SOCIALISM
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
Today there are many people who seem be concerned about the poor and less well-off who contend for a system of economics called socialism.
Today there are many people who seem be concerned about the poor and less well-off who contend for a system of economics called socialism.
How many of you could define socialism?
I think most people have a general idea, but for us the important thing is understanding what the Bible says about it.
Does the Bible have anything to say about socialism?
Does the Bible have anything to say about socialism?
Isn’t socialism just a system of political and economic thought?
The sad truth is that men are corrupt and desire power, and socialism is one-way politicians seek to gain power by means of corruption.
But because Jesus desires that we work hard, we must reject socialism.
What is Socialism?
What is Socialism?
Socialism is a system of economics and politics promoted by Karl Marx, the famous 19th century German philosopher.
Marx believed that capitalism reinforced greed among the rich and hurt the poor. One of his solutions was to advance the idea that private property should be abolished.
Well, since property must belong to someone, if it doesn’t belong to individuals, to whom should it be owned?
The answer is an obvious one: property, under Marx’s teaching, should belong to the government.
Now this concept, for it to work, would require a government free from greed, free from corruption, and free from elitism.
Once all property belongs to this virtuous government, the government would then own the means of production.
Now, in this utopia, you no longer work for a paycheck so you can provide for your family.
Now you work for the government, and the government “spreads the wealth” to everyone as they have need.
No one has any needs because the government meets all our needs.
One definition offered by self-described socialists: “A political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.”
Socialism/Communism is a political system based on the assumption that the world is economically divided into two classes: the owners of production vs. the workers/producers; the rich vs. the poor; the “haves” vs. the “have-nots.”
The object of socialism/communism is to use the power of the government to take away wealth from those who have it and redistribute it to those who do not.
It is alleged that this ideology will redress extant social injustices fomented by the privilege the “haves” exercise over the “have-nots.”
In this way, society’s ills will be cured, and it will usher in a utopian paradise on earth.
I admit this is a simplified and incomplete description; nevertheless, I believe it hits the mark of truth.
DISCUSSION
FIRST, SOME CAVEATS
FIRST, SOME CAVEATS
Christian should seek the welfare of their communities.
Christian should seek the welfare of their communities.
And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray unto Jehovah for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Christians should specifically help the poor.
Christians should specifically help the poor.
Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; 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. Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me. And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.
My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing; and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool; do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?
If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?
only they would that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.
We should be generous, not stingy.
We should be generous, not stingy.
The Christian Case Against Socialism
The Christian Case Against Socialism
Effort does not correlate to value.
Effort does not correlate to value.
Socialism says that all effort is equal, and therefore all effort should receive the same pay.
Doctor vs. McDonalds worker
Participation trophies
Scripture teaches that you can work hard and develop expertise.
Scripture teaches that you can work hard and develop expertise.
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
Diligent = effort
Plans = expertise
Both lead to abundance.
God commands that we work to provide for ourselves.
God commands that we work to provide for ourselves.
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.
JESUS AND SOCIALISM
JESUS AND SOCIALISM
A common assumption is that Jesus supported socialism/communism because of His advocacy of helping the poor.
A common assumption is that Jesus supported socialism/communism because of His advocacy of helping the poor.
Some also cite the miracle of the loaves and fishes to show how Jesus wanted everyone to have an equal.
However, Jesus never envisioned a world (prior to His advent) in which the poor would not exist.
For ye have the poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can do them good: but me ye have not always.
Jesus did not expect the church to redress all the wrongs of society before His return because some wrongs would not be addressed until His return
Jesus did not expect the church to redress all the wrongs of society before His return because some wrongs would not be addressed until His return
and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.
What about the Bible in general?
What about the Bible in general?
Does the Bible support socialism/communism’s desire to legislate wealth redistribution?
Does the Bible support socialism/communism’s desire to legislate wealth redistribution?
Under the Old Covenant, which was specifically for the nation of Israel (Deut. 5:2-3), God legislated a ten percent tax called a tithe (Lev. 27:23); it was to be used to support the priesthood, not to redistribute wealth to the poor.
God had a process for helping the poor
And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather the fallen fruit of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am Jehovah your God.
But it didn’t include wealth redistribution.
But consider…
having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
The word “blotted out” means to remove, obliterate, or erase.
The Old Covenant was obliterated by Christ!
Because of this, there are no more tithes that God expects anyone to levy, government-sponsored or otherwise.
Some might object and say that since God provided government under the Old Covenant, then that government should serve as a model for government today.
Some might object and say that since God provided government under the Old Covenant, then that government should serve as a model for government today.
On the contrary, God’s purpose for using a government under the Old Covenant was to ensure the coming of the Messiah.
So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
A “tutor” (Greek: paidagogos, lit. a little-child leader) was a person who escorted children to a teacher.
Today, we could call them school-bus drivers.
In other words, the law was a school-bus driver to escort us to our Teacher and Messiah, Jesus.
The paidagogos becomes obsolete after he completes his task.
This means that the government God used under the Old Covenant is now obsolete since there are no more Messiahs coming; that government had a unique purpose in the history of the world that no government will ever fulfill again.
Some may ask, “Doesn’t the Bible teach us to obey the government?” Yes.
Some may ask, “Doesn’t the Bible teach us to obey the government?” Yes.
Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: for he is a 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 a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing. Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well. For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
These passages command us to obey the law and even pay taxes.
However, the Bible also teaches that if these laws contradict God’s law, we have an obligation to obey God first
But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.
This in no way suggests that God sanctions a specific form of government.
Can advocates of income redistribution find support in the New Testament?
Can advocates of income redistribution find support in the New Testament?
God desire the church to collect funds
Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
While God desires that we give, it is to be a free-will offering, not a government legislated obligation. It was this kind of giving that was done in……
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need.
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need. And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
This giving was voluntary, not mandatory. Peter makes this clear
While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God.
In other words, Ananias was under no obligation to give this money.
His sin was in lying about what he gave.
Having said that, does the church have the obligation to help the poor?
Yes, but it is to be done as we have opportunity.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.
A MAJOR CONFLICT
A MAJOR CONFLICT
While socialism/communism conflicts with religion in many ways (its founders, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, were atheists), the heart of its message is to employ the power of government to force economic change on societies by centrally controlling their capital through state ownership of property.
While socialism/communism conflicts with religion in many ways (its founders, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, were atheists), the heart of its message is to employ the power of government to force economic change on societies by centrally controlling their capital through state ownership of property.
Neither Jesus nor the Bible endorses such a system.
To suggest otherwise is a failure to understand Jesus, who teaches His disciples to help the needy as a personal responsibility and as a work of the church.
Christ Application
Christ Application
I think this is the biggest problem with Socialism.
We all want the poor to be taken care of.
But Socialism seeks to do so in a world without God.
Socialism strips man of his personal responsibility to work for his living, and it hollows out his ability to trust in God alone.
And ultimately, isn’t that what Christianity really is about?
But Socialism says we have another provider, the community and, eventually, the government.
Have a need? No need to pray...the government will help.
Hungry? Can’t pay your bills? You don’t need to trust God; give Uncle Sam a call and he’ll take care of you.
God commands that we rely on Him. In the socialist vision, everyone relies on the community (i.e., government).
In the Biblical vision, everyone relies on God the Provider.
In the Biblical vision, everyone relies on God the Provider.
Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:
He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he.
Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.