Is Jesus A Socialist - The Jun

The Jungle – Is Jesus a Socialist?

There are many interpretations that different individuals can develop on one event, material, or thing, and on such example is the Bible. In The Jungle, Upton Sinclair, an advocate of Socialism, uses a character to tie Socialism with Jesus. The character is an “ex-preacher,” called Lucas, who portrays Jesus as a Socialist by using his actions and words to conform with Socialist ideas. Although one cannot say interpretations are right or wrong, Sinclair blasphemously uses the Bible for his own ideas.

In the beginning of Lucas’s speech on Jesus he says that Jesus was a man “whose whole being was one flame of hatred for wealth, and all that wealth stands” (Sinclair 334). There are examples in the Bible that might lead one to infer that Jesus was a hater of wealth, but he didn’t. In fact, he dined at many wealthy individuals’ houses, i.e. “Jesus at a Pharisee’s House” (Luke 14:1-24). If he hated the rich and “well to do” he would not even associate with them. Jesus only disliked the many lavish things that rich people did with their wealth, which blocked their relationship with God. For example, in Luke 16:19-31 there is a story about a rich man and Lazarus, a beggar covered with boils. The rich man did not help Lazarus one bit, even though Lazarus’s condition was so bad, being covered in sores, that “even the dogs came and licked his sores” (Luke 16:21). The rich man daily “was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day” (Luke 16:19), but would not spare some food for Lazarus who “[longed] to eat what fell from the rich man’s table” (Luke 16:21). Eventually both Lazarus and the rich man died, Lazarus was received into Heaven, and Lazarus fell into hell. The rich man suffering in hell saw Abraham with Lazarus far away, and called out, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire” (Luke 16:24). But Father Abraham replied, “Son remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony” (Luke 16:24). Jesus showed others that the rich man ignored God’s will by indulging himself in his wealth, and failed to receive eternal life by ignoring the simplistic need of Lazarus.