Socialism-Don’t Believe the Hype
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
There is an increasingly amount of discussion going on about socialism vs. capitalism. Some are trying to convince folks that everything should be free. However, we know that there is no “free lunch”, at least, those of us know who have been around for a few years and have understood what it means to “earn your keep”. Even if the folks in charge or desiring to be in charge promise that you can get health care, higher education, or any number of other services and/or stuff for free, it will cost someone else. As Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain, said, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”
While looking up a term in my Unger’s Bible Dictionary recently, I happened to run across the “Community of Goods, Christian vs. Communism”. It was referencing the voluntary spirit of those new Christians in the book of Acts (4:32-35) who were combining possessions so that no one would suffer lack. It was only done in Jerusalem because of the many new believers who were very poor. Those who had more opened their hearts and shared with others. It was not forced in any way by the church or by the government, but was purely an unselfish act of love.
It has been proven that socialism is only a step away from communism, the political system instituted by Karl Marx in which the government, run by a select few (oligarchs), owns all means of production and all property and the people basically become slaves to the government. Socialism and communism have been responsible for the deaths of millions of people worldwide. The actual goal of these two forms of political systems is to eliminate God from all parts of society and to become sovereign rulers over all of mankind. Hmmm. Who does this sound like? Satan? I think so. Remember when the devil tried to tempt Jesus into worshipping him? (Matthew 4:1-11). To replace God and become ruler of the world has been Satan’s goal since he was cast out of heaven.
The following is taken directly from Unger’s Bible Dictionary and is very insightful into the egregious flaws of communism:
“(1) A realization of the blessing of God without God. (2) A realization of material blessings without spiritual values. (3) A realization of freedom through slavery. (4) The dream that artistic, scientific advancement and economic security can solve all man’s difficulties. (5) Asserting the highest collective good by denying the worth of the individual human personality. To the purely natural, materialistic-minded person communism is very attractive. However it strikes violently at Jesus’ teaching: ‘For what has a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?’ Matthew 16:26…..Murder, hatred, dishonesty, deceit and treachery–anything which actually forwards their cause is acceptable to them. Their materialism completely disregards spirituality. Communism in its growing power is a massive demoniacal system that constitutes perhaps the greatest threat to the Christian church that has ever arisen.
What a delusion is this that promises man happiness, freedom and security without God. It is another of man’s Utopian dreams vainly envisioning full realization of a desired destiny apart from his Creator and Redeemer. What even high-tide spiritual revival cannot accomplish in this present sinful world, communism vainly tries to accomplish apart from God and in open opposition to God. What tragic pitfalls it offers to poor sin-laden humanity! What a rebuke its zeal and consecration constitutes to present-day, lackadaisical, worldly, materialistically-minded Christianity.” Merrill F. Unger 1957
Thus to anyone who believes that a little socialism won’t hurt, let’s be reminded that, like many other promises made by people who refuse to consider the consequences of their actions, moving away from God is a very slippery slope from which we may never recover. Margaret Thatcher also said that “When people are free to choose, they will always choose freedom”. There is no freedom found like that which is found in serving the Lord Jesus Christ. God, help us to fight the good fight of faith and defend our freedom, both physically and spiritually.