Democratic mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani has quickly become one of the most visible faces of the new American left. A New York State assemblyman who rose to prominence through the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani has championed rent freezes, defunding the police, and expansive public control over housing and labor. His rhetoric — often sympathetic to anti-capitalist movements abroad and to Palestinian resistance slogans — has alarmed moderates who see echoes of Cuba and Venezuela.
This article contrasts Mamdani’s radical vision with the biblical worldview.
Universal Rent and Property Confiscation
Mamdani has proposed aggressive rent-freeze measures and has sympathized with movements demanding “universal rent”—a policy that would, in effect, make private property subject to perpetual state regulation. Biblical Contrast:
Biblical Contrast:
Scripture affirms private property and stewardship as divine trust: “You shall not steal” (Ex. 20:15) presupposes ownership. Land inheritance in Israel (Josh. 13–21) was familial, not collectivist. The law of gleaning (Lev. 19:9-10) required generosity but did not erase ownership. In God’s economy, mercy to the poor never cancels stewardship. The sharing of property and goods in Acts chapters 2,4 were voluntary acts to enable outsiders who came to Christ to live in Jerusalem to be taught the word -it was not an endorsement of socialism . Rent control or confiscatory policies, though well-intended, violate the biblical ethic of work-reward correlation and the moral right to enjoy the fruit of one’s labor (Eccl. 3:13).
Labor, Merit, and Individual Responsibility
Mamdani’s economic vision leans heavily on redistribution—rewarding outcomes rather than effort. Hence, he downplays the moral dimension of work and productivity, treating inequality as inherently unjust.
Biblical Contrast:
The Bible teaches that work was ordained by God (Gen. 2:15). Paul wrote, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). The parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) honors diligence and condemns sloth. God’s justice is proportional—reward according to faithfulness, not entitlement.
Defunding the Police and the Role of Government
Mamdani has repeatedly called to “defund the police,” proposing community-based alternatives and social service interventions. While addressing abuse is legitimate, his framework presumes that police are inherently oppressive rather than essential to civil order.
Biblical Contrast:
Romans 13:1-4 defines government as “God’s servant for your good,” ordained to “bear the sword” against wrongdoers. Civil authority, though fallible, is a divine instrument of order. The Old Testament judges and magistrates (Deut. 16:18-20) upheld justice, not anarchy. A biblical reform agenda would strengthen righteous policing, not abolish it.
Anti-Semitism, Hamas, and the Rhetoric of Revolution
Mamdani’s use of slogans such as “Globalize the Intifada” have drawn strong condemnation from many leaders .His rhetoric echoes revolutionary movements that have historically been violent (The second Intifada in 2000-2005 involved widespread violence)
Biblical Contrast:
To weaponize slogans in ways that can inflame violent city wide anti-semitism opposes the biblical command to be peace makers. (Matthew 5:9;James 1:20).
Parallels to Socialist Regimes in Cuba and Venezuela
Critics are concerned Mamdani’s worldview aligns closely with socialist regimes like Cuba and Venezuela that nationalized property, suppressed dissent, and promised equality but delivered poverty.
Biblical Contrast:
The Tower of Babel (Gen. 11) illustrates the danger of centralized control: when power concentrates, idolatry follows. Scripture delegates authority among families, tribes, and local elders—what some social thought calls subsidiarity. When the state replaces family, church, and community, it becomes a false savior.
The Question of Leadership and Experience
Critics note that Mamdani has never led a major organization or managed a complex budget. His rise has been ideological, not administrative. Vision without tested governance easily devolves into utopian experiment.
Biblical Contrast:
Leadership in Scripture is measured by fruit, not slogans. Joseph,Moses, David, and Paul were tested in obscurity before entrusted with nations or churches. Proverbs 24:6 teaches the need for “wise” counsel and 1 Timothy 3:6 warns against putting a novice in leadership. ” A novice may have zeal without knowledge and be swept up by ideological fervor that’s not practical enough to manage a massive budget.
Religion in the Public Square: Fear of Evicting Churches from Schools
Many Christian leaders express concern that Mamdani’s socialist leanings—shaped by secular humanism—could manifest as hostility toward religion in the public square. New York City has long permitted churches to rent public-school auditoriums for weekend worship, but socialist activists often argue that such arrangements violate “separation of church and state.”
Biblical Contrast:
Scripture upholds the right of God’s people to gather freely for worship (Heb. 10:25) and warns rulers not to exalt the state over divine authority (Dan. 3). Jesus affirmed, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). The role of government is to protect religious liberty, not to suppress it. History shows that socialist regimes—when unchecked—tend to replace God with ideology. A biblical worldview defends pluralism and conscience, recognizing that moral vitality flows from faith, not from state programming.
The Biblical Worldview of Economics and Justice
Contrasting Mamdani’s socialist state enforced ideology with the Bible reveals several enduring truths:
- God owns all things-not the state- humans are merely stewards (Ps. 24:1). Stewardship under God, not collectivism, is the divine model.
- Work and creativity reflect the image of God (Gen. 1:28; 2:15). The Creator designed humanity to cultivate creation as His representatives.
- Justice is moral before it is economic. Biblical justice means impartiality, honesty, and compassion—never envy or engaging in class warfare (Lev. 19:15).
- Mercy and generosity are voluntary. The early church shared possessions freely (Acts 2:44-45), not by forced redistribution or government decree.
- Civil order is essential to human flourishing. Law restrains sin; grace transforms hearts.(Eccl.8:11)
- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10). Without moral absolutes, “equity” becomes arbitrary power.
Thus, biblical economics unites moral virtue with free stewardship: generosity arises from inner transformation, not forced redistribution. When the state exalts itself as savior, it repeats the sin of Babel—uniting humanity in rebellion rather than redemption.
A Prophetic Call for Discernment
Christians must resist both materialistic capitalism that forgets the poor and collectivist socialism that enthrones the state. The gospel alone produces a just society because it transforms hearts. The cross—not coercion—is the instrument of true equality.
Socialism promises heaven without God; the kingdom of God promises righteousness through Christ. The former redistributes wealth; the latter regenerates hearts. One trusts bureaucracy; the other trusts divine providence.
Zohran Mamdani’s radical socialism stands in sharp tension with biblical revelation. His advocacy for rent control, redistribution, defunding police, and secular governance may arise from compassion, but is divorced from divine wisdom and breeds dependency, disorder, and repression. Scripture presents a higher vision—one rooted in personal responsibility, voluntary generosity, moral governance, and freedom of conscience.
Dr. Joseph Mattera is an internationally known author, consultant, and theologian whose mission is to influence leaders who influence culture. He is the founding pastor of Resurrection Church, and leads several organizations, including The U.S. Coalition of Apostolic Leaders and Christ Covenant Coalition. He also is the author of 13 bestselling books, including his latest The Global Apostolic Movement and the Progress of the Gospel, and is renowned for applying Scripture to contemporary culture.
