Did the First Church Practice Socialism?

by Louis A. Turk, B.A., M.Div., Ph.D.  

Most Christians have heard many bad things about Socialism, and therefore  if questioned will respond that they are against socialism.  However, in  reality they do  not even  know what  socialism is,  and in  their ignorance they lend their willing support to socialism  every day.  For instance,  most Christians do not realize  that "public education"  is simply a  more socially acceptable way of saying "socialized education."  The fact is most Christians believe in, and support, socialized education. And since public education is in fact socialism, it should not be  surprising that socialism is being promoted in our public school systems as the  "politically correct" economic system.  Our children are being taught that capitalism is wrong and socialism is right.  The questions of the hour are,  Should we  be alarmed at what our children are being taught? and, Should Christians  support socialism?
 

Socialism Defined

 Socialism is "any of various theories or systems of the ownership and operation of the means of production  and distribution by society or the  community rather than by private  individuals, with all members  of society or the  community sharing in the work and the products" (Webster's New World Dictionary). In other words, under socialism the government owns all natural resources  and businesses,  and the government decides who gets the profits.

The History of Socialism

 Socialism is the economic system  that underlies Nazism and Communism.  Naziis short for "National Socialist  German Workers' Party."  U.S.S.R.  stood forthe "Union  of Soviet  Socialist Republics."   Socialism  is also the economicsystem presently being  espoused by the  American Humanist Association  as theeconomic  system  for  a  one-world  government.    Says Humanist Manifesto I,affirmation number fourteen:
 
 The  humanists  are  firmly  convinced  that existing acquisitive and profit- motivated society has shown itself to be inadequate and that a radical change in  methods,  controls,  and  motives  must  be instituted.  A socialized and cooperative economic order must be established to the end that the  equitable distribution of the  means of life  be possible.   The goal of  humanism is a free  and  universal  society  in  which people voluntarily and intelligently cooperate for the common  good.  Humanists demand  a shared life in  a shared world.
 
While such words sound good, the fact  is that the history of socialism is  a history of poverty and oppression.  Is socialism a Christian practice?   Beginning on page 12 of the  July/August1995 issue  of Socialist,  the voice  of the  Socialist Party  USA, appears anarticle entitled "Answering  the Religious Right  with Biblical Socialism"  by Patrick McCallister.  According to this socialist writer:
 
 No  leader  in  the  conservative  Christian  churches  would  deny  that the Christians  of  the  1st  century  lived  cooperatively,  according  to  Acts IV....But when challenged  to justify their  embrace of capitalism  with this Biblical example of the socialist  model, they resort to theological  contor- tions instead of  truly examining the  relationship between Christianity  and socialism. Paul, in the 6th  chapter of his letter  to Timothy emphatically states  that "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil..."  The love of money is better know today as "economic incentive." In the famous parable about the rich man (Luke 16) Jesus warned of the  nega- tive effects of wealth accumulation,  and the hardened attitudes towards  the less fortunate it can cause.   But capitalism has a declared need  for enough wealth seekers to keep the economy working. There is  in fact  no defense  of capitalism's  premises to  be found  in the Bible.   Capitalism promotes  the pursuit  of personal  wealth, but the Bible states  that  "The  earth  is  the  Lord's  and the fullness thereof." (First Corinthians) The idea that the earth and its resources can be subject to per- sonal ambitions cannot be made to fit with the Bible. Perhaps someday this  will be understood  by the conservative  Christian com munity, and they will  join with the rest  of us Christian Socialists  in the struggle for economic justice.
 
If what McCallister  said above were  true---that socialism is  taught by theBible and  is "economic  justice"---, then  I would  want to  be a  socialist. However, does the Bible really teach what McCallister says it teaches?

Did the Christians in Acts IV Practice Socialism?

The passage of Scripture that McCallister believes teaches socialism is Acts 4.32-35:
 
And the multitude of  them that believed were  of one heart and  of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was  his own; but they had all things common.  And with great power gave the  apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon  them all. Neither was there any among them  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 down at  the apostles' feet: and  distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
 
Some people even claim that the above verses teach communism (which is a particularly radical form  of socialism).   However, the context  of these verses reveal some truths that are very much the opposite of socialist ideas.

The Civil Government Was Not Forcing this Benevolence

The  first  glaring  difference  between  socialism  and  what the church at Jerusalem practiced is that the members of the church at Jerusalem were  willingly out of the goodness of their hearts sharing all that they had with  fellow Christians whom they personally knew  and who were of like beliefs,  practices and goals.   Socialism, on the other  hand, forces people against  their will (by taxation backed up by gun-toting soldiers) to give their  hard-earned money  to  strangers  whose  beliefs,  practices  and  goals  are  often  very offensive.  For  instance,  under  the  present  socialist  welfare system of the United States,  hard-working,  god-fearing  people  are  being forced to support drug addicts and  prostitutes.   Furthermore, we  are being  forced to  support the atheistic  doctrines  of  the  Unitarian  Universalist church (commonly called Humanism) in our public (socialist) schools.

The Early Church Taught Private Ownership of Property

In verse 34  (quoted above), and  also in verses 35-37, we  read of people selling their land and other possessions, and donating the proceeds to be used as the church saw fit.  This would not be possible under socialism, for  under socialism the government owns all property, and private ownership of  property is banned.  Furthermore, in Acts 5.1-11, we read of a couple named Ananias and  Sapprirathat sold a possession,  kept part of the  price for themselves, then  donated the rest  as though  it were  the full  price, thus  lying.   For this lie God killed them both  (which shows what  God thinks about  lying).  Peter's  final words to Ananias before Ananias fell down dead were:
 
 Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart  to lie to the Holy Ghost, and  to keep back part  of the price  of the land?   Whiles it  remained, was it  not thine own? and  after it was  sold, was it  not in thine  own power? why hast thou conceived this thing  in thine heart? thou  hast not lied unto  men, but unto God. (Acts 5.3-4)
 
Note that Peter said that "while  it remained," that is, before Ananias  sold the land,  it was  his "own."   This  is not  true under  socialism where  the government owns the land. Note also that Peter said that after they sold the land it was in their  "own power."  In other words, the money they received as the price of the land  was also their own property, and they alone had the power to decide how to use (togive or not give) that money.  Their sin was in lying about how much they  had given, not in  refusing to be  a socialist.   Since the other  members in that church had sold everything and had  given all to be shared in  common, Ananias and Sapphira were also being thieves by partaking of the commonly shared goods without contributing their fair share.  Socialism, on the other hand,  teaches that wealth should be distributed to everyone equally---even to those too lazy to work and  who therefore contribute  nothing to society.   Thus we  see tha tthere was  no socialism  practiced in  the church  at Jerusalem  at all---just Christian charity.

The  Early  Church  Did  Not  Believe  That Civil  Government should Redistribute Wealth

Peter taught that people who will  not work do not deserve any  wealth whatsoever, not even wealth in the form of  food.
 
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would  not work, neither  should he  eat.   For we  hear that  there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.  Now them  that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with  quietness they work, and eat their own bread. (1 Thes. 3.10-12)
 
How totally different this is  from socialism which advocates all  the welfare programs in  this country  which are  feeding the  lazy at  the expense of the diligent.
 

The Bible Does Not Teach that "The Love of Money" Is Synonymous With "Economic Incentive."

If  I  put in  40 hours  working for  an employer,  I want  to be paid for my efforts.  This does not mean that  I love money.  It is simply  recognition of the fact that I must have money  to feed my family.  My incentive  for working for an employer is to obtain the money I need for my family. There is  nothing wrong with such an  incentive.  "For the  workman is worthy of  his meat" (Mat10.10), and the "labourer is worth of his hire" (Luke 10.7).  Even if a man starts his own business, he still is working for someone else,even  if  he  himself  has  employees.    He  provides a product or service in exchange for economic compensation.   It is unreasonable to expect  someone to provide a product or service to people  they do not even know for free.   Economic incentive is not "the love of money" and is not wrong.  As has been pointed out by so many Bible scholars before me, money itself  is not the root of all  evil; it is the "love  of" money that is the  root of all evil.  Money rightly used is a marvelous servant.  But money loved before God and neighbor becomes a fearful master.
 No man can serve two masters: for  either he will hate the one, and  love the other; or  else he  will hold  to the  one, and  despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and  mammon.  Therefore  I say unto  you, Take no  thought 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 meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the  fowls of  the air:  for they  sow not,  neither do they reap, nor gather into barns;  yet your heavenly  Father feedeth them.  Are ye not  much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto  his stature?  And  why take ye  thought for raiment?  Consider the lilies  of the field, how they  grow; they toil  not, neither do  they spin:   And yet I say unto you,  That even  Solomon in  all his  glory was  not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God 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?  Therefore take  no thought, 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 the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Take  therefore no thought for the morrow: for  the morrow shall take thought for  the things of itself.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Mat 6.24-34
 

It Is Socialism That Is the Love of Money!

Socialists politicians obtain the votes of the  lazy and the greedy by promising  them a share in the booty they will  rob from the diligent righteous by  unjust taxation once they get into office.   They teach people that it is the  government that gives them the power to get wealth, in opposition to the Bible  principle that it is God that gives the  power to get wealth (Deut 8.18).   This putting money before God and neighbor is at one and the same time a love of money  and a hatred of God and humanity.   Socialism is legalized robbery, and  is therefore a  sin against  both God  and man.   A  person that  votes for socialism, whither  it  be  in  the  form of  socialized education, socialized medicine, socialized charity, or some other  form of socialism, is participating  in the crime of robbery.  He is  attempting to use the government officials  as armed robbers to forcefully take money from  other people against their will to  pay for his own expenses.
 

Socialism Robs Employees of Protection Against Unjust Employers

The purpose of government  is to enforce justice,  that is, to punish  those that misuse liberty to abuse (rob, steal, cheat, deceive, etc.) others.  If an employer refuses to pay an employee  his due wages, that employee should  have the right to sue said employer, and thereby the employer be forced to pay  the employee what is  justly his.   Under socialism the  government itself becomes the employer, against whom  there is no recourse.   History has shown  that inevery  country  where  socialism  becomes  the  economic system, it is corrupt businessmen  who  become  the  behind-the-scenes  political leaders.  In their positions of power, they become  the only "legal" employers, stamping  out all competition from their competitors.  Their employees then become their slaves.These slave employees have no one to  turn to in time of grievance.   They can no longer quit to go to work for a more fair employer, for there are no longer any other employers.  They cannot  buy products made by other employers'  companies,  for  all  other  companies  are  now  out  of  business.  It is under socialism that  corrupt businessmen  political leaders  get richer  and riche rwhile the masses are stomped underfoot.  We have only to look to any communist county to  see that  this is  so.   Poor working  people need  to realize that socialist leaders are not really on the side of the working man.  To the  contrary they are robbers who want  to become our political leaders so  that they can enact laws to  force us working people  to hold still while  they rape and rob us.  After they cut off our  right arms to eat for their own dinner,  they will throw into our dinner plate our own bones, and expect us, like dumb dogs,to lick their hands in gratitude.
 

The Bible Does Not Pit Employees Against Employers

While socialism  calls workers  to a  class war  against employers,  thereby causing division in  society, the Bible  calls for employers  and employees to unite  in  cooperation  for  the  common  good  of  all men.  Contrary to whats ocialists would have us believe, neither the status of employer nor  employee sinful.  Employees should remember that they may someday become employers, and employers are merely  employees of their  customers.  Employees  and employers need each other, and  are together servants of  God and their fellow  man.  As Lord (Boss)  over all,  God has  the authority to,  and does  in fact,  tell both employer and employees how to act toward each other.
 
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good  and gentle, but also to the froward.  (1 Pet 2.18)

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy  of all honour, that  the name of  God and his  doctrine be not  blasphemed.  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and  beloved, partakers of the  benefit. These things  teach and exhort.  If any man  teach otherwise, and consent  not to wholesome  words, even the  words of our  Lord Jesus Christ,  and to  the doctrine  which is  according to  godliness; He is proud, knowing  nothing, but  doting about  questions and  strifes of  words, whereof cometh envy, strife,  railings, evil surmisings, perverse  disputings of men of corrupt minds, and  destitute of the truth, supposing that  gain is godliness: from  such withdraw  thyself.   But godliness  with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith  content. But they that will  be rich fall into  temptation and a snare,  and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money  is the root of  all evil: which while  some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sor- rows.  (1 Tim 6.1-10)

Servants, obey in all  things your masters according  to the flesh; not  with eyeservice, as  menpleasers; but  in singleness  of heart,  fearing God:  and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as  to the Lord, and not unto men;  knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.  But he that  doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong  which he hath done: and  there is no respect  of persons.  Masters,  give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master  in heaven. (Col 3.22-4.1)

Servants, be obedient to them that  are your masters according to the  flesh, with fear and  trembling, in singleness  of your heart,  as unto Christ;  not with eyeservice,  as menpleasers;  but as  the servants  of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same  shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.  And, ye masters, do  the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master  also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.  (Eph 6.5-9)

Exhort servants to  be obedient unto  their own masters,  and to please  them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.  For  the  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching  us  that,  denying  ungodliness  and  worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously,  and godly,  in this  present world;  looking for  that blessed hope, and  the glorious appearing  of the great  God and our  Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniq- uity,  and  purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2.9-14).
 

 The Bible Disagrees With Socialists Concerning the Nature of Man

The Bible teaches that God created  perfect humans, but that they sinned  of their own free choice, thereby bringing  a curse upon the earth and  passing a nature inclined to sin on to their offspring (us).  Therefore, people left  to themselves will lazy around on the job, steal from their employer, and if they become the employer will defraud  their employees out of their  wages, subject them to unsafe working conditions, and  abuse them in many other ways.   There is only one cure to this sin problem, and that cure is the Lord Jesus  Christ. To rescue us from the consequences of sin (death and Hell), God sent His  only begotten son, Jesus, to die on the cross in our place for our sins.  His promise is that whosoever shall trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall be  born again (permanently changed) and saved from Hell.  The free enterprise economic system (commonly know as capitalism) which made America the most wealthy nation on earth, acknowledges the depraved nature of man by confirming the right to private ownership of property ("Thou shalt  not steal" Ex 20.15), and by rewarding the diligent for their hard work.
 
 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt  not muzzle the ox that treadeth  out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. (1 Tim 5.18)
 
Furthermore, the free enterprise system punishes the sin of laziness by  letting the lazy go hungry, thereby motivating them to work. Would you trust strangers with your checkbook?  If you would you are a  fool, and a fool and his money are soon parted.  Realizing that governments are made up of depraved men just like other men, the free enterprise system refuses  to allow the government access to the peoples' checkbooks. Socialism, on the other hand, denies  the depraved nature of man, and  claims instead that the only reason men do wrong is because of their environment.  If only people were properly educated,  socialists believe, they would always  do right.    (Of  course,  socialists  close  their  eyes  to  the fact that many criminals  are  highly  educated  people.)    Furthermore,  the  hypocrisy  of socialism  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  socialists  are  generally also elitists.  That is, they believe  that they are by birth intellectually  superior to others, and that therefore only they are capable of making  decisions. Ordinary folk, socialists believe,  do not even have  enough sense to chose  a doctor, or to chose a school for their children, or to decide if a street person is worthy of help or is just a lazy bum. No, they will chose a doctor  for us.  They  will decide for  us what school  our children will  attend and what they will be taught.  They will force us to support that lazy, alcoholic, drug addict bum better than  we support even our  own family.  After  all, socialist say, it is society's fault that he is the way he is.
 

Conclusion

Socialism is not Christian;  it is Satanic.   It is exactly the  opposite ofwhat the Bible teaches.  McCallister  did (almost) make one true statement  in his article:
 Most conservative Christians believe that  they are living today in  the "end times"; they  see socialists,  and other  progressives such  as feminists and environmentalists, as being in league with the Devil himself, and  themselves as the last  vestiges of "God's  Army" resisting the  diabolical plot against God and themselves.
 
We conservative Christians do believe that this is the end time.  While we  realize that  most  of  the  followers  in  the  socialist,  phony feminist, and phony environmentalist movements  do not  know what  evil they  are espousing, we do believe that their leaders are in league with the Devil himself, and that they are conspirators  in a  diabolical plot  against God  and against  Christians.  However,  we  must  point  out  that  robbers  aren't  truly  social, lesbians certainly  aren't  feminine,  and  worshipping  the  environment  makes one an idolater  not  a  true  environmentalist.    Furthermore,  robbery, sodomy and idolatry represent moral putrefaction not progress. Giving their organizations deceptively grand-sounding names is typical of socialists; but it cannot  mask the stench of their immorality.  Socialism is falsely called "politically correct," but truly called satanic.   Isaiah 5:20-24 gives socialists  good warning:
 
Woe unto  them that  call evil  good, and  good evil;  that put  darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for  bitter!  Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!  Woe unto them that are  mighty to drink wine, and men of  strength to mingle strong drink:  Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away  the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth  the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away  the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
 
To learn how to enter into the true light, read "Ye Must Be Born Again."

(C) Copyright 1994 by Louis A. Turk. All rights reserved. You may  reprint this article, provided you do not edit it in any way without the author's consent, and provided this paragraph is printed at the end of the article.  Other publication requires advance permission of the author.