Is Socialism Biblical?

Is Socialism Biblical?
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

Politicians usually make promises in order to get elected to office. Financial conditions often top the list of people’s concerns, so politicians devote considerable discussion to this topic, particularly in election years that occur in the midst of economic downswings. This is one such year for the United States. Each political candidate claims that his plan is the best for the people. These plans typically differ based upon the particular economic ideologies of the candidates. There are varying economic schools of thought, but one idea that is proposed by some politicians is to seek to ease the financial woes of one group of people by taking money from another group (through taxation) and giving it to them. This is sometimes called wealth redistribution, but classically it is known as socialism. Socialism is the step between capitalism and communism.

Some have cited the teaching of Acts chapters 2 and 4 as proof that communism is biblical. This is simply not true. While it is true that some people were selling their property in order to assist their needy brethren (Acts 2:44,45; 4:32-5:1), it is not true that these decisions were made by the community or by some governmental entity. God acknowledged the right of these brethren to own and sell their property and to do with the proceeds as they so chose. We are told of a couple named Ananias and Sapphira, who sold a piece of property and gave part of the proceeds to the church (Acts 5:1, 2). Sadly, they represented themselves as having given all of the proceeds when in fact they had given only part. Their sin was that of lying. They lied about the amount [percentage] that they had given. Peter told Ananias, “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God” (Acts 5:4). Ananias and Sapphira were killed for their sin, but the fact remains that Peter, by divine inspiration, acknowledged the private property ownership rights of these two people. The second and fourth chapters of Acts teach us lessons about brotherly love and generosity, not about socialism and communism! Jesus, in his parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), completely destroys the concept of socialism. The Bible says that if one will not work, then neither should he eat (2 Thess. 3:10).

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com.