“But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12 ESV
There is much discussion in the news these days about socialism. What should a Christian think about socialism as a form of government? Does the Bible have anything to say? Yes, it does. To understand socialism as a form of government, it is easiest to first examine communism. Socialism is simply a lighter, or less strict, version of communism. Communism is a form of government based on a secular worldview. Communism in its purest form is based on three foundational tenants.
First, that human government is the highest and final authority, charged with fixing the struggles of humanity. There is no place for a sovereign (big G) God within a communistic worldview. Government and its leaders have the final say in all things. The church is subservient to the government and viewed as a therapeutic pastime for the people. It is allowed in a state-sanctioned manner as long as its ministers do not conflict with the final authority of the government.
Second, is the communist ideal of the idea of equality of possessions. The central focus of communism is to take the overall wealth and possessions of a nation and forcibly redistribute that wealth to create a sustainable equality for all living in the nation. The goal is to eliminate the wealthy and the poor, creating a large flourishing middle class.
Third, that this sense of equality and care for the poor should create a strong sense of brotherhood and joint commitment to each other as citizens. Hence the constant naming of communist governments as “the people’s republic …” and citizens of such countries calling themselves brother, sister, or comrade.
Though socialism can be defined in more or less strict ways, all the same pillars of communism are present. First, there is always the powerful message that government, and the unlimited increase of government, will produce the answer to our societal needs and struggles. If only we could fund one more government program or give more power to the office that exists, the problems of society would surely be made better. If religion contradicts government, then religion should be limited in scope and authority because it does not deal in reality, but is only therapeutic imagination.
Second, socialism exists to take from wealthy persons and companies to forcibly, through taxation, redistribute that wealth to people with less. The aim is clearly stated to eliminate the rich and the poor to create a large middle class through government redistribution.
Third, a strong sense of brotherhood and unity is supposed to grow up among those banding together against the rich and using governmental power to better the lives of many.
In a vacuum that ignores biblical teaching and history from the past 100 years, these ideals seem like a utopia for modern secular people. It gives them hope that they can indeed cast off the teachings of the Bible, hate the rich, and use government power to confiscate the wealth needed to live a middle-class life with little personal work effort. The problem with this thinking is that biblically and historically it will only ever lead to sadness, isolation, poverty, and death because every principle is in rebellion against the God (capital G) who lives, has created the world, and is sovereign over our lives. Let’s examine these principles briefly to see the problems.
First, the God of the Bible exists, and we must live in accord with His will to live under His blessing. Living in rebellion against God and living to intentionally deny the existence of God will only lead to ultimate brokenness and death. People all over the world understand that there are countless problems and struggles outside of their control. They know there are only two possible ends to act upon those things which are too big for them – God or government. Most people trust government to fix their big problems before they trust God, but the immediate problem is that government is made up of people and all those people are corrupt sinners. Forming sinners into large government departments and giving them unchecked power, will never lead to a virtuous end.
Second, is the issue of forcible redistribution of wealth. I say forcible because people with wealth, land, and possessions will not willfully give those things to the government apart from force being used or threatened. With communism, this looks like, “Pay this tax, forfeit your land, turn over ownership of your company, etc. or you’ll be fined, thrown in jail, or killed.” Socialism uses similar penalties with as much legal strength as can be gathered. The Bible is not silent about private property. Private property ownership is enshrined in the eight commandment, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). To steal means you are taking something that does not belong to you. All through the old and new testaments of the Bible, land and property ownership through agreed on purchase price or family inheritance is upheld. For property to exchange hands it must be purchased, inherited, or given of free will. As long as property is owned by an individual, it is theirs to do with as they please, within moral bounds (Acts 5:4).
The idea of the powerful annexing the land of the weak against their will is only done by the most wicked of rulers (Ahab with Naboth’s vineyard 1 Kings 21). The idea of the poor banding together to take all the land of the rich to redistribute amongst themselves, is completely unknown to the Bible. Jesus is continually with the poor, but He does not tell them to rise up. Instead, He taught to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, that the things they need may be added to them (Matthew 6:25-34). The ideal presented in scripture is not an equality of wealth (outcome), but an equality of opportunity to work and succeed. A major part of the incentive to work is that a person gains ownership of what they have worked for. There must be a reward for work.
The Bible is also explicitly clear about the corruption of the human heart. No government made of sinners will ever confiscate wealth and then equitably redistribute it. Those with unaccountable power always use that power to somehow enrich themselves. This is why the governing class of every communist country is fabulously wealthy.
Lastly, the idea that hatred of the rich and a passion to use government power to take their wealth and redistribute it will create brotherhood and community is absurd. The notion that the government could confiscate your property, by taxation or fiat, any time that you may offend the wrong powerful government official only creates a blanket of fear. The early church showed the opposite of this attitude when by joyful free will generosity they sacrificially gave to meet each other’s needs. Here there is true brotherhood and needs are met.
Hope in the face of life’s biggest struggles does not rest with government, but with the Lord Jesus. He has created this world and ordered it. When we recognize His Lordship, private property rights, the value of earning through honest work, and the virtues of generosity and charity – it is possible to have a fair and just society. The best possible society in this life is one ruled by fair constitutional law. We are blessed to have such a constitution in the United States of America. However, the constitution was written to govern a generally virtuous and God-fearing people. The more we move toward godlessness and avarice, the more ungovernable we will be. Let us seek first the kingdom of God, that these things may also be added unto us.
May we be a godly people in the world,
Pastor Vic