WAS JESUS A SOCIALIST?
Key Facts
One study found that 36 percent of practicing Christians embraced at least one of the Marxist statements assessed in the research. [1]
According to Pew Research, 54% of Christians advocate smaller government, while only 45% of their non-Christian counterparts advocate fewer government services. [2]
More than a quarter (28%) of countries had “high” or “very high” levels of government restrictions on religion in 2016, an increase from 25% the year before. [3]
Key Scriptures
1 Corinthians 7:21 “Were you a servant when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.”
Philippians 4:11 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”
Acts 4:32-35 “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”
Romans 13:1 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”
John 18:36 “Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."
Application
Many current headlines make assertions about Jesus’s political views. Some even state that He was either a socialist or a capitalist. Both arguments—that Jesus was a socialist, and the alternative, that Jesus was a capitalist—have little founding in the biblical text. Jesus did not appear to communicate truths about which economic system should be advocated, but rather He often focused on how Christians should act within the governmental structures that they live in.
What does the Bible Say?
Acts 4 reveals a healthy church that meets the needs of others. Some may use this to advocate socialism while others use Acts 4 to advocate capitalism, but those who do so are missing the point of the passage. The author of Acts (Luke) does not intend to state a political leaning, but rather reveals the mindset of these early Christians. They were generous with their possessions because they regarded all that they had as ultimately belonging to God. While there may be some political systems which Christians can advocate for on the basis of financial and religious freedom, the New Testament authors were intending to communicate spiritual truths, not advocate for specific political policies.
The Bible doesn’t give an explicit endorsement of either system. However, this doesn’t mean that the Bible is silent about economics and government. While it may not endorse any particular system, it does lay down some general principles which Christians should heed when thinking about socialism and capitalism. Some of the most relevant principles from the Scriptures are generosity, stewardship, and contentment.
Generosity
On the Christian view, much of what the Scripture advocates is not government mandated redistribution of wealth. Rather, the Bible promotes voluntarily helping those in need out of a spirit of cheerfulness and generosity (2 Cor. 9:7). Some economic systems, like capitalism, do give the individual (and thus the church body) more financial freedoms to provide for the needs of others. With greater freedom, Christians then have the opportunity and responsibility to serve the Lord with their money. Some may use this freedom to be greedy or take advantage of others. However, for Christians, this freedom comes with the responsibility to give generously and serve others.
Stewardship
This spirit of generosity is the result of recognizing that our wealth is not our own (1 Cor. 10:26). Christians should be stewards of the blessings that the Lord has given them. Voluntary giving by the Christian church serves not only to meet physical needs, but to share the values and mission of Christ in the community, leading people to a saving relationship with Him. By stewarding our blessings well, Christians can be more effective in working for the Kingdom of God.
Contentment
1 Corinthians 7:21 is a great model for how we are to treat the situations we are living in. “Were you a servant when you were called? Don't let it trouble you---although if you can gain your freedom, do so.” The Christian life is one of contentment as we seek to live out biblical teaching in every political situation. No matter if we were born into a capitalist or socialist society, Christians are to live out the biblical commands to care for the needs of others while being content with what they have (Phil. 4:11-13).
Is Capitalism or Socialism Better for Christians?
Whichever system better promotes or enables these biblical values is the one Christians should support. This means that Christians can disagree in good conscience. Some argue that socialism is the best biblical response because socialism focuses on helping the poor through the government’s redistribution of wealth. This is not clearly supported in Scripture as some have suggested. Rather, the emphasis is in giving and loving others as a result of our ultimate love for God. The weight of the evidence seems to lean more in support of capitalism. This is because capitalism emphasizes individual responsibility with finances. This emphasis allows for the individual to be generous with their money and freedoms in accordance with the biblical teachings. Biblically, the church is called to be a light to the world (Matt 5:14). While the government can sometimes be useful in assisting those in need, it is ultimately the church’s responsibility to be generous and loving to those in need.
Conclusion
There is no one political and financial structure of government that Jesus clearly advocated. However, Christians can support those structures which enable biblical values and allow the greatest freedom for their beliefs to be practiced. Yet, Christians should always remember that our primary role is not in political power, but sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through word and deed (Col. 3:17; Matt. 28:18-20).