Socialism and Christianity

Acts 11:28 "And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul."

The time of this occurrence was at the time of Claudius Caesar who reigned as emperor from 41-54 A.D. Not going into too much in detail with history, Claudius has expanded his empire by over 1,000,000 people. There were large areas in drought. Famine was a result. Claudius spent much effort in controlling the famine by draining Fucine Lake. The venture failed.

One of the first questions to ask is "Does scripture align with history?" There are many instances where they seem to disagree, but archaeology oftentimes has vindicated the Bible as history and a source of truth! Yes, there was a famine during the reign of Claudius and yes, people were in need! It is to be noted that the government (Caesar) failed the people, but Christians came through! It's because, unlike Caesar, Christians depend on God to provide!

2 Chronicles 32:29 "Moreover he (God) provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much."

It's God who does the distribution of wealth. He puts it on men's hearts to be charitable. Because of the famine in Judaea, every man according to his ability, sent relief to the brethren (Acts 11:29 above).

Charity is good. It's how love is shown to others, and after all, love of neighbor is a corollary to The Greatest Commandment!  Charity is voluntary generosity or helpfulness.  It involves empathy for those in need (The Golden Rule):

Luke 6:31 "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

If you are starving what would be your desire? For others to help feed you! What did Jesus say for Christians to do? To help others when they need help! The Golden Rule is another method of "loving others".  Therefore, charity is an act of love and relief to those in need is how we demonstrate to God that we love him! As such, a financial umbrella for the needy is not a government function, but a Christian's obligation as a method of demonstrating love to God!

First off, the Christians were not directed by Caesar to provide relief. It was God. Agabus was inspired by the Holy Spirit of the drought and presumably that the Christians in Judaea need help. Claudius tried it his way. It was to be a long term venture, but it failed. However, the Christians, out of love, came through!

"Every man according to his ability"!  This sounds Marxist and perhaps that's where Marx read it!

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs! (Karl Marx;  Critique of the Gotha Program; 1875)

Giving is not a Marxist initiative. It's a requirement of God. However, there is a problem in how this initiative is to be achieved!

The first is that the citizen is to determine his own ability to provide. It's a personal decision between him and God. In Christianity it's the Holy Spirit which directs. In Marxism it's the atheist dictator!

Secondly, is the "gift" itself. In Christianity, it's charity which is an outcome of love. In Marxism it's a tax produced through coercion by regulation and dictates. As such love is not associated with relief to the poor!

Thirdly, the disciples sent relief to their brethren. It was fellow Christians who received the help. To qualify for assistance there was one requirement: that those receiving the help love Jesus.

Poverty is a punishment to mankind because of disobedience:

Genesis 3:17 "And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

Poverty is a consequence of sin. Man brought poverty on themselves. All men have sinned so all men are punished.  Did Jesus come to redeem men from the consequences of sin? Not at all! He came to save men from their sin. It's a spiritual salvation, not a physical. Jesus, by a quick miracle, could have ended poverty forever, but he said "The poor will be with you always! (John 12:8). Jesus fed the poor many times. He provided drink as well. But he was the food and drink which he was bringing. It was spiritual food and drink: his body and blood given for us!

However, if Jesus had ended poverty, pain, sickness, etc. then how would we show love? The world needs catastrophe so that we can provide relief to those in need. By giving food and drink we're showing love and that's what Jesus is all about! Famine and catastrophe are causes which turn hearts to Jesus. (Example: The World Trade Center terrorist act). The Great Depression worldwide turned hearts one of two ways: 1) To the government and socialism of the Soviet and Nazi varieties, or 2) to Jesus Christ! Fools turned to Stalin. The wise turned to Christ! It wasn't Roosevelt who saved America. It was God. In fact many economists believe that FDR impeded prosperity just as Obama is!

One last things the disciples did in giving was directing their own giving (verse 30). Men of God with spiritual credentials (elders) directed the giving. Likewise, the relief was sent to those truly in need (Judaea). All of it was sent there and all was used for relief. There were no high paid bureaucrats skimming their part off the top first. 100% went to help those in need!

The church decided who needed the help and then they efficiently helped. No one was overtaxed to help those who didn't use their abilities. Sure, those according to their abilities made a sacrifice which is what charity is all about. We are to give cheerfully:

2 Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

Taxes causes grudges. Taxes are a force used which sucks the cheer out of giving! Especially when those with so-called generous hearts want you to do the giving (sic)!  Liberal giving is good, but liberals want you to be the one who does the giving! It's your sacrifice (those with ability) who make liberal hearts feel so loving for their own so-called generosity.

Marxism seems to be ameliorating. It seems that they want to level the playing field. That's what the Christians did for Judaea. However, the difference is in whose spirit "giving" is credited. Is it God who is the author of love or is it taxation? You know the answer! Socialism is an instrument of coercion. Those who gain are the government's elite. The royalty in socialism are those who make our decisions for us. As such "decisions" are no more than government directives to enhance the power of those in charge.

Minorities are the biggest victims of socialism. Just as slaves had cradle to grave care, socialism enslaves them with the same. In slavery some were raised out of bondage and even in socialism some become successful. However, the masses for which the socialists claim to care so much, remain slaves to Democrats and socialism.

Many Christians are for progressive parties because they perceive taxation as a form of generosity. They are too shallow to care that a socialist method of ending poverty is abortion and euthanasia! It is to be noted that the disciples helped those in need in Judaea. Unlike the government who came to help (Herod killing infants), Christians help by love!