Jesus, Socialism & Politics

By Michael Griego on February 6, 2026 • ( 0 )

With an increase in social disarray, political incompetence and corruption, a reasonable question is how would Jesus perceive this political environment? Who and what would Jesus vote for? ♦

Would Jesus be a liberal or a conservative? Would Jesus be about social reforms or lean toward big business and capitalism?

Would Jesus vote Democrat or Republican? Perhaps Independent?

Would Jesus care for the poor and middle class or would Jesus side with the rich? Certainly Jesus would side with the immigrants, right?

Really, who would Jesus vote for?

It’s a silly question that misses the point of Jesus. (For that point, see note below.)¹

But I’ll address the silly question nevertheless: What political end of the spectrum would Jesus side with?If He could, how would Jesus vote?

Christianity and Good Works
There is a very strong theme in the modern era that our life is about loving our fellow man and protecting our earth.

This is almost Biblical.

The secular community, otherwise hell-bent on ridding the culture of God and the Bible, love to reference “Love thy neighbor” teaching and the call to be good stewards of the earth.

Actually, Jesus calls man to first do the following:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” and then, secondly, to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:35-40)

In that order.

You can’t take it out of context. As for being good stewards of God’s creation, the Bible says the following:

“The earth is the Lord‘s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…” (Psalm 24:1).

Yes, we’re to take care of the earth as stewards; but it’s not our religion. We should seek and love God first, then our fellow man. All else cascades from that.

So though a good thing, life is not about being nice people recycling and preserving rain forests. Good things indeed, but if we miss God in the process we are but fools who put more value on the created versus the Creator:

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools… (Romans 1:20-22)

Practical Implications
In our growing secular society with its popular man-centered perspective, many would defer to socialism, whereby a strong central government (the State) and social programs, systems, economic structures, and initiatives, are the solutions to societal order and problems.

But these plans and programs, in their extreme, have central State control of industries, funding sources and distribution of services. Resources are collected and/or confiscated by edict or taxation. Programs are deployed, even with good intentions, but can and often are classic case studies of bureaucratic inefficiencies and waste.

Additionally, depending on the degree of tax burden, there can be a large negative influence on incentives to work, innovate, and contribute.

Taken to its darkest edges, Karl Marx’ clarion call that “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” ² all sounds well and good but can lead to disaster under evil leadership. Recent history is filled with nations (USSR, China, Cuba, East Germany, Vietnam, North Korea for example) plundered by socialist/ communist governments who destroy initiative and quality of production through the elimination of competitive incentives and motivation.

Evil and corrupt communist regimes have been responsible for over 94 million worldwide deaths in the 20th century. (Information is Beautiful, 2013)

Why a whole generation has not been taught to connect the dots given clear historic evidence before us reveals the failure (success) of ideological-driven academic institutions.

No, authoritarian communism is not a good thing. Deadly even. But a democratic society based solely on socialism and its philosophy is prone to inefficiencies and stifled innovation. Even Sweden, typically held up as a socialism haven, is not all it’s made out to be.

The answer, therefore, for a free and prosperous social order? Reigned-in capitalism that allows market forces to effectively and naturally balance greed and risk, combined with a noble society following cultural mores and guidance of Judeo-Christian values of love of God, man, and all of creation.

No, not a theocracy, but a values-based society built upon well-taught Biblical principles and teachings.

So How Would Jesus Vote – What Policies Would Jesus Support?
Here are some issues and how I suspect Jesus would lean. All are based on Biblical principles:

Economics – maximize and reward production but allow for giving to the less fortunate (10% taxation)
Healthcare – invest and reward innovation and optimization of services with systems and processes that are excellent, noble, and functional. Allow provisions for the less fortunate, but don’t remove incentives or base the whole system on a minority.
Guns and War – prepare to fight and stand for what is good and right, protecting one’s home, family, country, and also those who cannot defend themselves against evil doers.
Immigration – provide sane and right provisioning for processing of those seeking new opportunities for themselves and families in new lands. Close the door at times, as appropriate, to successfully assimilate those legally admitted.
Government – elect noble leaders for short terms with talents to serve their fellow man. Remove from the public arena evil doers and those who have proven themselves to be self-serving, corrupt, and ignoble.
Religion – in a non-theocratic society, there is full freedom of religion; that is, the choice to worship as one chooses for themselves and their family. Any control or input from the State should be thwarted. Of course, a Judeo-Christian based culture honoring God, man, and freedom would allow for peaceful and free practice of all religions.
Education – remove nationally controlled mandates on secular, anti-Christian curriculum. Provide local or individual state jurisdiction and allow freedom of choice for development and attendance of school/education systems and curriculum.
Environment – profess truth not political bias and financial or ideological motivations. Call out State-funded academic and scientific charlatans and re-educate a generation that has been deceived. Preserve the land and waters as always being good stewards given privilege by God.
Morality – in a free society, morality is taught by parents in the home and modeled by civic and cultural leaders. Biblical mores (think Ten Commandments) are universal (God-instilled) standards that should be lauded, not torn down. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness should prevail; degeneracy and corrupted morality should not.

in any election, is there a candidate really that Jesus would get behind? Again, Jesus doesn’t judge policy, works, or intentions. He supports those that believe in Him and honor God and mankind. If a candidate is not with God, they’ve got a bigger problem with Jesus that their human policies and programs.

The good news is that some peoples and nations are getting wiser over time. As a nation, even the United States, re-awakens to the implications of its past and present sins and blessings, we will elevate an overflow of good leaders founded on Biblical principles.

Again, if we wisely keep our sights on knowing/loving God first, and then also our fellow man, we should be on a path toward redemption and remain a light or beacon to the world.

Are you focused on the right issues?
_______________________________
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. – Romans 1:25

¹Be clear and know that Jesus came to reconcile the entire world back to God. He did not come to earth at that time to reward the good and condemn the bad. He was God incarnate, born into human life for a single purpose – to die and conquer death. As all were separated from God, Jesus’ once-for-all sacrificial death as the perfect Lamb of God, was sufficient to satisfy the righteousness of Holy God. Those in this life now who believe and identify with Christ in faith, will live with God in eternity after their human days are over. In the meantime, though imperfect, Christ-followers (believers) are forgiven, and, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are tasked to know and walk with God and be lights to a world around them that needs the love, hope, joy, and freedom of a forgiven life.

²Karl Marx, 1875, first stated by Frenchman, Louis Blanc, 1851.