Monday, October 15, 2007

Does the Bible Teach Communism?

A high school student asked me whether the Bible supports communism more than capitalism. Should we all be living in communes?

No doubt the Bible encourages sharing - but it also upholds private property rights.

Think about it - if there is no such thing as private property, then there is no such thing as giving, and there is no such thing as stealing - yet the Bible acknowledges both.

Jesus Christ set an example for us to be motivated by a desire to serve one another, but the Bible also consistently acknowledges the individual's right to expect to make a reasonable profit from his labour.

God delights in our freedom to serve Him first, and then to serve others - and to make a profit. So we can summarize it this way: service - at a profit. That's what the Bible endorses. Service at a profit. Any system which opposes that is oppressive.

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