New York’s Fall: When Compassion Turns to Control

What Socialism Really Means

At its core, socialism is the redistribution of wealth and government ownership of most industries, typically around three-fourths of manufacturing. It dresses itself in the language of compassion and equality but always ends in the same place: control. The “free” services it promises are never truly free. They are paid for by taxpayers, whose earnings are swallowed up by government programs and bureaucratic waste.

In modern America, socialism has been rebranded as “entitlements” and the pursuit of an easier life. Many believe it means help for the poor, health care for all, and a fairer society. But these slogans hide a system that punishes productivity, suffocates innovation, and rewards dependency. What looks like compassion in theory becomes coercion in practice.

Scripture is clear that man must work for his needs and desires; nothing in life is truly free. Even gifts, though freely received, are paid for by someone else. As 2 Thessalonians 3:10 reminds us, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” The Bible’s wisdom stands in direct contrast to socialism’s false promise that the government can provide for all without cost.

America’s founders foresaw the danger of concentrated power. That’s why they built checks and balances into the structure of government, a principle rarely taught in schools today. Each branch holds the others accountable, preventing impulsive or abusive policy. This safeguard has historically protected the nation from radical experiments like full-scale socialism. It’s why figures like Senator Bernie Sanders have never been able to push their agenda through Congress unchecked.

But New York City is not a nation, it’s a single urban ecosystem, one drowning in corruption and activist governance. Its sheer size gives it the illusion of self-sufficiency, but politically, it’s fragile. That fragility is what makes Mamdani’s rise so dangerous.

The Socialist Playbook

Mamdani’s campaign promises read like a socialist fantasy: rent freezes, a $30 minimum wage, “free” public buses, government-run grocery stores, universal daycare, and a $5 billion corporate tax. These ideas sound compassionate and prosperous but they are poison wrapped in velvet. Each one chips away at economic freedom while feeding the illusion of prosperity.

We’ve seen this story before. Venezuela once boasted one of the wealthiest economies in South America. Then socialism came. Today, its inflation sits around 337.5%, with an average annual income of less than $8,000. Food shortages, destitute homes and economic despair define a nation that once thrived on oil and opportunity. The Heritage Foundation ranks Venezuela among the lowest in global economic freedom, proof that socialist dreams end in ruin.

So why do people crave what clearly destroys societies? Because they’ve never lived through the consequences. They haven’t stood in food lines only to go home empty-handed. They haven’t waited months for basic medical care. They haven’t lost the ability to provide for their families because their nation’s “benevolent” government took control of their livelihood.

Misusing Scripture to Defend Control

Some even twist Scripture to justify socialism, citing Acts 2:44-45: “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.”

But that passage describes voluntary generosity within the early church, not forced redistribution by government decree. The believers gave freely, out of love for one another and devotion to God’s mission. Rome did not compel them to surrender their possessions. Socialism, on the other hand, demands obedience through coercion. It removes charity and replaces it with control.

For now, socialism may seem to “work” in cities like New York, just as a reckless credit card user seems stable while debt piles up. America has a high “credit limit,” so it can sustain bad spending longer. But the bill always comes due. Rent freezes, tax hikes, and “free” services cannot last forever. Someone must pay. And when the collectors come calling, it’s the middle class that will feel the squeeze first.

The Church Must Wake Up

The Church cannot stay silent while socialism spreads under the banner of compassion. Too many believers have accepted the lie that faith should stay out of politics. Yet Scripture is full of leaders, Daniel, Joseph, Nehemiah, Esther, Solomon, David, who shaped nations because they answered God’s call to lead.

If Christians in New York City were unaware of this election, it wasn’t because they lacked information. It was because they lacked engagement. The signs were everywhere, billboards, headlines, and debates, yet the silence of the Church speaks louder than any campaign slogan.

If the Church does not stand up now, it will be stepped on later. And the next step may be fatal to freedom. This isn’t about fear, it’s about stewardship. God has entrusted believers to guard what He has given. That includes our government, our communities, and our liberty. America’s future depends on whether the Church chooses to speak up, or stays asleep while socialism gains another city.

The next move is up to you, Church.