To vote for Jesus is to vote for an economic system that supports private property and provides financial opportunity...

This week, we have been examining the issue of the economy. We have been asking and answering the questions "What policies would Jesus promote when it comes to the economy? What type of economic system would Jesus promote?" So far this week, after defining some economic terms, we looked at a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the Bible, called the book of Exodus, where we discovered that the nature of the commandments that are recorded for us in the Old Testament of the Bible seem to indicate that Jesus would not be a proponent of socialism or communism.

In addition, we discovered that one’s economic status should not be a factor when it comes to justice. And the justice system should not be used in such a way that favors or provides advantages to anyone based on their economic status. Each individual, regardless of economic status, is responsible for their actions.  We also talked about the reality that the letters that make up the Bible reveal that there would always be the poor among us. And the reason why there will always be the poor among us has nothing to do with an economic system around us. The reason why there will always be poor among us is due to the selfishness and rebellion that is within us.

Today, I would like to look at another argument to the idea that Jesus was an advocate of socialism and communism, which would be "Well Dave what about God's repeated commands to care and provide for the poor? What about Jesus words in Matthew 25:31-46 that talk about caring for the poor and the needy as evidence of being right with God? What about what the early church did in Acts 2 and Acts 4? Doesn't the words of Jesus and the actions of the early church promote the idea of socialism or communism?" If that argument in running through your mind, I just want to let you know that is a fair question. So let's look at the verses in question, beginning with Acts 2:44-45:

And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵ and  they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

The argument here is that the phrase "all things in common" reflects the sense of common ownership, not private property. In addition, those who use these verse to advocate that Jesus was a socialist of communist would point to the fact that early followers of Jesus sold their property and possession and were sharing them with all as anyone might have need, demonstrates the income redistribution to those in need that is a foundational principle in communism. And we see a similar pattern by early followers of Jesus a few chapters later in Acts 4:32-35:

 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. ³³ And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. ³⁴ For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would   sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales ³⁵ and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

Now if we were having a conversation out at the courtyard coffeehouse, my response to this argument and the use of these verses to support an argument for socialism and communism is this: "Who had all things in common? Was it the government that had all things in common? It was followers of Jesus living in community that was marked by unity who were willingly and without compulsion meeting the pressing and practical needs of other followers of Jesus.

You see, it wasn't that these early followers of Jesus did not have private property and it wasn't that the government was compelling these early followers of Jesus to sell their private property. Instead these early followers of Jesus were open handed and generous with their private property to meet the needs of others. And throughout the letters that make up the Bible we see the Lord call His people to work hard and to leverage the resources that they owned as a result of their hard work that revealed and reflected Jesus to those in the workplace in order to meet the pressing and practical needs of others in a way that reveals and reflects Jesus.

Now in terms of the argument that socialism or communism provide the best environment to eliminate poverty, another response to that argument would be this: can you point to one example of any communistic or socialistic economic system eliminating poverty in any country throughout human history?

The answer is that there has never been a case in human history where that has been the case. However, there are many examples throughout history that indicate that socialism and communism create and exacerbate poverty. If you do not think that is the case, look at the history of the nation of Cuba, the nation of Venezuela, the nation of North Korea, just for starters.

As a matter of fact, did you know that communism was once tried in America? It is one of the reasons that we celebrate Thanksgiving. When we celebrate Thanksgiving, we are celebrating how the Native Americans helped early settlers who were on the verge of starvation.

 

However, the part of the story of Thanksgiving that you are not told in history class is the reason why they were suffering from starvation is due to the fact that the initial settlers to America attempted to institute a communistic economic system. AHowever, since there was no incentive to work hard because at the end of the day, everyone gets the same thing, no one worked hard. And as a result there was nothing to eat. Thus, the first Thanksgiving. It was only after the settlers to America abandoned communism that they began to succeed.

So, with all the Biblical and historical evidence in mind, what should be the policy of the United States regarding the economy? What type of economic system would Jesus promote? It is the answer to this question that provides for us a timeless truth when it comes to voting for Jesus. And that timeless truth is this: To vote for Jesus is to vote for an economic system that supports private property and provides financial opportunity.

 

You see, to vote for Jesus is to recognize that we have been divinely designed to live in relationship with Him and one another and have been given responsibility to rule over the earth as His representative here on earth. And a part of that Divine Design is the opportunity to own private property. To vote for Jesus is to recognize that Jesus is not against us owning private property; what Jesus is against is private property owing us. To vote for Jesus is to recognize that everything we have comes from God and has been given to us to bring the light of the kingdom of God into the dark spaces and places of the world by being open handed generous people.

And to vote for Jesus is to promote economic policies that provide financial opportunities for everyone, regardless of economic status. To vote for Jesus is to promote economic policies that provide the opportunity for individuals, through their efforts, to gain the education and opportunities to improve their economic status.  To vote for Jesus is to promote policies that do not deny justice to someone because they are either rich or poor. To vote for Jesus recognizes and protects the belief that one's economic status should not be a factor when it comes to justice and that each individual, regardless of economic status, is responsible for their actions. 

Now right about now you might be thinking "Dave what about taxes, you did not talk about taxes". Next week, we will spend our entire time talking about the issue of taxes....