Were the first Christians Socalists?

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Embankment

Senior Member
#1
Feb 28, 2017
693
190
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#1
Acts 4

32 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. 33 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 34 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 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
 
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Skinski7

Banned
#3
Nov 26, 2011
3,818
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#3
Certainly not.

Charity is voluntary.

Socialism is involuntary.

Socialism is actually legalised theft via the means of the State.

Just because the State is the agency utilised for the forced redistribution of wealth makes it no less an act of theft.
 
Base12

Base12

Banned
#4
Nov 1, 2016
489
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#4
Capitalism...

Matthew 25:8
"And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out"

Matthew 25:9
"But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves"

:eek:
 
Locutus

Locutus

Senior Member
#5
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
113
#5
Base12 said:
Capitalism...

Matthew 25:8
"And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out"

Matthew 25:9
"But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves"

:eek:
Click to expand...

:cool:...............
 
NotmebutHim

NotmebutHim

Senior Member
#6
May 17, 2015
2,919
1,591
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#6
Hmmmm interesting question

I don't know for certain whether Karl Marx invented socialism, but he certainly popularized it. And we must not forget that he dedicated his life to Satan (as it pertains to Satan's desire to bring down God). The rest, as they say, is a rather bloody history.......
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#7
Jul 3, 2015
55,880
26,042
113
#7
Communism is state enforced. Socialism is seen as its little sister,
I suppose. Canada is pink compared to commie red. We are told
God loves a cheerful giver. State enforced giving is not the same
as what the early church members were participating in.
 
Locutus

Locutus

Senior Member
#8
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
113
#8
NotmebutHim said:
Hmmmm interesting question

I don't know for certain whether Karl Marx invented socialism, but he certainly popularized it. And we must not forget that he dedicated his life to Satan (as it pertains to Satan's desire to bring down God). The rest, as they say, is a rather bloody history.......
Click to expand...
And capitalism is squeaky clean...:p
 
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Embankment

Senior Member
#9
Feb 28, 2017
693
190
43
#9
Base12 said:
Capitalism...

Matthew 25:8
"And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out"

Matthew 25:9
"But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves"

:eek:
Click to expand...
I don't think that is what Jesus is talking about. What he is talking about isn't good..
 
Desertsrose

Desertsrose

Senior Member
#10
Oct 24, 2016
2,824
207
63
#10
Embankment said:
Acts 4

32 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. 33 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 34 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 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Click to expand...

I would call it living in community, not socialism.

Living in community is believers having everything in common out of love, care and concern for one another because the love of God flows through them.
 
OneFaith

OneFaith

Senior Member
#11
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
83
#11
Embankment said:
Acts 4

32 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. 33 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 34 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 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Click to expand...
No. It was voluntary. It was simply a matter of "Hey, I have two pairs of shoes, and you have none. Here, you can have a pair of mine." "...and 3,000 were added to their number that day." And more were being added daily. You can't go up to 3,000+ people and compare inventory, so it was easier for the people to bring their extras to the apostles, so that they could distribute to the needy in an orderly fashion. Never was it the intent or purpose for the apostles to demand property or money from the people and lord it over them with power-hungry desires.
 
M

MadebyHim

Senior Member
#12
Dec 17, 2016
572
15
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#12
[SUP]11 [/SUP]For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
[SUP]14 [/SUP]Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. titus 2:11-15
 
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BeyondET

Guest
#13
#13
IMO, More like egalitarians than socialist, Jewish people speaking Aramaic.
 
hornetguy

hornetguy

Senior Member
#14
Jan 18, 2016
6,646
1,396
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#14
Locutus said:
And capitalism is squeaky clean...:p
Click to expand...
If you compare the two, yes, it is.

It is certainly the best "system" the world has seen, to this point in time.

It certainly needs a few tweaks, but it's hands down the best.
 
hornetguy

hornetguy

Senior Member
#15
Jan 18, 2016
6,646
1,396
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#15
Desertsrose said:

I would call it living in community, not socialism.

Living in community is believers having everything in common out of love, care and concern for one another because the love of God flows through them.
Click to expand...
The hippie communes of the 60's were similar in nature... it would be a great system to live under, as long as it was based in love for each other. Unfortunately, that usually doesn't work in larger numbers of participants.... someone has to be "in charge", and it begins to spiral out of control from there.
 
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BeyondET

Guest
#16
#16
I like this verse

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Pretty much equal
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#17
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#17
Embankment said:
Acts 4

32 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. 33 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 34 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 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Click to expand...
It makes me wonder how socialism would work in our country today. One argument against it is that perhaps a lot of people would take advantage of the system and work very little. And if enough people work very little, service is very bad. Long lines at the store. Long hold times on the phone. Long waits for refunds. Repairs done improperly. People are slow to respond to emergencies. The government forgets to mail your social security check. The insurance company forgets to reimburse you.
 
hornetguy

hornetguy

Senior Member
#18
Jan 18, 2016
6,646
1,396
113
#18
resurrection33 said:
It makes me wonder how socialism would work in our country today. One argument against it is that perhaps a lot of people would take advantage of the system and work very little. And if enough people work very little, service is very bad. Long lines at the store. Long hold times on the phone. Long waits for refunds. Repairs done improperly. People are slow to respond to emergencies. The government forgets to mail your social security check. The insurance company forgets to reimburse you.
Click to expand...
It would work at least as badly as it has worked in every other country that has tried it.... probably much worse, since we have such a diverse population.

The only place I've heard of it working with ANY degree of success is in Israel, with their relatively small kibbutz's....

Again, if a society is made up of people that love each other as Christians are supposed to, it can work... but it takes selflessness and love of brother and sister.

Both of those qualities are lacking in large, diverse societal groups.
 
K

kaylagrl

Guest
#19
#19
Skinski7 said:
Certainly not.

Charity is voluntary.

Socialism is involuntary.

Socialism is actually legalised theft via the means of the State.

Just because the State is the agency utilised for the forced redistribution of wealth makes it no less an act of theft.
Click to expand...

Exactly.I heard someone say "Socialism is Communism with the gloves off". The Bible says if you dont work,you dont eat.The Bible does not agree with socialism.
 
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