Some Christians have embraced
Ayn Rand’s writing almost like a second Bible and talk about “freedom” and
“liberty” in a way that sends warning signals to those of us who are not in
love with her work. Some individuals who have joined Tea Party groups and other
conservative groups quote Atlas Shrugged like ideas like they use to quote
scripture. They seem to be as excited about her ideas as they were about their
own personal salvation experience. And
in many incidents are far more outspoken about “revelations” from her than God
Himself. How Ayn Rand’s philosophy is
nothing new and I would say does not warrant any review except for this
phenomenon of competition with the teachings of Jesus Christ? Should Christians
really be using Ayn Rand as some kind of pillar to build the nation and their
lives on? While it once would seem to have been a rhetorical question, now the
answer seems to be a resounding “yes” for some Christians involved in today’s
political movements.
I hate that. If you know someone who has been “enlightened” good luck in talking to them. Their actions will speak louder than their intellectual nimbleness and skills to help atheist Ayn Rand and her ideas resemble Biblical truth. And their enthusiasm and new vernacular for at least parts of her philosophy will be easily seen and very perplexing. They will be a long way from the “give Caesar what is Caesar’s” and “obey government authority” debates of the Founding Fathers. They will talk about “liberty” and the need for as close to no rules and laws as possible in a way that does not resemble the government or the laws passed by Moses or Patrick Henry.
Ayn Rand as a reference for Christians to help understand the following scriptures seems like it would never have a time or a following in all Christendom, but it has. I will post a few for Rand fans to explain how Jesus words correlate to Biblical truth and their wheels will immediately start turning to defend her philosophy or to disavow their allegiance to parts of her “truths”.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” – Matt. 6:24
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Mat 22:39b
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34
“Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” – Mat 5:42
“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.” Luke 10:33
“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.‘” – Luke 18:22
More than likely any lover of Ayn Rand will, and in the past has, dismissed any criticism of her. They are too invested in what they first considered near mind blowing revelations about what government and society could and should be. But Jesus and the scripture need no help from
After posting thios article a Christian brother who I have a great deal of respect for (considering I have just met him), sent me this link:
| It is Jesus Christ from w\Whom all liberty comes. Political liberty is based on, and flows from, the liberty we have in Christ who by His obedience has redeemed us from bondage to sin and Satan. That’s why Leviticus 25:10, a passage pointing toward Christ’s work of redemption, was put on our Liberty bell. MY OPINION ABOUT AFFILIATION WITH LIBERTARIANS HAS NOT CHANGED, BUT MY OPINION OF THE SAME IDEAS THEY HAVE ABOUT GOVERNMENT EXPRESSED IN THE BIBLE, AND THERE ARE SOME, IS BROADER. |
1 comment:
As a fan only of Rand's writing, anyone with any sense of education knows her political philosophy is largely discounted by most as serious political belief. Objectivism is generally not practiced by many in any liberty movement.
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