Does the Bible Support Communism?

Introduction

    Recently I have encountered people who claim the Bible supports communism or even that it teaches communism.  I'd like to explain Communism and what the Bible really teaches.

Basic Tenets of Communism

    Let us turn to a reputable source for this information: The Encyclopedia Britannica Online.  In their article on Communism, the Encyclopedia Britannica states,"It aims to replace private property and a profit-based economy with public ownership and communal control of at least the major means of production (e.g., mines, mills, and factories) and the natural resources of a society."  It also calls Communism a form of socialism.  Let's break some of this down:

  1. Replace private property with public ownership.
  2. Replace profit economies with communal control.
  3. Communal control of means of production, as listed, means government control.

Evidence Cited from Scripture

    Those who wish to be apologists for socialism and ultimately communism tend to cite the following reasons they think the early church was Communist:

  1. Often, Acts 2:44-45 (CSB) "Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need."
  2. As well, Acts 4:32, 34-35 (CSB) "Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.  For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need."
  3. In Mark 10 we see Jesus telling the rich young ruler (or a rich person) to sell all his goods and follow Him.
  4. 1 John 3:17 (CSB) "If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him?"

Rebuttal

    The first point to make is that when one reads Acts 5, one finds that these things being sold were being done as a gift to God and charity to others.  Peter's rebuke of Annanias indicates that God was judging him for lying about how much it sold for, not about whether he sold it or not.

    Second, there is no verse of Scripture that indicates that we must sell all our possessions.  Note that Jesus didn't tell everyone to sell their possessions and give to the poor.  In Mark 10, Jesus poked right into the rich young ruler's problem: holding on to possessions more than to God.  Indeed, when Jesus told him to do this, he went away sad.  Jesus could have easily transitioned into saying that we should all sell all we have, but did not.

    Now I will say here as a caveat that I think many Christians living in the United States are spending way too much money on many possessions they don't need.  That new $1,000+ fold-open smart phone?  You don't need it.  That $2,000+ gaming PC?  You don't need it.  That $50,000+ BMW luxury sports car?  You don't need it.  (I say this to judge myself, as I love BMWs but cannot justify their price tag.)

    Should Christians be doing more for the poor and needy?  Absolutely!  I even see worship musicians spend $3,000+ on a guitar, and they claim it's "needed" for "worship."  First, you're likely not at a church that is a major Christian music recorder.  But even if you were, 99% of those who listen to you play are not going to be able ot tell the difference between a $750 and $3,000 guitar.

    But, strictly speaking, is there a verse of Scripture that says we must all sell all our possessions? No.  And that wouldn't really be Communism.

    Third, the early church was communal ("all things in common"), not Communist.  Communism gives the government control of all of our lives and possessions.  It does not achieve its lofty ethereal goals in practice, either.

    Fourth, Karl Marx did not and would not support Communism for religions or religous purposes.  His famous quote about religion being the "opiate of the masses" makes it very clear that he did not believe in God and thought religion is dumb.  In the mind of Karl Marx, claiming the early church was Communist would be laughable at best.  Likely, he'd imagine insulting images of people on their knees in prayer, "Lord, give us our opiates!"

    Now does Sciripture teach against greed and gluttony?  You bet!  1 Timothy 6:8-10 tell us that we should be content with food and clothing.  It does not say we cannot have houses or cars.  But the overall philosophy of the Christian should be to only buy what is necessary and essential for living.  (Linux helps in this way by allowing us to use old computers for longer time periods, etc.)

    What are we supposed to be doing?  Making disciples (Matthew 28).  We can use some tech and possessions to spread the Word of God.  Technology and possessions are not evil just because they exist.  It's more found in the heart of what we are doing.  I need a car to go to work to earn money to support me and my wife (1 Timothy 5:8).  We are to be engaged in work, in and out of the direct ministry of God because not being able to support one's family (when it is intentional, obviously) is to be worse than an infidel (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

    But we were never told to live a life without literally anything but food and clothing.  We're to be content if we have food and clothing as the bare minimums.

    Fifth, lastly, Romans 13 tells us to obey our governments (with the obvious exception that we don't obey them if they are telling us to violate God's commands).  It doesn't specify what type of government.  If God was so much a fan of Communism as some claim, surely He would've handed it down to us in the NT as a form of government long before Karl Marx.  But as Jesus said in John 18:36, our kingdom isn't of this world.

But Not Capitalism Either

    Some have claimed that arguing against the early church being Communist means I am advocating for capitalism.  No, I am not, and here are a few quick reasons why.  I am not anti-Capitalist any more than pro-capitalist because in my opinion:

  1. The raw unrestricted form of capitalism takes advantage of workers (cf The Robber Baron era, 1870-1900).
  2. Rational safeguards and policies need to be in place to give at least a reasonable amount of protection to workers (such as a minimum wage, so long as the government is not changing the rate).
  3. Unions are not needed (note that the current going rate of most labor in the US exceeds the federal minimum wage without unions needing to do this).
  4. American workers seem to be becoming increasingly materialistic and entitled (an example, check what type of people are working unpopular jobs like farming and road construction).
  5. The Bible does not tell us to be capitalist or really be any form of economy or governance.

So What Do We Do?

    The first thing I think we should do is keep in mind that our SPIRITUAL activitism comes first.  A Christian who spends no time telling others about Jesus but hours on social media arguing with people about what they should believe has their priorities backwards.

    Second, Christians are going to disagree on political issues.  What's more important is how you treat them (Ephesians 4:32) rather than whether or not we agree on issues outside of Scripture.

    Third, we should be helping the needy in ways that are rational and work.  For instance, just blindly tossing the homeless cash is one way in which the opioid epidemic in the United States continues.  People with drug addictions that keep them on the street need treatment, not your cash so that they can go score some drugs.  As a drug counselor, I'd hear about it and see it all the time, my clients telling me that this is literally what they are doing.  What the needy need is genuine heart-felt love and compassion, not merely money.  What the substance using individual needs is almost always trauma and mental health care, and treatment, not more money.