Just recently my son came to me stating that someone he knew compared Christianity to Communism. He stated that this person considered the two alike in core ideologies. I have to admit that sometime in my past I too was guilty of making this mistake. At one time I would state that Christianity is the purest realization of the communist intent. I have since learned that the two ideas are at the core not alike at all.
There is one reference from the Bible that some use to state that the Bible taught communism to some degree if not fully. This was in the book of Acts chapter 2 verses 44 and 45 where it mentions the people selling their things and distributing the wealth amongst each other. When paraphrased like this it certainly does come across as communism or at least what some people see as socialism and that it is a societal, or better put, a governmental system that takes from those that have more and distributes the wealth across those that have less. This is done in order to theoretically bring equality to each individual within the system.
I have some understanding of communism having gone through junior and high school during the 1980’s and seeing the collapse of the Soviet Union in the papers and on TV. Much discussion was made in school and in the media that I am able to understand the basic premises of socialism and communism. These are when a government is supposedly empowered to bring overall societal equality to every person within the system. At least that is how it reads on paper.
Simply put it is the forced distribution of wealth. Here in lies the opposition of the two ideas regarding Christianity and Communism (or socialism).
I was tempted to go to the internet to get some material for this discussion but have discovered that there are too many disagreements on what Communism is verses Socialism and the comparison of this ideology with Christianity.
Even with Christianity no one can agree either as to what that really is as many denominations or sects have arisen since Jesus ascended up into heaven. I have learned that many of these variant divisions have doctrinal and traditional teachings that are extra-biblical or are not biblically balanced in their application of Christianity. In other words too many are in disagreement and out of context with the Bible itself.
To get a balanced blend of information from any of these in order to lend any help to this discussion would be a daunting if not impossible task. With that said I am going to go forward based on my lifetime of direct reading and studying of the Bible as well as my comprehension as to what Communism is based on my past observations and education.
Acts 2:44-45 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
In order to justify this as communism one would have to take the phrase “And all that believed were together” out but more specifically it is the word “believed” that needs to be removed. It is this word that causes the ideas of Christianity and Communism to be completely different from each other.
As stated earlier Communism is essentially the forced distribution of wealth amongst those within the society. The concept as laid out in Acts chapter 2 shows a willingness to give from those that have to those who are in need. This is not giving to those who have less to bring them to an equal economic status compared to those who have more but instead it is a willful giving to those in need.
One has to keep it in complete context though. Remember the “believed” word? Well that word specifies that the distribution mentioned in this passage refers only to believers. The People in today’s society are not all Christians so that eliminates any potential to say that communism and Christianity are the same.
But some state that Jesus said we ought to take care of the strangers in need in Mathew 25. Indeed He did but again those who would give would do so willingly and because they were believers. There are many non-believers in society today who are forced to give to the needy through taxation. This is forced welfare and not a voluntary giving of the believer to the needy.
Sad to say that the believer in today’s society must pay through taxes to not only give to the needy but to unwillingly provide abortions and many other ungodly things that the bible does not approve of. Communism has already made its roots in our society here in America. I see it as only a short time for the severe slide towards the extreme. History is a good indicator of this potential.
It would seem that based on my writings here that I am against paying taxes and perhaps do not pay them. I put it this way to my son as to why I pay my taxes. I see it more like a car jacking or robbery where instead of protesting and potentially losing my life to the carjacker or robber I just give the money to them.
I have provided the following verses that are commonly used by my many to justify Communism based on what the Bible teaches. Remember to always keep these verses in proper context in regards to who the believers in Jesus are and what they ought to do out of willingness to serve God through serving others. God does not force the believer to serve others as Governments do today. Forced charity is not charity. That is what has become of our world today. Much like the prophet Isaiah warned against “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20). Today some may see welfare as charity but instead it is forced redistribution of wealth. In Biblical terms this is stealing and this violates God’s commandments.
Acts 4:32-37 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. (NOTE: not for equality but need)
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Mathew 25: 31-46 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Note: Willful giving demonstrates who the believers are in God’s economy. In society today we are not called to pay our taxes willingly but are by rules and regulations forced to do so. I phrased it as such as it is still difficult to find the clear law that directly states we have to pay the federal income tax. That is another rabbit trail altogether that others have handled in much greater detail than I have time to so I find no need to dig into that topic here.
The following passage is much abused in the church today. Some if not most people today state that we must roll over and do whatever any particular government states to do and to honor our current government as well. Verse three provides the context as to what a ruler is in God’s eyes. Those who are a terror to good works are not rulers per God’s allowance. Abortions, forced welfare and wars for economic gain and so on are not good works by the Bible’s definition.
I do see that the scripture does say to pay tribute to whom tribute is due but who is it due to in our country? Jesus said to “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's”.
What we do not do here in America is ask who Caesar is today? Again our societal logic fails miserably and is guilty of what Isaiah said “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20).
We have to remember that our Government is supposed to be dictated by “We the People” and not a King or some party.
With that said whose image is noted on our money today? Whose money is it?
A slight of hand occurred in this regards back in 1913 when our Government gave economic control to the Federal Reserve Bank, a private group of banks (Central Bank). Today every dollar is a Federal Reserve Note. Just look and read on any note to verify this. What that represents is essentially the superscription that Jesus spoke of. It is interesting that every dollar that is in circulation today represents a debt (debt = usury, not a Christian principle) owed ultimately to the Federal Reserve. So the money is not the American people’s like so many well meaning patriots like to believe but instead the money belongs to a private entity and not even our Government. That is how twisted this concept has become within our world today and how it demonstrates how far we have gone from biblical principles within our Society and government.
Romans 13:1-7 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Matthew 22:19-21 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Luke 14:13-14 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (NOTE: this again speaks to believers heeding the call of God to willingly reach out to the poor and needy. The actual context here is not physical but spiritual. It is not literally call people to a physical feast but instead it is a call to witness to the lost so they can be saved and live for ever with their Creator in heaven. That is a heavenly feast).
Matthew 19:19-22 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. (NOTE: this again speaks as to a willingness to give all to follow God. It is not a tax to a secular Government in order to provide welfare, abortions and so on).
In closing what it simply comes down to is a willingness to give all to God and the fruit of one who has done this is shown in a life of serving others for God’s glory. Again, this is done out of a willing heart and not forced upon the individual by any government or society. Our society today is made up of mainly non-believers by the pure definition of what a believer is per the Bible. So if these non-believers give to the poor either by taxes or even to charity outside of taxes this is what the Bible calls as dead works. These are works not done to glorify God but instead typically done for the glory of one’s self (I.e. self-satisfaction).
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