Karl Marx v. the Good Shepherd

Karl Marx was born 200 years ago this week, and the world has been decimated by his utopian, materialistic ideas.

Based upon the false "labor theory of value," Marx contrived a political analysis that declared that the "workers" had their labor stolen from them by their employers. His solution was to outlaw wage labor, and place all the capital in the hands of the workers themselves.

Marx criticized Christianity for providing the promise of blessings in heaven, thereby quenching the workers' desire for material gains in this life. Religion, Marx claimed, is the opiate of the masses.

But Marx is correct that the Gospel does not promise material blessings in this life. Jesus never promised His people that they would be rich and famous and healthy and secure in this fallen world.

Rather, the Good Shepherd promised everlasting life, salvation, forgiveness of sins, and peace with God. He promised His Little Flock the kingdom one day, and the resurrection from the grave.

People do not hear Christ's voice because of the material blessings He promises, for He promises none in this life. The true blessings of the Gospel are valued only by those whom the Spirit has raised from the dead!

No matter how good God is to sinners in material matters, they will never come to Christ on their own.

The companion to Marxist materialism is the so-called "prosperity gospel." False shepherds tell the poor sheep that God has promised them great material blessings in this life, if only they will perform the necessary work of sacrificial giving to the deceiving preacher!

Sadly, both Marx and Prosperity preachers exploit the grasping, carnal desires of poor lost people.