Socialism has become the latest fad of the day.  It has always been with us but is becoming more popular, especially among the younger set who may be just entering into their earning years.   You probably already know the politicians who are espousing this form of government.  According to a recent Gallup Poll Democrats have a more favorable view of socialism than capitalism.  That’s not to say that perhaps some Republicans also might also favor this type of system……despite the historical fact that every socialist country in the last few centuries has turned into a cultural and  economic sinkhole.  

A brief explanation  might be in order.  Basically as I understand it, the base of socialism is the involuntary, redistribution of wealth by a strong central government.  And since government has the power to punish, in reality, it is the involuntary redistribution of wealth or confiscation of your property or earnings! Just try not paying your taxes one  year!!  

As economist Walter Williams says “no matter how worthy the cause, it is robbery, theft and injustice to confiscate the property of one person and given to another to whom it does not belong.

So how does the Bible come into this situation?  God says exactly the same thing in the Eighth Commandment.  “Thou shall not steal.”  (Ex 20:15) He enshrines here the sacred right of private property.  Our Founding Fathers recognized this as a great gift from the Creator as one of the inalienable rights of our country.  It’s simply wrong to forcibly take a man’s property to give it to someone else.   

As Williams goes on to say,  “The so-called right to health care, food, or housing, whether a person can afford it not, does impose an obligation on another.  There is no Tooth Fairy, or Santa Claus in order for government to give away one American dollar.  The government through intimation, threats, and or coercion confiscates that dollar from some other American. ” 

We as Christians do not believe in the redistribution of wealth.  We do believe in the voluntary redistribution of wealth, where, out of compassion and generosity, we dig into our own wallets to help someone with a genuine need.  If the government is demanding and distributing the  charity, there is nothing voluntary,  biblical or even constitutional about any part of it.  

Not only is this “stealing” but Socialism violates the Tenth Commandment as well:  “Thou shalt not covet your neighbor’s house…..or anything that is  your neighbor’s.”  (Ex 20:17)

Some of our lawmakers have itchy fingers and just waiting  and trembling with anticipation of coming up with another way of confiscating more of the wealth of productive Americans.  There is nothing moral about that!

Good old Benjamin Franklin said……” I am for doing good to the poor, but……I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading them of out it. ……….the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves and became richer” . 

Of course we know there are many people  living  below the poverty level.  These people need help.  There are in fact many cases where the city/ or county governments need to step in with financial aid/housing and health care.  Notice I didn’t say central government.  How much of the money would actually go to helping the poor rather than getting bogged down in the bureaucracy of the system?

The early believers had it figured out…..”There was not a needy person among them for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them brought the proceeds of what was sold and it was laid at the apostles’ feet and it was distributed to each as any had need.”  Acts 4:34-35)

As in all cases, the Bible is not the problem but the solution.  Our Founding Founders knew how to implement the solution.  Is that possible for  us today?