ssued such a command?_ On
the contrary, Socialists are enjoined by their leaders not to give their
money away in charity lest they should help by this means to prolong the
existence of the present social system. The truth is that, as I showed
in connexion with the fallacy of representing Christ as an Essene, there
is no evidence to show that He or His disciples practised even the
purest form of Communism. Christ did not advocate any economic or
political system; He preached a spirit which if applied to any system
would lead to peace among men. It is true that He enjoined His disciples
to despise riches and that He denounced many of the rich men with whom
He came into contact, but it must not be forgotten that His immediate
mission was to a race that had always glorified riches, that had
worshipped the golden calf, and by which wealth was regarded as the
natural reward of godliness.[742] Christ came to teach men not to look
for present reward in the form of increased material welfare, but to do
good out of love to God and one's neighbour.

I do not doubt that in the past such men as Kingsley and J.F.D. Maurice
sincerely imagined that they were following in the footsteps of the
Master by describing themselves as Christian Socialists, but that the
present leaders of Socialism in England are Christians at heart is
impossible to believe in view of their attitude towards the campaign
against Christianity in Russia. Never once have they or their allies,
the Quakers, officially denounced the persecution not only of the
priests but of all who profess the Christian faith in Russia.[743] Listen
to this voice from the abyss of Russia:

We very much ask for prayer for the Church of Russia; it is passing
through great tribulation and it is a question whether spiritual or
earthly power will triumph. Many are being executed for not denying
God.... Those placed by God at the helm need all the prayer and
help of Christians all over the earth, because their fate is partly
theirs too, for it is a question of faith triumphing over atheism,
and it is a tug-of-war between those two principles.[744]

And again:

I look upon the persecution of the Russian Church as an effort to
overthrow Christianity in general, for we are governed just now by
the power of darkness, and all that we consider sinful seems to get
the upper hand and to prosper.[744]

Yet it is for this power that the Socia