Recently I saw an interview with a woman from Venezuela.
In the interview she said socialism has made Venezuela a place where "life is not worth living."
As she spoke further, she made it clear her comment was not about socialism making it nearly impossible to find the basic necessities of life. That was a given.
She meant something more profound.
She meant that socialism had stripped the Venezuelan people of what it means to be human...
... because it had taken away the incentives to create and serve and live by faith in an effort to contribute value to the lives of others...
... and, in her view, the deadening impact this had on the soul made life not worth living.
Her perspective provides an overlooked reason why socialism is a system of failure and ruin.
The fact that socialism can't deliver economically is one thing.
But more attention needs to be given its dehumanizing effects.
A system that thrives on coveting and taking from others under the guise of 'justice' -- as socialism does -- turns people into brutes.
But God has made us for something more.
He's made us in His image so we would co-create with Him...
... and take risks to develop the world by faith with the gifts He's given us...
... as a way of living in connection with others and glorifying God.
This is the adventure He's called us to.
And it's a big part of what makes life worth living.