Can Communism Be Christian?

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I cannot begin to count the number of times someone has pointed me to the book of Acts and the early Church as support for “Christian Communism.”

“And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” Act 2:44, 45

Sadly, this is all of Scriptures most of these people know. They ignore the extreme poverty of this Jerusalem Church, how Paul had to bring them food from Gentile Churches just to survive. When the Romans destroyed the temple, along with all Jerusalem, in AD 70 the experiment in “Christian Communism” ended. Some Christian groups have, for a short time, attempted “Christian Communism” and all have ended in dismal failure. Probably the most famous of these failures were the Pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation. They nearly starved to death until they allowed private ownership and private property.

So what do the Scriptures teach about economics? In the Millennium “they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.” Micah 4:4 Though the LORD God is ruler and owner of all by right of creation, He grants the right of personal ownership to nations, families and individuals.

We should also have compassion on the poor. This compassion should include personal donations to the poor and laws to help people out of their poverty. Though this is not a “welfare state” where a secular humanist government replaces God, it is public help.

Since Paul wrote, “if any would not work, neither should he eat,” 2 Thess 3:10 public assistance should only be for those who are incapable of working.

Modern Communism, by contrast, takes by force. Instead of being “communal,” a willingness to share, it murders any who resist. Modern Communism is hatred and force on the lowest level. It is the antithesis of love, and God is Love.