Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (born 15 January 1809 – 19 January 1865) was a French anarchist, socialist, philosopher, and economist. While he believed he advocated community and individualism he was considered by many to be the "father of anarchism" and was the first person to call himself an anarchist.
He became a member of the French Parliament after the Revolution of 1848 seeing himself as a federalist.
Pierre-Joseph and the Bible
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, though the first to declare himself an anarchist, using that term, admitted:
- “Charity is recommended to us as a reparation of the infirmities which afflict our fellows by accident, and, viewing it in this light, I can see that charity may be organized; I can see that, growing out of solidarity itself, it may become simply justice. But charity taken as an instrument of equality and the law of equilibrium would be the dissolution of society. Equality among men is produced by the rigorous and inflexible law of labor, the proportionality of values, the sincerity of exchanges, and the equivalence of functions, — in short, by the mathematical solution of all antagonisms."
- "That is why charity, the prime virtue of the Christian, the legitimate hope of the socialist, the object of all the efforts of the economist, is a social vice the moment it is made a principle of constitution and a law; that is why certain economists have been able to say that legal charity had caused more evil in society than proprietary usurpation.”[1]
Had Pierre-Joseph Proudhon understood the true nature of the early Church and the gospel of the Kingdom, he may have turned in his copy of Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei for a Bible for in some ways he did not seem far from the kingdom of God.
Had Pierre-Joseph Proudhon understood the true nature of the early Church and the gospel of the Kingdom he may have turned in his copy of Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei for a Bible. But if forgiveness is an element of God's principles Pierre-Joseph Proudhon might not have said, "Property is theft" and "The possessions of the rich are stolen property."
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon did also admit that, "I build no system. I ask an end to privilege, the abolition of slavery, equality of rights, and the reign of law. Justice, nothing else; that is the alpha and omega of my argument: to others I leave the business of governing the world." Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Jesus who was the Christ or anointed king of the kingdom of God did build a system with structure that was not unlike that of Abraham and Moses. It would set the captive free if the people lived by faith, hope, and charity rather that force, fear, and fealty. He would "proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family."[2]
If man will not be ruled by God he will be ruled by His adversaries.[3]
There are those who claim that Romans 13 establishes that all governing authority ultimately comes from God and resisting this authority is seen as resisting God's plan and will result in judgment. But Jonathan Swift stated that, "For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery"
The Declaration of Independence in America seems to agree that governments derive their "just power from the consent of the governed".
While certainly there are those who would disagree John Locke, in his Second Treatise of Government clearly wrote, "Men being, as has been said, by Nature, all free, equal and independent, no one can be put out of this Estate, and subjected to the Political Power of another, without his own Consent"
That is why there has been so much emphasis in the Bible about not giving consent[4] by word nor by deeds.[5]
Others voice similar sentiments from Abraham Lincoln.[6] to Lysander Spooner[7]
Exodus 23:22 "If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you".
Genesis 4:7 "Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it."
Footnotes
- ↑ Works, Volume 4, By Pierre-Joseph Proudhon a French socialist, politician, philosopher, economist and the founder of mutualist philosophy.
- ↑ Leviticus 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
- ↑ "Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants". and "Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants". William Penn, widely attributed to the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn (1644–1718).
- ↑ Consent Not
- Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
- Exodus 23:32 "Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods."
- Deuteronomy 7:2 "And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:"
- Deuteronomy 7:16 "And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee."
- Deuteronomy 13:8 "Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:"
- Numbers 30:2 “If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”
- Judges 2:2 "And ye shall make no league [covenant] with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?"
- 1 Kings 20:8 "And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not [unto him], nor consent."
- Psalms 83:5 "For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:"
- Proverbs 1:10 "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
- Proverbs 6:2 “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”
- Proverbs 13:20 "He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."
- Ecclesiastes 5:5 "Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."
- Hosea 6:9 "And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness."
- Zephaniah 3:9 "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent."
- Matthew 5:33-37 “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
- Matthew 15:18 “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”
- Luke 14:18 "And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused."
- Romans 7:16 "If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good."
- 1 Timothy 6:3 "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;"
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
- James 5:12 “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”
- ↑ Table as a snare
- Psalms 69:22-23 “Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
- 23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.”
- Romans 11:8 "(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
- 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
- 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.”
- Proverbs 23:1 "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat."
- Proverbs 12:11 "He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: But he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. 12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: But the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit."
- Exodus 23:32 "Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee."
- Exodus 34:12 "Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:"
- Deuteronomy 7:16 "And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee."
- Judges 2:2 "And ye shall make no league [covenant] with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?"
- Proverbs 1:10 "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not... 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:"
- Proverbs 6:2 “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.” Swear not
- Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."
- 2 Peter 2:3 "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." See corban
- 2 Peter 2:14 "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:... 19 "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
- Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
- James 4:1 "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
- 1 Timothy 6:9 "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
- Revelation 18:11 "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, ... and slaves, and souls of men."
- "Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?" Isaiah 40:21 is about the message of John the Baptist who was "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God" Isaiah 40:3 The Way of the LORD is not the covetous practices of the world from which the masses must repent.
- To avoid the "snare" of the legal charity of the welfare state which makes the word of God to none effect bringing mankind and their children back into captivity as human resources.
- ↑ "No man is good enough to govern another man without that other man's consent" — Abraham Lincoln, according to Forbes.
- ↑ "If taxation without consent is not robbery, then any band of robbers have only to declare themselves a government, and all their robberies are legalized."