Was Judas the first Socialist? A Fresh Perspective

There was an interesting article describing how Judas was the first socialist. The reasons of claiming Judas as socialist are (1) Judas did not care about the poor, (2) he is a thief also (3) he himself hold the money bag. People like Mao, Stalin, Kim Jong Un, Hugo Chavez are often accused to take away the money from people, and they control the flow of the money as they like. No wonder, many hates socialist. John L. Bowan in his book Socialism in America argue that socialists are greedy, they consume the wealth of the nation. Bowan show the evidence as proof that since 1993, the tax in America have grown 52% faster than personal incomes, and since 1998, 80%. Well, the connection of Judas in relation to Socialism is really interesting but in this case I will argue from a different perspective by examining the theses and general perception of Judas and socialism. John describes when Jesus anointed in Bethany by the expensive fragrance of the perfume, Judas responded, "why was not this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages (12:5). Then John adds a comment in verse 6, "He did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, as keeper of the money". By this, can we conclude that Judas was a socialist explicitly from John's word? Up to this state, I have no issue with the clear testimony of Scripture. So yes, we can say Judas was a socialist if we agree with socialist definition, like what Bowan presented. 

I suspect there are some general negative perceptions about socialism because of some socialist leaders. However, it is a fallacy to argue that because of some socialists are corrupted, socialism and all socialists are instantly corrupts as well. Moreover, many people says that socialism will endanger freedom because they control with authoritarian power. However, this kind of argument is a sly rhetoric to swing the opinion of people. The big question is this. Does socialism take away the freedom or it just give another form of freedom? Does ability to do what people want (take for instance people want free-market of capitalism instead of socialism) is equated to becoming free? Suppose most of the people love socialism and the government play capitalism, can we say capitalism bring freedom more than socialism? Hence, to say that socialism endangers freedom is very relative in nature. The conclusion cannot hold water for both capitalism and socialism offer freedom but in a different way. In fact, socialism does not the sole main cause of poverty. It is true that the failure of socialist countries in Eastern Europe and Soviet Union in 1990s bring a negative image of socialism but as Peter Alcock says in his book Understanding Poverty that many argue that on that time actually, those countries were not in any event close to proper socialist countries yet, since they did not pursue collective policies to achieve egalitarians aim.

On the other hand, capitalism itself fall into the same problem and hence not immune of making poverty. Alan Mass says that capitalism "stifles" people's creativity because only minority is asked to put their mind to thinking about society for the purposes making themselves (particular group) richer, it's far from achieving common good. So eventually, both systems are the more the less the same for no perfect systems in this fallen world. The three categories of Judas: (1) did not care about the poor, (2) a thief and also (3) hold the money can be akin to capitalism as well. Base on these three criteria and implication thus, Judas was not only a socialist but also can be said as capitalist in a very broadest sense although in reality, they would be mutually exclusive as a governing, political and economic system. 

At the end of the day, is not about labeling people as socialist or capitalist that really matters. It's a true realization that Judas was indeed a sinner, including everyone of us. As Charles Hodge aptly says that sin is the most "simplest and most undeniable facts of consciousness." Everyone have inner conscience to condemn their sin, as Hodge argue. In other words, deep inside of us we know there is somethin wrong in us. Religion call it the problem of sin. We are all sinner. Ironically, many people hate Judas. But to hate Judas is to missed the point of the Gospel. The focus should not be on Judas but Jesus, who came to deal with "Judas" like symptoms and problems in the life of each and everyone of us. Otherwise we will be just like Nazi-Germany who did uses Judas as propaganda or vehicles to stereotyping Jews in general. The more we hate Judas, unconsciously we will be stirred to hate Jews (Anti-Semitism). Now, let us return to the question, was Judas the first socialist? could be, but eventually, it is depend on our definition and understanding of socialism in the first place.