CHRISTIAN SOCIALISTS?
It is surprising to me that there are Christian’s who claim to be socialists as well, but it is true. Do a search on the internet and you will find numerous organizations and influencers that will try to convince you that socialism is the work of Jesus. Most of them are Catholic or Lutheran, but some are unidentified Christians. How could they be so confused?
For some Christians, their interest in socialism is connected to beliefs on what the Scriptures say about communal living. And then, by way of analogy, socialism has some similarities with the way in which (effective) churches and families routinely function. We’re raised in families, which can be wonderful examples of communal living. And Christians attend churches, which can be impressive examples of shared resources achieving laudable goals. As such, church goers and leaders may be especially prone to believe that socialism can routinely work well—or even, that it is the most desirable form of government.
On the surface, this might appear to be correct. “The people of Israel” and “the Early Church” lived under something of a self-imposed socialistic system. From the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 15:7-9 says: “If there is a poor man among your brothers…
be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: ‘the seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near’, so that you do not show ill will toward your brother and give him nothing…. Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart.”
While this Scripture speaks primarily of lending, it also implies outright gifts, given the command to retire unpaid debts every seven years. Leviticus 19:10 is even more explicit, while maintaining a work ethic for indigents: “Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien.” From the New Testament’s description of the Early Church, Acts 2:44-45 reports that “all the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need… ” Acts 4:32-35 is similar: “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had…. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”
This sounds similar to Karl Marx’ dictum: “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” In a word, the Early Church lived out socialism of a type: all income and wealth went into a common pool to be distributed by their leaders as necessary. Acts 2:47 reports that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Clearly, God was happy with this system. It is easy to understand why some have interpreted these verses as calling on believers to put faith in governments to redistribute wealth and uphold socialism as a national economic system.
But there are two key differences between the Biblical call for individual Christians and what the Bible has to say
about the optimal role of government. First, Israel and the Early Church are examples of relatively voluntary behavior. In stark contrast, government activity is coercive. (While the dictates of biblical community might be enforced within the group, people always have the option to leave.) The citizens of New York may not all agree to Mamdani’s agenda, but there is nothing they can do but move to another state or city.
Second, Israelite society and the Early Church were governed at local levels and on relatively smaller scales where socialism tends to be more effective. Government activity is often non-local and conducted on a large scale—both of which introduce an array of knowledge and incentive problems. With any form of wealth redistribution based on need, there are incentive problems for recipients—those in need. For instance, it is easier to discern true need and monitor the behavior of recipients in a smaller local setting; fraud and long-term dependency are less likely.
Further, to the extent that guilt is a factor, people are more likely to abuse a system run by a distant and impersonal government rather than people in their own communities. This is not to say all people will reduce effort in large-scale settings, but shirking becomes more likely when the individual is far from the authorities. Certainly, there are those who will work despite receiving little directly from the fruits of their labor. Historically, the Early Church, various communes, and Israeli kibbutzes have largely avoided shirking. But these people are driven by something in addition to economic incentives—a devotion to religious teachings and a form of work ethic.
During the 60’s there was a move by young people to form communes, but most of the communes did not last. The reason is the same for socialism, men are sinful and when not led by a relationship with Christ, wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit and a devotion to God’s laws and values, they will ultimately return to base desires of pride, power, prejudice, greed, slackness and irresponsibility.
Christians share certain common values: compassion for the disadvantaged, justice under law without respect to status, freedom to create and produce, and private property. Freedom and property rights lead to greater long-term well-being. And it should not go unsaid, lastly, that every economic and political system will eventually collapse where there are insufficient moral impulses to restrain human selfishness and encourage honesty and good deeds even when no one is watching.
The deeper problem is that socialist economies are structurally unsound. By replacing markets with centralized commands, they eliminate the price signals, incentives, and local knowledge that make productive life possible. The
results have been tragically consistent: Soviet collectivization devastated agriculture, Mao’s Great Leap Forward collapsed both food production and industry, Cuba has endured chronic shortages, the Khmer Rouge starved their own population by abolishing markets, and North Korea has lurched between famine and forced dependency. These are not incidental errors but the predictable consequences of suppressing voluntary exchange and concentrating economic power in the state. Any political economy that must enforce compliance to function is not compassionate. It diminishes the very human dignity Christians are called to defend.
Socialist countries have a staggering death toll resulting from political carnage and state-ordered deaths to political opponents: Latin America: 150,000; Eastern Europe: 1 million deaths; Vietnam: 1 million deaths; Africa: 1.7 million deaths; Cambodia: 2 million deaths; N. Korea: 2 million deaths; USSR: 20 million deaths; China: 65 million deaths.
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Galatians 6:2 encourages fellow believers to "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. As a community, we are bound together with the love of Christ." We exhibit that love through prayer for one another. Someone in our midst may be hurting, believing for a new job, seeking direction from God. When we come together in agreement for each other, we see God begin to work! We want to agree with you. We encourage our readers to let us know what we can all agree on for you. If you have a specific need that you would like us to pray for, let us know. The Word of God compels us to pray for one another in the community where we live. So agree with us as we pray for each other!
Community Prayer List
-Pray for those involved in protecting the border
-Pray for our troops in the Middle East
-Pray for President Trump, the entire Executive Branch
-Pray for the country of Israel and its protection from Muslim countries
-Pray for legislation that will benefit our country to pass
-Pray for the Supreme Court justices who are fighting for the Constitution
-Pray for the upcoming midterm elections
-Pray for the Peace of Israel
-Pray for revival and the spreading of the Gospel
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