Is Christianity socialist? Or, does the Christian faith promote socialism?
There are many (many) books written on Christian economics; they seem to range over an entire spectrum of possibilities of economic morality. I have not read them; I have read the Bible. Many who believe that the Bible leans toward socialist fiscal policy often quote the book of Acts and the verses that say things like: “They shared everything … as anyone had need …” What follows is a very brief treatise in opposition to that notion, based on those verses and many others in the New Testament.
The 2nd chapter of Acts describes the Followers of Jesus (not just the Apostles; I think there were 120 together in one place per Ch. 1) being filled with the Holy Spirit, and some accounts of the new spirit-guided life ca. 33 AD. Most of this chapter is about how and why they were witnessing manifestations of the supernatural, much of it being a speech by the Apostle Peter. A few verses at the end of the chapter reference the communal nature of the believers at that time:
Acts 2:44,45 says: “And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need”. And again in Acts Ch. 4: “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need”. (RSV)
It is important to note here the difference between a historical account, a general proverb of wisdom, and a command of God. It is usually clear from context which is which, and there are some literary cues. The four gospels are very intertwined mixtures of all three, but the general words of wisdom (typically quotes of Jesus in the gospels) are preceded by a phrase like: “the kingdom of heaven may be compared to …”, historical accounts will have specific names of people or places, and commands are likely preceded by something like: “You have heard it said, but now I tell you”. The above verses from Acts are historical accounts. They may also be a good guide, but they are not really commands.
Parables give insight to God’s nature, may guide us in right thinking (and behavior) but also often have some depth or multiple meanings. Look at the parable of the workers in the field – all paid the same, for different amounts of work! That would certainly seem to be promoting socialism! But please read with an open mind (pray first, if you are so inclined) (from Matthew Ch. 20):
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.” – MT 20:1-16 (RSV)
Yes – all paid the same … but emphasis is on time. There is one end of the day, there is one payday … and, the words “So the last will be first, and the first last” have an eternal sense to them. Most Christians acknowledge that this is talking about the stark difference between Biblical Christianity’s doctrine of repentance being everything, and “good works outweighing bad works” – the principle in many other religions. This answers the question does someone who does evil, and then repents at the very end, get the same heavenly reward as someone who works diligently for the kingdom of God their whole life? Yes.
Many verses in the New Testament encourage charity, and the last half of Matthew 25 has some powerful verses guiding us toward Charity “… for I was hungry and you gave me food”. But the beginning of Ch. 25 has two fascinating parables involving an unequal distribution of wealth:
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13)
This, I think, relates more to spiritual preparedness than material wealth, but still, the symbolism is there of those with less being called foolish and being shut out of the marriage feast, which symbolizes heaven. And, the other parable from Ch. 25 seems to relate slightly more to material wealth:
“For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So, take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’
Again, I think this relates more to spiritual efforts than material wealth, but again, the wealth is not evenly distributed in this parable, and, in both of these parables. The householder, or the master, is symbolic of God, not an evil colonialist oppressor.
So, we have looked at some historical accounts and some parables. Now, what about a command?
In Paul’s 2nd letter to the Thessalonians, there is a command: “If anyone will not work, let him not eat” – the fact that this is a command is indicated in that the word “command” is used three times, as well as the word “obey” (note that this does not apply to one who cannot work, only one who will not work):
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing. (2 Thess. 3:6-13)
And, note the gravity of the verses that follow (2 Thess. 3:14,15):
“If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother”.
Now, if you think the point about the difference between a historical account, a general proverb, and a command, is a “bridge too far” – observe the words of Jesus in Luke 22:36: “He said to them ‘but now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one”. (RSV) Buy a sword? – is it just a historical example, or what we are all supposed to do?
If that’s not just a historical account, but is also to provide guidance for Christian conduct, then we should all buy weapons (most would say this would imply guns; they say “he who lives by the sword will die by the sword” applies to guns in this age). No, I don’t think that’s the point there – rather, it was to fulfill a prophecy of the Messiah in the Torah (per Luke 22:37 and Isaiah 53:12).
Some conservatives point to the failure of the Mayflower compact (a fairly socialist plan for their colony) as a failure of socialism. But the Pilgrims were a very spiritual people who experienced great miracles, such as a native American walking into their camp and saying (in English) “welcome Englishmen”. But, it turns out, the funders of pilgrims (the “Merchant Adventurers”) were a group of elite English investors who required them to follow the Mayflower compact. This is typical: wealthy elitists require “common folk” to live a life of austerity that they themselves could not. One investor went one the trip – he died 3 months after arriving.
And, socialism invariably becomes communism. The USSR claimed to be socialist, NAZIs claimed to be socialist. Vladimir Lenin stated that socialism is the precursor to communism. Note also that Lenin was a Satanist, Marx was an atheist, and Saul Alinsky has a dedication in the beginning of his book Rules for Radicals (said to be a guide book for the 0bamas and C7intons) to Lucifer.
Many Bible scholars say the Bible tells us in the last days there will be a global government, the government of the anti-Christ. The book of revelation says “… so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name” (REV 13:17). This suggests total government control of commerce, which as we understand today, implies socialism or communism.
Why can’t we just be more generous to the poor and more fair with all workers? That’s what America has always been. Yes, there was slavery in America’s first 90 years. Slavery was mainly an institution of wealthy British; the northern states were against slavery from the beginning, and that’s where America started. The Pilgrims had no slaves. And, the United States has given more to feed the hungry in developing nations around the world than any other nation (and possibly more than all other nations combined). Not only do we not need to make ourselves as poor as they are in order to help them, but it is because we are wealthy that we are able to help them.
It is to the Christian that the Bible says “let him who has two coats give one to him who has none” It does not say: let him who sees someone with two coats take one away and give it to his friend. Combine a study of history and of the Bible, and I think it will be clear that not only is socialism not Christian, but it is historically connected with evil.