Thinking Biblically About Socialism (Part 1)

And for the past five months, you know what the number one news story has been about.

Something related to the coronavirus pandemic.

But do you remember what the top of the news was, number one story was about before the virus?

Broad subject, politics.

Specifically, the Democratic presidential primary.

But since March, the pandemic news has overall, if you balance it out over a week, has overshadowed political news.

Before March, when there were over a dozen Democrats running for their party's nomination,

all of them were either openly advocating the virtues of socialism in general,

or they were promoting socialistic programs like Medicare for All.

Those liberal Democrats were so unified in promoting a socialist agenda that some conservative commentators said that this year's election is going to be a referendum on socialism.

Now, in many ways, that's an accurate description of what will take place when we go to the polls on November the 3rd.

As Christians, it is important for us to understand that socialism is not just a political or economic issue.

It is a political issue.

It is an economic issue.

But it is also an ethical and biblical issue.

Socialism is a political and economic system that is contrary to the way God designed human beings to provide for themselves,

their families, and people in this country who legitimately cannot take care of themselves.

I want us to begin today to think biblically about socialism,

because it's something that every Christian needs to be aware of, concerned about, and actively opposing.

Let's begin by looking at what it is.

What is socialism?

I want to give you a couple of definitions that are representative of what you'll find basically anywhere if you do a Google search.

Various sources.

Here's representative definitions.

Socialism is any economic or political system based on government ownership and control of important businesses and methods of production.

Another source.

Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership

and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

Secondary definition.

A system of society or group living in which there is no private property.

A system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.

R.C. Sproul, I think, does a good job of looking at those definitions and stating it in what I think is a helpful way for us to dive into it this morning.

Sproul says,

Now, liberal Democrats, led by Bernie Sanders and embraced by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,

call their version of socialism democratic socialism.

Now, they don't publicly advocate government ownership replacing private ownership,

the ownership of companies, businesses, industry.

Their plan is for government to so regulate private ownership to the point that the government,

for all practical benefits, it does control the companies, the businesses, industry.

Democratic socialists also advocate making things like medical care and a college education free to everyone.

Now, as thinking people you know, nothing in life is free.

Somebody has to pay for everything.

So these democratic socialists,

they plan to raise the taxes on every dime responsible working people,

earn, save, and invest,

so that they can make everything free for those who don't earn, save, and invest.

These democratic socialists plan to redistribute the wealth of responsible working people

by giving it to irresponsible, non-working people.

This is how democratic socialists define equality and fairness.

Now, before anyone accuses me of preaching politics this morning, which I am not doing,

let's look at how the Bible reveals that socialism is contrary to God's design.

How is socialism contrary to God's design?

That's the question we're going to answer now.

Let's begin by looking at the way God created human beings.

God created people to be stewards or managers of everything He created.

Now, we did a study of stewardship last year in 2019,

and we looked at how we are responsible to take what God entrusts to our care,

everything, our time, our talents, our treasures,

and responsibly manage those things.

We're called to steward, to manage everything God has created and given to us.

The Bible begins by telling us that God created the world and everything in it.

And by the way, I meant to say, we looked at that a year ago,

and I'm not going to go into great detail this morning.

I want to just sort of hit the high spots for an example.

You know, it goes without even having to put it on the screen.

God created this world and everything in it.

That's how the Bible begins.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

The fact that God created everything means that He owns everything,

and this is repeated throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

Here's a good example from Psalm 24.

The psalmist writes, the earth is the Lord's and everything in it.

The world and all who live in it.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians,

quotes the first part of that verse.

The earth is the Lord's and everything in it.

God created human beings in His image,

and He intends for us to be stewards or managers

of all that He has created and owns.

I want you to look at two verses from Genesis 1

that points out how God created us

and put things under our care.

For an example, Genesis 1, 26.

Then God said,

Let us make man in our image after our likeness,

and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,

and over the birds of the heavens,

and over the livestock,

and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Then verse 28.

And God blessed them,

and God said to them,

Be fruitful and multiply,

and fill the earth,

and subdue it,

and have dominion over the fish of the sea,

and over the birds of the heavens,

and over every living thing that moves on earth.

God created human beings,

and only human beings in His image,

and gave them the privilege and the responsibility.

Subdue.

Get control of what I have created.

It is there for you.

It is there for you to manage.

It is there for you to use.

It is there for you to enjoy.

You've got to be responsible stewards.

Don't waste it.

Don't abuse it.

But take care of it,

and use it in a way that will bring glory to me,

and joy to you.

That's what God did in creating human beings,

and giving them the responsibility to take care of this world.

Wayne Grudem explains what this means in terms of stewardship.

Look at this.

The Hebrew word translated as subdue,

means to make the earth useful for human beings' benefit and enjoyment.

God was entrusting Adam and Eve,

and by implication,

the entire human race,

with stewardship over the earth.

This world that God's put us in,

He has given us the authority,

the responsibility,

and the privilege

to use it wisely,

to benefit from it.

I want you to think.

From the very beginning,

human beings have been given a God-given privilege

and responsibility

that no other creature

was ever given.

We have the privilege of using God's creation

for our benefit,

for our good,

for our enjoyment.

Think about that.

God created us

and said we can enjoy

what He's given us.

But there's also responsibility.

We've got to manage His creation wisely,

not abuse it,

not do anything to destroy it.

Be wise.

Take care of it

as you enjoy it.

Now,

when you look at the big picture

of creation,

the Bible is clear

that God owns everything

and we're stewards

or managers

of His creation.

But when you look at

what the Bible

specifically says,

what it teaches

about how we are

to live in this world,

the Bible clearly shows

that we are owners

of stuff.

We are private property owners.

us,

you and me,

as people.

God gave human beings

the privilege and responsibility

of having earthly ownership

of private property.

And this is the clear testimony

of Scripture.

For example,

the very first act of worship

that you find in the Bible

is in Genesis chapter 4.

Genesis 4 · chapter mention

The giving of offerings to God

by Adam and Eve's sons,

Abel and Cain,

they gave what we would call

a first fruit offering

from what they owned.

Look at it.

Now,

Abel was a keeper of sheep

and Cain,

a worker of the ground.

Abel was a shepherd.

He was a,

you know,

in today's term,

he was a cattle farmer.

Cain was a farmer

who planted crops.

Well,

in the course of time,

Cain brought to the Lord

an offering

of the fruit

of the ground.

And Abel also brought

of the firstborn

of his livestock.

Cain

took the land

that was his,

planted crops,

and at harvest time

presented an offering

to the Lord

from his crop

that he owned.

Abel

brought the firstborn

of his flock

that he owned,

presented it to the Lord

as an offering,

as a sacrifice.

R.C. Sproul explains

how this demonstrates

the existence

of human ownership

of private property

shortly after creation.

Look at it.

Notice that their offering

is validated

and that it belongs

to the one

who offered it.

The offertory system

of the Old Testament

makes no sense

when divorced

from the system

of private property.

One of the basic

stipulations

of making an offering

is that you present

something

which belongs

to you.

The right

of human ownership

is something

God has assigned

as part

of our covenant

partnership

with him

in creation.

Many of you

are familiar

with the Old Testament

sacrificial system.

You're familiar

with the giving

of tithes

and offerings.

The people of Israel

were required

to take

something

that they owned,

something that they

produced,

and give it

to the Lord.

They gave

of their income,

their resources,

what we call

financial resources,

as a tithe

to the Lord.

This is debatable

what I'm going

to say.

You may condemn

me for this

and I may have

been wrong.

I never gave

my boys

an offering

to give

at church

because they

can't give

my money

as their offering.

Now I know

the theory,

give them money

and let them

give it,

teach them

to give.

I like the idea

of making them

earn money

or take

their money

and they

give it

as an offering

to the Lord.

That's what the

whole sacrificial

system is about.

If you have

given or give

online or in person

of your tithes

and offerings,

you're giving

something that

you earned,

that you have,

that's yours

as an offering

to the Lord.

You can't give

unto God

if there's no

such thing

as private

property.

Private ownership

is the point.

The next major

passage of Scripture

that reveals

God's approval

of the ownership

of private property

comes from

the Ten Commandments.

The Eighth Commandment

says,

you shall not steal.

You know what it means

to steal?

To take something

that rightfully

belongs to

another person.

The Tenth Commandment

begins,

you shall not covet.

To covet means

that you have

an improper desire

to have what

rightfully belongs

to someone else.

God gave these

two of the Ten

Commandments.

Do not steal

and do not covet

because people

have a right

to own

possessions

and have

a law

prevent

other people

from taking

them away

from them.

People have

a right

to own

possessions

and have

those rights

protected

by law.

Now the New

Testament

repeats

both of these

commandments.

Paul on more

than one occasion

will write

and talk about

do not steal.

In fact,

he says to the thief

do not steal

but work,

make a living

so you can have

something to give

of your own.

Do not covet,

we are told

repeatedly

in some of

Paul's letters.

The right

of private

ownership

of property

and possessions

is a God-given

right

that is found

throughout the Bible.

It begins

at creation

nearly.

Genesis 4

is found

throughout the Old

Testament.

It's found

throughout the New

Testament.

Therefore,

any economic

system

like socialism

or communism

that prohibits

private ownership

or private

control of

property and

possessions

is unethical.

It's unbiblical.

It's contrary

to God's

design

of how life

is supposed

to work.

Therefore,

we in this

country,

as Christians,

this is a message

especially for

Christians,

we need to

get involved

in the

democratic process

of our

country.

We need to

exert influence.

We need to

talk to people

about why

socialism and

those who will

advocate advanced

socialism are

wrong and should

not be voted

into office.

We need to do

whatever we can

to oppose any

politician,

political party,

or government

action that

would take away

or regulate

away our

God-given

right to

enjoy the

private ownership

of property

and possessions.

Now,

let's look at

one more

foundational matter

that reveals how

socialism is

contrary to

God's design.

God calls

human beings

to take care

of His

creation and

themselves by

working,

by their

labor.

A lot of

people don't

think of work

as a God-given

blessing,

but that's how

God originally

intended that

work be seen

and done.

Work is found

in the Bible

before sin

took place,

before sin

entered the

world,

God gave

Adam and

Eve work

to do.

Look at that

verse 28

that we looked

at a while

ago.

And God

blessed them

and God

said to

them,

be fruitful

and multiply

and fill

the earth

and subdue

it.

Have

dominion.

It takes

effort.

It takes

work to

do that.

If you have

any doubts,

Genesis 2,

the Lord

took the man

and put him

in the garden

of Eden

2,

work it

and keep

it.

From the

very beginning,

God created

that first

couple with

responsibility,

with labor,

with work

to do

to take care

of the creation.

The idea

of work

being tall,

having briars

and thistles

and so forth,

that comes

from Genesis 3.

Genesis 3

describes the

result of the

fall.

When sin

entered the

world,

it made

work a

chore.

It made

it much

more difficult.

But work

has always

existed for

men and

women to

do.

It was a

part of God's

original good

creation.

salvation.

Now,

the Bible

is filled

with

statements

about the

importance

of people,

all people,

but especially

Christians,

working and

taking care of

yourself and

your family

and not

looking outside

of yourself

except to

God for

what it takes

to make a

living.

Let me give you

some examples.

Paul wrote

this to the

Thessalonian

Christians.

He says,

you should

mind your

own business

and work

with your

hands just

as we told

you so that

your daily

life may win

the respect of

outsiders and

so that you

will not be

dependent on

anybody.

It's important

to have a good

reputation in the

community to be

someone who works

and takes care of

what you have,

takes care of

your family,

takes care of

yourself instead

of being dependent

on someone else.

It is important

that we as

Christians look

to God for the

ability to

provide for

ourselves so

that no one

else will have

the burden,

individual,

the community,

the government,

of taking care

of us.

Another example,

in 1 Timothy,

Paul writes,

but if anyone

does not provide

for his

relatives and

especially for

members of his

household, he

has denied the

faith and is

worse than an

unbeliever.

Here's what Paul

is saying to

Christians.

Let me qualify

this first.

If a person is

unable to work

because of health

issues, emotional

issues, there's a

lot of different

reasons why a

person is unable

to work.

And the Bible,

we're going to

look at this next

week.

The Bible charges

us as Christians

with a responsibility

to take care of

those who through

no fault of their

own cannot take

care of themselves.

If a person,

anyone here,

anyone in your

family, who is

truly disabled,

unable to provide

for themselves and

their families,

that is not a

reason for shame.

And Paul is not

trying to shame

anyone like this.

But if a person

is able, but just

not willing, and

look at this verse,

and does not provide

for his relatives and

especially for members

of his household,

he has denied the

faith and is worse

than an unbeliever.

It is contrary to

the Christian way of

life to be lazy

and refuse to work

and provide for

yourself and your

family.

Let me put it even

more bluntly.

It is a sorry

human being who

refuses to take the

responsibility to

work and provide

for himself and

his family and

expect someone else

to take care of

him.

It is a sorry

human being,

according to the

Apostle Paul.

Such a person has

denied the faith.

He's worse than an

unbeliever.

He's destroyed his

Christian testimony and

witness.

That's what Paul is

talking about here.

And this is not the

final word.

One more.

He wrote another

letter to the

Thessalonians.

First letter didn't

get the job done with

some of these who

were unwilling to

work.

For even when we

were with you, we

would give you this

command.

If anyone is not

willing to work, let

him not eat.

Now these liberal

democratic socialists,

they don't agree with

Paul.

They want you to take

your money that you

work for and give it

to those who won't

work so that they will

not have to do

without.

That's not what Paul

says.

That's not biblical

teaching.

Again, we'll look next

week.

If people are unable,

through no fault of

their own, to provide

for themselves, they

should not go hungry.

We have a responsibility

as Christians to help

such people.

But here, if anyone's

not willing to work,

let him not eat.

For we hear that some

among you walk in

idleness, not busy at

work, but busy bodies.

Now such persons we

command and encourage

in the Lord Jesus

Christ to do their work

quietly and to earn

their own living.

It is vitally important

that we as Christians

understand we have a

God-given responsibility

to be productive in

this world, in our

economy, to work, to

make money, to save, to

invest, so that we'll be

able to take care of

ourselves and our

family.

And it's important to

say and point out today,

take care of ourselves

when we're no longer

able to work in our old

age.

We need to have savings

and investments for that

purpose.

Do not expect the

government to take care of

you for the rest of your

life.

R.C.

Spurl makes an important

statement that ties

together with what the

Bible says about work and

the ownership of private

property.

Look at this.

The sanctity of labor is the

ground basis for private

property.

In both the Old and New

Covenants, the call to labor

is an emphatic one bringing

fruit as its just reward.

We're supposed to reap the

benefits of our labor.

We're supposed to be able

to work and enjoy the fruit

of our labor because it's

ours.

There's a place to give, but

there's a place to enjoy

because it's yours, because

you worked.

That's God's economy.

Spurl goes on.

The avoidance of labor is

regarded as sin.

Paul commands labor as the

ethical norm.

God's plan from the

beginning was for people to

work and provide for

themselves and their

families and not be dependent

on other people or society

or the government to meet

your needs.

Now, there's a word of

caution and order here, I

hope that it's not

necessary, but I want to

throw it out just in case.

We must never think of

ourselves as being

independent from God.

I want you to look at what

is written in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8 about what we're

talking about.

But remember the Lord your

God, for it is He who

gives you the ability to

produce wealth.

Then in 1 Corinthians, Paul

says, what do you have that

you do not receive?

If then you received it,

why do you boast as if you

did not receive it?

There's no place for any of

us in this room to be

prideful.

If you have thought to

yourself, I have worked

hard, I've been wise in

what I made, I've saved,

invested well, and you want

to pass yourself on the back,

don't do that.

There are people who work

harder than you, but they

haven't done as well as you

have.

For whatever reason, God

blessed you more than some

people who have greater

ability than you.

Just think about it.

Look around this room.

We're all very different.

We look different.

We have different levels of

intelligence, different

abilities, different skills.

It's not a matter of who's the

smartest, the best looking,

the hardest working person

always comes out on top.

It doesn't work that way.

So whatever it is that we

have, don't pass yourself on

the back.

Thank God that he gave you the

wisdom, the skill, the

motivation.

You followed through.

You used your intellect.

You used your skills.

You acted on that motivation.

Thank the Lord.

You were responsible.

But don't be prideful.

Don't brag on yourself.

Whatever we have, God gave it

to us.

And if you've prospered, just

thank him.

Let it be a reason to praise

him for his blessings.

But socialism, it is contrary

to God's plan.

Socialism teaches people the

opposite of what we looked at

this morning.

Socialism teaches people that

you don't have to work.

You don't have to support

yourself and your family.

Socialism says you can be

dependent on other people.

Socialism says look to the

government.

Work for a government check is

what socialism says.

Socialism says it's the

government's responsibility to

take care of everyone.

Even if they can work.

But just choose not to.

Socialism also robs working

people of the fruit of their

labor.

The right to own property.

The right to have things.

The right to save and have

money.

The right to enjoy what we

earn.

Next week we're going to look at

some of the things the Bible

says about the dangers of

wealth.

You can't cover everything in

one message.

But I want to make sure everybody

understands.

While the Bible in no way

condemns wealth.

The Bible in no way teaches us to

feel guilty if you have worked and

saved and invested well and you

have nice things.

That is not wrong.

It's not sinful.

But the Bible has much to say that

wealth can become our God.

We can real easily become greedy,

covetous people.

The Bible has much to say about

wealth ruining people.

Destroying Christians' homes.

Destroying our witness.

And we're also going to look at next

week about what the Bible says about

our responsibility to help those who

truly cannot work through no fault of

their own.

But today we need to understand

socialism is not a political or

economic system that will help our

country solve any problems.

Socialism is an unbiblical and

unethical political and economic

system that is a real threat to our

country's survival in the future.

In time, socialism will destroy our

country's economy just like it did

Venezuela in more recent times.

It will destroy our country's economy

and our ability to provide for

ourselves and our families as God

intends and as we historically have

been able to do in this country.

We need to pray much.

We need to vote.

We need to do whatever we can to

oppose radical democratic socialism

that is the focus of today's extremely

liberal democratic party.

That's not being politically taken one

side.

That is being that is just a statement of

fact.

It is the reality that anyone can see just

by reading what the democratic party

advocates today.

What leading democrats are saying today.

But I want us to end on this thought.

John Frame, respected theologian.

He talks about some of the things we're

talking about today.

He talks about some of the same things

R.C. Sproul and Wayne Grudem does,

agrees with them.

But as he comes to the end, some of his

discussions about economic issues and the

dangers of socialism, he does a good job of

helping us always stay focused on the right

thing, the most important thing.

Look at this.

But what the Bible will teach us above all

is this.

We should not put our trust in government,

private industry, or economic theory,

whether capitalistic or socialistic.

We should not be looking to government to

make us wealthy or to deal with the sins

that have led our nation to this point in

history.

Now, as never before, we should trust only

in the name of the Lord our God, the name

of Jesus Christ.

Government can never be our God.

But our ability to work and save and have,

we must never worship that as well.

We exist in this world as Christians

to glorify God in everything that we do.

We exist as Christians to know and do His will.

And as the economy is important, it is a

spiritual matter.

Systems like socialism, capitalism, they're

important matters.

Take this message to heart.

Act on it.

Influence others.

But when all is said and done, God is sovereign

over every nation.

The most socialistic, communistic, as well as

capitalistic nation.

And we need to be known more for our love for Him,

our commitment to all of His word,

than anything else.

So as we go today, now as never before, trust only in the

name of the Lord our God, the name of Jesus Christ, our

Savior and our Lord.

Let's pray together.

Father, help us to see now how we should respond,

how we should be salt and light, as Jesus called us to be in this

world, concerning the election, the economy, socialism, and these

matters.

But Lord, as we do this, help us to do it in a way that you are

honored, that we demonstrate Christlike character.

That if people oppose us, they oppose us because of the truth of

your word that we proclaim.

God, Lord, we're not going to be in this world, not because of our

hard-heartedness and bitter words and just plain lack of love and

concern for others.

Lord, make it clear what you want us to dwell on right now, how you

want us to respond, and leave here being influential Christians.

about these important matters.

Let's just, in an attitude of prayer, listen to the Lord and

respond to Him.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.