Before his days as a mayor of Burlington, his fomenting passion was geared toward fair labor practices. Prior to that, he resided in New York City, and grew up in modest surroundings with his domesticated mother and Polish immigrant father who sold paint.   Sanders once said he was “very conscious as a kid that my father’s whole family was killed by Hitler.” 

As a person of Jewish ancestry, I can also remember furtive mention of the holocaust kept within close family circles. Being grateful for life itself, it was  best thought not to spark unwanted anti-Semitic thought throughout the larger community.  I would add that Eastern European Jews emigrants from Sanders’ father’s era carry another secret too. In fact, it is so secret that most are not aware that they are carriers. Historically, socialism offered a less persecuted life to Jews living in the Diaspora whereas fascism dealt a heavy hand. Its origins date as far back as 1770 when cultural centers of influence determined modernization. Assimilation versus separatist thinking was of far more value. Over time, Jews were encouraged to leave behind medieval isolationist society where rabbinic courts ruled the day in ordering practices such as child marriage, “the use of anathema to enforce community will, and the concentration on virtually only religious studies.”1  Prussian Jew, Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786), led the way to integrate ideas and come out of ghetto isolationism.  Embracing  language paved a way to nationalistic cultural circles, politics, and infrastructure. Concentrated Jewish populations lived in Poland, Russia, and Germany.  Influenced by collective socialism, naturally when fascist government came along and targeted Jews as disruptive or overbearing, Jews moved away from the pressure.

Families that migrated to the United States brought these old school philosophies with them, the ubiquitous sense that all would be fed if all would be shared. My grandfather entertained this notion from time to time as he would impart his musings. I imagine that he acquired this from his parents cultural upbringing as they migrated from the Russian/Polish border. We need to remember always that their exodus was a desperate one so that they could have a better, freer life here. In the past they favored the party that seemed the least anti-Semitic. But they made their way and prospered in good, hard-earned capitalism. Philosophies die hard. Bernie, and so many by extension, carried the old country ideas in their minds from that boat. It took for many. But so many others were stuck in historic rituals. Today we have unregulated bribes that allow unfair advantage to special interest groups of both sides. This fodder has fertilized Sanders’ popularity. That is not what made this country grow and thrive. Perhaps instead, we need to go back to what worked best not what caused a mass exodus from Europe.

Eastern European Jewry and Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders history was published in an article in Politico. I would add that Eastern European Jews from the era of his father have a secret too. Historically, socialism offered a less persecuted life to Jews than fascism. Families that immigrated brought these old school philosophies with them, the ubiquitous sense that all would be fed if all would be shared. My grandfather entertained this notion from time to time as he would share his musings. I imagine that he acquired this from his parents when they migrated from the Russian/Polish border. We need to always remember that their exodus was a desperate one so that they could have a better, freer life here. They made their way and prospered in good, hard-earned capitalism. What we have today are unregulated bribes that allow unfair advantage to special interest groups of both sides. That is crony capitalism. That is not what made this country grow and thrive. Philosophies die hard. Bernie and so many by extension carried the old country ideas in their minds from that boat. That's all they knew until they found a new system that allowed greater freedom and prosperity. It took for many. But so many others were stuck in their rituals. We need instead to go back to what worked best last here not what caused a mass exodus from Europe.

Why Is There So Much Evil, Pain, and Suffering in The World – Or More Specifically, How Can There Be a Loving God That Allows It To Continue, Especially Among Good People?

George Barna's research shows this is the #1 question believers would like to have answered by God. 

But, let’s examine that for a moment.  How can anyone realize good and evil, right from wrong without first acquiring a conscience for it?  If all creatures spawn from nothing, can measure for such a distinction exist?  If so, then by what standard?

If you score 90% on a test while others get 70% or 50%, how do you inherently know that you fared better?  Moreover, it presupposes that 100% is a perfect score.  Knowledge of difference is understood because there is a pre-defined scale.

Pain and suffering cannot be measured without recognition of invention and inventor.  Feelings, for example, are based in the tension of cause and effect.  Logically, what you feel has to have a starter source.  Can anyone possibly explain effect without cause?  What prompts you to feel remorse when a close loved one dies or a crushed romance eclipses your heart?  If you ask, why there is so much pain and evil, you only do so because internally you know the opposite exists as well.

I remember my uncle professing with pride at my Dad's memorial that his brother refused to bow down to the false superstitions of religion, that he died with his senses, returning to nothingness.  If it hadn’t been such a pathetic and empty statement, I would have burst out laughing.  Here’s a man with a pHD in science making such an odd, illogical comment.  .  If there is no god, no source of life, then there are no measures or values.  If there are no values then pain and suffering are meaningless, and so are our thoughts and time spent on earth or wherever we may be in an immeasurable nothingness.   His words and our purpose for gathering irrelevant, hormonal instinctual animals that we are because—in the end—they are just abstract, intangible, mirages.

Skip Heitzeg reflects that Peter penned his first letter in 64 A.D.  In Chapter 4, verse 12, he says this: “ Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”  It was in this year that Nero torched Rome, so most people believed.  He had a quest to build, the city was old, and he was seen gleefully laughing as the majority of the city went up in flames.  But, he would never admit to it.  When people tried to put out those fires, Roman soldiers would stop them and start new ones. The population that had lost their homes, their personal goods, loved ones were in such furor that they turned against Caesar Nero with almost an all out revolt.  He knew he needed to do something to get the attention off of him.  He needed a scapegoat. Who do you think he chose?  First century Christians were thrown to the lions as they weren’t liked anyway.  So, Nero said that they started the fires.  To drive home the symbolism that they were at fault, while alive, he had them doused in pitch, tied them to poles, and set fire to them.  This persecution began and lasted for the next 200 years in Rome.  As Peter’s letter continued: “But (instead) rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”  

Rejoice? Really!  Peter takes suffering and elevates the honor in it.  Why?  Because if you suffer for the right reason, you suffer with Christ as he suffered on earth.  

When C.S. Lewis was asked, “why do the righteous suffer?”  He responded, “why not?”  They are the only ones who can take it.”  They will do it differently than somebody who doesn’t have that hope.

Right now, today, I feel great.  I am not suffering.  Is it because I am doing nice things, not upsetting quite so many people around me to attract good Karma?

As believers, we face these things: 1. Evil is real. It exists. We have had that ingrained into our hearts because we are one with Jesus’ indwelling adopted Spirit and experience on earth.  We do not have to conjure up good thoughts or ideas that wisp it away from our conscience as if evil, pain, suffering, hardship were all an illusion or bad juju.  Just as much, so is good, very good, and excellent. One needs the other to exist. To play some metaphysical game about it doesn’t help anybody. 2. God allows evil to exist, and he’s in absolute control of the universe that he made.   While suffering is hard and uncomfortable to think about, so is Sovereignty--surrender and knowledge that God will be absolutely fair about everything and every person that ever existed throughout all time. 3. God has a purpose in evil existing that can even be helpful.  Suffering can reveal and bring God glory (credit and revealed understanding) for events and purposes.  It enables us to love purely as well as puts to death many of the habits and ways of our past. 1 Peter 1:7 “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”  4. Suffering humbles us.  Paul had a thorn in his flesh, some deep wound, to keep him humble and not taken out by the great responsibility and endowment laid upon him.  God revealed heaven to Paul. In his life since the Damascus road encounter with the living God, he was shown many great things that dwarfed any riches the world had to offer by comparison.  His power and effectiveness came through his humility and the groundings of personal human afflictions.  5. Suffering keeps us dependent upon God like nothing else.  It grabs our attention.

When I visited Israel at 18, my last 4 ½ weeks spent there was the most agonizingly sick time I’ve experienced in my life up until now.  I could not fathom why I had a continuous high fever, exhaustion, and delirium—thousands of miles away from all that I knew and loved. Honestly, I did not know if I would ever recover from it and none of the doctors did either.  Shouting out to God from my bed in confusion, in angst, and much anger-- “why are you doing this to me?!” was almost a daily occurrence.   It was a record year for heat and there were no air conditioners anywhere.  I think I must have felt a little like Jonah when he lost the shade tree in the desert.  Just take me now (although I was too scared to say that).  I pleaded and prayed.  Eventually, as I ran out of time to collect a refund on my Eurail pass that I had planned to use after traveling through Israel (instead of being sick in bed), I decided to go home.  Still very sick with fever and some delirium, I rode the bus 45 minutes to book my reservation.  Leaving the travel agency with ticket in hand, I had an instant impression that I was healed!  So much so, I started to walk back toward the reservation office to cancel my ticket.  In those 20 feet, I recognized that somebody up there was trying to tell me something.  I turned back, instead boarding a bus to visit friends in two different cities.  Instead of my head blowing up as it always had, I raced around, had two meals, got home by 7 with a 98.6 degree temperature read from the thermometer.  My roommates and I had planned this trip together in 10 days.  “You can still cancel your tickets, one of them said.”  I know, I retorted.  But, I think somebody up there is trying to tell me something.  And there was great peace. Staying with the plan, I flew out in a couple of days. Once the plane was in the air, tremendous remorse hit me, in having made that decision.  I thought, I may never get this opportunity again.  Finally back at home, still remorseful, a month or so passed.  My great aunt came by to translate a letter written to her and to me.  My older cousin relayed this to my aunt, “You know, I’ve always been an atheist.  But if there ever was a time I was to believe in God it was knowing that Ralph was going to travel to the Red Sea with his roommates, Max and Gary.”  Apparently, they had followed up on our plans to travel, hitched a ride in a VW Bus.  On the way down to the Red Sea, on the two-lane highway, a large travel bus swerved to avoid hitting a camel crossing the road and collided head on into the VW Van, killing all people inside. 

Suffering and sacrifice saved my life.  I thought of myself as a good person that was cheated.  But, suffering yielded a broader plan beyond my personal comfort, and I have gotten to know so many more of you than I ever would have, had it not had its good effect upon my person. 

Barna Research in two year study shows 90% of pastors keep their flock in the dark about politics

{Reprint}

Many theologically conservative pastors agree the Bible speaks to key issues of the day, but research indicates only a handful of them say they will speak to it.

What are the most likely reasons a pastor might refrain from preaching what the Bible says about controversial political issues? (Select up to three) (Poll Closed)

Distaste for politics 9.03%  (265 votes) 

 

Threat of punishment by ACLU or IRS 31.86%  (935 votes) 

 

Unfamiliar with those issues 7.53%  (221 votes) 

 

Told to do so by elders/deacons 15.78%  (463 votes) 

 

Denominational constraints 13.15%  (386 votes) 

 

Believes politics, church are separate 23%  (665 votes) 

 

 

Total Votes: 2,935

 

On Thursday, George Barna – research expert and founder of The Barna Group – shared with American Family Radio's "Today's Issues" about new information he's compiling at American Culture and Faith Institute over the last two years, gauging where theologically conservative pastors are at politically.

"What we're finding is that when we ask them about all the key issues of the day, [90 percent of them are] telling us, Yes, the Bible speaks to every one of these issues. Then we ask them: Well, are you teaching your people what the Bible says about those issues? – and the numbers drop ... to less than 10 percent of pastors who say they will speak to it."

When researchers ask those pastors what else they are willing to do to get their people active in the political process, Barna said "it's almost nothing."

"So the thing that struck me has been that when we talk about the separation of church and state, it's that churches have separated themselves from the activities of the state – and that's to the detriment of the state and its people," stated the researcher.

Why the disconnect? According to Barna, the answer is simple. He suggests asking pastors how someone would know if their church is "successful" – which he did.

Barna

"There are five factors that the vast majority of pastors turn to [when asked that question]," he explained. "Attendance, giving, number of programs, number of staff, and square footage.

"Now all of those things are good measures, except for one tiny fact: Jesus didn't die for any of them," Barna continued. "What I'm suggesting is [those pastors] won't probably get involved in politics because it's very controversial. Controversy keeps people from being in the seats, controversy keeps people from giving money, from attending programs.

"As they look at things, their tendency is to say, Well, that's not part of my mission; my mission is to bring in more people and to get them to understand certain things that I feel they should know."

Barna also thinks it has something to do with the training of pastors.

"When you look at what they get in Bible school or in the seminary, they are not taught to get people engaged in these particular issues," he shared. "They are taught just to exegete scriptures; they are taught something about the history of where those scriptures came from – but they are not prepared."

Barna is hoping that through the research they can encourage pastors as well as conservative voters across the country to be better informed and to be more active and more influential in the political process.

New Testament Holistic Approach in Submitting to Government Authority

The New Testament position on submission to government authority can be summed up in four sentences:  You can voluntarily lay down your own life. It’s yours to sacrifice for the gospel’s sake. But, don’t take anyone else down with you unless you have their permission.  You don’t have that right.

So long as it is about me, I can turn the other cheek, give into whatever is asked of me if I so choose.  However, when it involves our spouse or child, the call to sacrificially protect and intervene is first order over any government mandate.  It is simply the greater calling.  The same holds true if government comes without warrant, an official bullies a neighbor or a friend outside of their jurisdiction, or a gang of local officials band together to burn down your house.  These are acts of evil, and we are to resist evil with words and actions in whatever way we can.  Your family and friends are at risk. There is no greater love or sacrifice.  At this point, you are not demanding your own rights, but laying down your life for theirs. 

Romans 13 states we have nothing to fear if we stay within the law.  But, if those laws go against God’s sovereign moral compass, are we going against God’s sovereign anointing over said leaders if we are asked to hand our child over to be raped by a village official or to send our wife out to be beaten or executed because the leader of that country or domain has total authority are we to do so?  Does God have two faces; one that condones evil for anointing sake and another one that hates evil?  Would God be divided against himself?

The NT position as a whole is surprisingly clear and direct with regard to authority.  My hope is to get you to explore this systematically rather than getting uniquely focused on Romans 13.  Scripture must be interpreted in light of other scripture.  God cannot and does not contradict his own nature; have one set of rules in one circumstance and another opposing set under different conditions.

I will state upfront:  This is not a political paper.  Quintessentially, this encompassing message incorporates what Jesus said, what Paul said, and a bit of John.  I have been greatly disappointed in what I hear coming out of most pulpits today.  In fact, I am sickened.  And, as we see impending powers worldwide draw in tighter upon believers, one must recognize where we stand, what Christ really expects of us in advance.  Once upon us, it is too late.  Stand firm in your knowledge, and if your pastor teaches one aspect of submission, with disregard for the whole, I challenge you after this to gently, but directly question that.  Of course, we continue to pray for all political leaders that have charge of various offices, and the focus of that prayer is that they would continue to observe and serve faithfully within the intended framework. Let’s all grow together so that we will not be weak when it’s most imperative that we be strong in the face of adversity—that we know the mind of Christ in all things.

While different type of governments exists, universally acts of conscience still apply.  Each passage below boils down to a few key elements, offering hope and more accurate spiritual application.  I am curious to hear back if any of you have adapted this thought process.  

Beginning with Jesus:

John 10:11 [Jesus] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 15:12 [Jesus] Greater love has no one than this; that someone lay down his life for his friends.

^{1 John 3:16} This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 

Jesus’ example of sacrificial love throughout the gospels is unmistakable, and John reminds us to emulate that in no uncertain terms.  As Jesus laid down his earthly body, we are to do likewise for others—for those we call neighbors, family, and friends; for the destitute, the helpless, the widow, and the orphan.  Sacrifice ultimately results in surrender or giving something over.  But to surrender life or freedom one must have the right or possession to do so.  I can befittingly choose to become a martyr for the gospel because God has given me charge of my own  life decisions. However, I cannot choose to forfeit rights of friends or family members, simply because I do not possess the deed to their lives. 

But, what has this to do with submission to authority? Let’s first look at the go-to passage.

 Romans 13: 1-5: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 

Seems pretty obvious, right?  If you disobey or rebel against people in power you are in sin and will bring judgment upon yourself.  Moreover, corporate rebellion will bring judgment upon churches, cities, and nations.   Those in power are anointed and appointed by God. We must not rebel, and do well accepting that.  Isn’t this what most of us learned?

Well, let’s test this precept, starting with the United States. First, we must answer, where does ultimate authority reside? Is it with the President? The combined office powers? Once elected, are the actual people holding these offices anointed with divine governing authority? None of these answers are correct according to our constitution.

In attempting to avoid being too wordy here’s the summary:  In the United States, submitting to authorities means the constitution, not the people elected to the offices, right up to the president.  When presidents, judges, elected house and senators are in sync, they bring great honor to themselves and to the people they represent; misrepresent the constitution, they personally fall out of the grace and anointed covering.  It was designed that way because man is absolutely not fully trustworthy and the founding fathers recognized this in their wisdom. While elected officials are to be honored with great respect as ones carrying out the will of that document,  that honor wanes when they try to put their personal spin on it.  We fight for the document, not the electorate.  That’s why there are divided roles and not a king.  Christians in the United States, ironically, are to place their allegiance in a stone-like document that can only be changed by a rigid amendment system so as to purposely resist elected officials having their own interpretations.   It requires 2/3 of congress and ¾ of the states to approve such changes.  Checks and balances,  reduce the power of officials as well.  They have always been guards and servants rather than bearers of new destiny. 

I think they quite seriously considered what  Jesus said when he spoke of the heart of man in John 2 “²⁴ But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. ²⁵ No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart. 

In deciphering obedience to rulers and authorities in other parts of the world we must incorporate Romans 13: 1-5.  But, now, in addition, let’s allow the rest of the verses to help bring us sharper focus.  Beginning with verse 8: “⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”^[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b] 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Whenever government or rulers go outside this “love does no harm to a neighbor”, they are walking a plank separate of their anointed powers as rulers appointed by God.  It is up to God to judge them, but if a ruler or elected official does things that bring harm to their citizens—at that point being outside the anointing--a Christian, by moral conscience, should not obey it!  I will do no harm to myself, my God, or my neighbor sums up the fulfillment of the law Jesus spoke of in Matthew 22:34-40.

While the people of Germany struggled with this concept, Hitler should have been a no-brainer.  Prior to 1933, Germany had protective citizenry laws. Beginning in 1933, as appointed chancellor, Hitler unilaterally and systematically began pirating away these rights. At the death of Hindenburg, the former president, he self-appointed himself as supreme leader.  This act was a breach of contract  was an illegal act; a forced take over.  At this point the people should have immediately recognized this and removed him from office.  Instead, they sinned.  By not actively resisting, they brought natural consequences upon themselves.  Here’s where you see an active separation of sheep and goats.   The German church was about 90% of professing Christians; more national than relational to God, they did  not resist.  The remaining 10% were known as Confessional Christians and their consciences were progressively conflicted by this takeover.  They began resisting. Was it wrong for people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer to move from pacifism to active attempt at assassination to save and protect those whom he loved?

1 Corinthians 13: 6-7   Love protects   “ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” -- NIV   In other versions, love bears up.  The Greek word for “protects” here is stegei, which literally means “to cover” and includes the idea of protecting and preserving.  So, if you were Jewish, you could willfully give up your own life, in order to save or help the lives of others.  But, would it not be a sin to surrender to German hierarchy instead of trying to help your family flee persecution?  Love helps and preserves.  As one born Jewish, later swept up into Christ’s kingdom, I can tell you pretty certainly that in my walk today I would have either joined the resistance movement and fought underground or earlier would have sold everything and done anything to get my family out of the Nazi grasp of Europe.  Not doing so is selfish.  It is the opposite of love.  Resist evil in all sorts of ways.  It is not only our right, motivated by love alone, it is our calling. Jesus premeditatively created a snapping whip while turning over the moneychangers’ tables in the temple.  Jesus said, be angry, and do not sin.  There many ways in which to do that.   

Today, if you were ruled by Kim Jong-un in North Korea or lived under ISIS who have recently at the time of this paper usurped authority in Iraq and Syria, demanding strict adherence to Sharia-law, where would your allegiance lay?  If you are consistent with pastoral teachings on how to submit to authorities of the land, would you not have to submit to such tyrants (given by God)?  You might say, yes so long as you weren’t required to break God’s law of denying your faith. What if they want to take your life?  Are you to submit to that?  You can choose to give up your life as a martyr.  Under Romans 13 as taught so often today you would be instructed to do so as God will redeem you eternally.  And, I would not argue with that.  But, according to 1 John, martyrdom is still a choice, not a default surrender.  So, I’m going to argue that this is a total false and nonsensical interpretation.  If you plan to be a martyr, do so that the gospel maybe well served, dying or protecting others.  Make it count for something.  And again, it is supposed to be an entire voluntary act of love, not cowardice that forced the option!  The next scripture confirms this.

According to 1 John 4:18 “Love is the opposite of fear; fear has to do with punishment.”

Did the Jews of Germany end up as martyrs by result of lovingly choosing to lay down their lives so that these despicable Nazis might turn to Jesus as they saw innocent blood running down the ditches by the hundreds of thousands and eventually millions?  Do you conceive that because they surrendered, Jews were honoring God,--and as a result of that honor, all are taken to heaven regardless of their convictions about God?   Or were they forced into death out of their fears, having no more choice in the end?  If they just went along with the program, everything would be all right.  Many Christians and Jews believed this at the onset.

My grandfather was in politics and tried to get my grandmother to flee Czechoslovakia in 1938.  She wouldn’t do it.  About a year and a half later they did escape—barely--handing everything over to the local officials in exchange for their lives.  A year and a half earlier they would have been able to sell their home and belongings. Instead, they escaped with the clothes on their backs and a few pieces of China. He tried to protect his wife and daughter.  It really was a miracle that he got a second chance, having to bribe his way out of jail at that point.  Many more did not fare so well.  Steeped in  fear,  apathy, or disbelief, this lead to final and ultimate waste.  My proof is that Germany is not spiritually repentant and serving God boisterously today.  Quite the opposite holds true.    

Just as in Germany, great harm came to many quiet, long-suffering, pacifists so it follows today in many regions of the world where the people cower and hunker down.  They ignore or pretend that events don’t matter, that their governments will do well for them in the end.  Rather than actively resist evil in their prayers and actions they become victims of their own apathy and fears.  Turn the other cheek when it brings testimony to your own story.  But, resist for those put in your charge and those you couldn’t stand to live without.

Spiritual sanity follows accurate teaching.  Equipping ourselves with contextual understanding is vital to preparing our lives for battles that certainly lie ahead of us.  Christians have a moral conscience that guides them via the Holy Spirit to side with what is right; to sacrifice ourselves and our comforts for the greater good of all.  I hope that I have challenged you to rethink these positions and these scriptures for yourselves so hereafter you respond with Godly confidence first over misguided rulers of this world.