In this post I cover the remaining eight biblical reasons to oppose Socialism and Communism and, at the same time to advocate for a biblical approach to government, work, and economics.
9. God’s design for government is for limited tasks, tasks that include preserving righteousness and justice, not to provide for needs of a person, nor to take from one person to give to another. Rom. 13:1-4
Related to #8 is this reason: God does not give to government the purpose of controlling production, distribution, work, problem solving, etc. He has ordained government to do just a few key tasks, according to Rom. 13:1-4: “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. …do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.”
Socialism and Communism typically move in the direction of controlling their citizens so they conform to the purposes of the state and, as they do this, often turn upside down the stated purposes of the government. They often end up rewarding the law breaking and penalizing the law abiding.
10. Creation of jobs and wealth. Prov. 16:26; 31:18
As businesses flourish, they tend to need more workers and both owners and workers are motivated to work and grow the business even more to provide for all employees. The result is not only providing goods and services, but also creating more wealth for people to flourish. God designed it to work this way to His glory (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 8). Just think of how the invention of the iPhone and its development over the past couple decades has created jobs and wealth, as well as opening up opportunities for all kinds of people throughout the world that they did not previously have.
Conversely, to disincentivize business owners and employees as Socialism and Communism tend toward, prohibits creating jobs and wealth. They also tend to disincentivize creativity and invention.
11. It is a good and biblical goal to seek to have and preserve freedom for people to make decisions and to act in ways that they want, which is the heart of freedom. Exodus 20:3-7; 1 Sam. 16:7; Mat. 15:18-19; Philemon 14
True religion or faith emerges from the heart, includes believing and doing what a person truly wants to believe and do, and includes worship of the true God as revealed in Scripture. Though political freedom is not absolutely essential for such religion or faith, nevertheless, freedom brings a greater level of flourishing. Since centralized governments (such as Socialism and Communism) tend toward the removal of freedom (they tend toward strong control), they oppose this good and biblical goal.
12. We have no biblical examples of the approval of Socialism or Communism. Acts 2:45; 4:32-37; Acts 5:4
It has been common to point to the early Church in Acts 2:45 and 4:32-37 as examples of Socialism or Communism since many believers were selling land and other possessions to help those in need. However, Acts 5:4 makes it clear that all which was being given remained the property of the people who owned it before selling it and even once they sold it, they could determine how much of the earnings to give to those in need. This is not Socialism or Communism. Instead, it is an example of the kind of generosity or safety net that can take place when people have flourished enough to have resources for their own families (1 Tim. 5:8) and for those in need (Eph. 4:28).
13. The biblical approach to government, work, economics, production, and distribution does not in any way encourage greed or envy, but the opposite (Acts 2:45; 4:32-37; 20:35; 2 Cor. 8-9; 1 Timothy 6:6-19: et. al.).
Conversely the history of Socialism and Communism have had a tendency to encourage envy and bitterness, that is, covetousness, over the lack of equal outcomes and resources. These theories, therefore, encourage the breaking of the tenth commandment (“You shall not covet….”).
14. The New Testament, specifically 2 Thes. 3:6-10, prohibits one aspect of Socialism and Communism, that is, the reception of life’s provisions without it being tied to work.
In verse six Paul addresses a problem that had been present in Thessalonica when Paul first visited there and when he wrote the first letter to them. Their conduct was disorderly, that is, it was idle, not given to work, and not ordered according to the Scriptural truth revealed to Paul and passed on to them: “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you position yourself away from every brother who is walking in disorderliness and not in accord with the tradition which they received from us.”
Notice that Paul writes in the name (authority) of Jesus Christ. Paul was convinced this was what Jesus Christ taught and demanded in regard to the provision of life’s necessities. Life’s provisions were typically to come through one’s work, even though in dire situations they could temporarily come through charity. This opposed what many freedmen in the Greco-Roman world believed at this time, that work was beneath them. Yet, this was not to be so with followers of Jesus Christ. Paul even went on to say in verse ten: “For also when we were with you, this we were repeatedly commanding you: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”
What Paul writes here is consistent with what is learned in Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15; and Psalm 8, namely that humans, created in the image of God, reflect God through their work, which is part of their dignity, helps them flourish, and helps others flourish.
15. Given what we just discovered in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, we see that Jesus Christ, though a proponent for generous charity for those who are in need (Mat. 25:31-46), is just as much a proponent for work as the best means of provision.
Put another way, Jesus advocates a typical means of provision that comes through work, not through a Socialist or Communist approach.
16. Given the above 15 reasons, a sixteenth follows: Love demands Christians oppose Socialism and Communism, and advocate for a biblical approach to work, government, production, and distribution.
Love for God and for others demands that followers of Jesus Christ not only generously provide resources that meet the very essential needs people face (Mat. 25:31-46; Rom. 12:20; Titus 3:14), it also demands that we help people flourish through work that long term provides for their needs, the needs of their family, and for those who are in urgent need. Simply-put, love demands Christians oppose Socialism and Communism, and advocate for a biblical approach to work, government, production, and distribution.
Joyfully Advocating For Biblical Economics, Government, And Work,
Tom
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