Christian politics question...........?

Question

I find it strange that the earliest Christian communities were communist, but the country supposedly founded on christian ideals is a capitalist democracy?

I find this interesting and wonder if someone can explain how Christian capitalism is justified.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_communism

Answer 1

This is a very good question. Let's look at the verses that are used to support the idea of communism amongst Christians.

Acts 2:44-45 All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

This is, of course, the primary passage that is used. As your link also points out, Jesus and the apostles may have lived in a communist manner, as we know that Judas Iscariot was their money keeper (John 13:29).

However, were all Christians expected to live as communists?

First we see that people were not required to sell off all they own and give it to the church. We see this in Acts 5, when a couple sold their home, and gave the money to the apostles. However, they kept some for themselves, lying about how much they sold it for. The response in verse 4 was, "Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God!" The apostles never expected the couple to sell the property and give them the full amount.

We also have many references to Paul, as well as Aquila, being a tent maker (see Acts 18:2-3). In fact, he later writes these words to the Christians in Thessalonica:




We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:7b-10)."




I believe this is a pretty good justification for capitalism. We see that while many Christians chose to live in situations where a communistic atmosphere was embraced, it was never expected. Working for food, however, WAS expected, and even the communes still existed within a larger capitalistic government. We still see that happening today. Monasteries are essentially communistic communities, for example. When the founding fathers of America decided to establish a new government, the based many of their laws on Christian ideals, but they looked many other places as to how to structure the government. They wanted a country that guaranteed freedoms that were denied them. Democracy was a logical choice. As far a money goes, they went with what they already knew worked.

I would add, however, that the selfish "desire to acquire" that often goes with capitalism, is contrary to Christianity.

Answer 2

I can see where you are coming from - in the true definition of the idea of Communism - but few folks get what true Communism is - the idea of everyone working and everyone's needs being met on an equal basis - everything put into a "pool" so to speak and everyone gets a fair share - in answer to your question - I don't believe they were Christians "communists" ie what we today would consider a "communist" but rather they were Christians who believed that Christians should take care of Christians and give of their means to those who had less - all were given the opportunity to study and accept the teachings of Christ and become Christians and share in what Christianity offered - but if they chose not to - they were free to go their own way - Communisim offers the same basic idea as far as the sharing of earthly wealth, unfortunately it is not presented in a take it or leave it manner - rather a forced choice and if you choose wrong you are not around long - at least in the ways history depicts past marketing efforts of the idea -

Answer 3

well... communism is basically a political belief. so it has nothing to do with a religion. Some people have communism as their political belief and Christianity as religion and thus christian communists. But no, early Christianity are not communists nor capitalists, etc.

Hitler on the other hand, worshipped Odin, the God of War. The crazy man was twisted.

Answer 4

That is all wet. The early Christians were communal and co-op based. They were not communistic at all and that idea is just revisionist history.

Capitalism came out of Calvinistic based Protestantism.
Here this website will help you understand things better.
http://tinyurl.com/kmkhp

and buy the book
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Weber (a Protestant Sociologist)

Answer 5

first off, you really can't believe everything you read on Wikipedia. anyone can edit the articles on there.
my knowledge of Christianity hasn't ever found any rules about politics. Jesus said, "give to Ceaser whatever belongs to Caesar" but that's all He ever said about government.
I don't say capitalism is a Christian concept, nor is Communism. I don't God is up there judging you by the country you live in.

Answer 6

Capitalism is not Christian.

Answer 7

Freedom is the main important theory for many human beings's politics, the two conservative and liberal. they could have different suggestions approximately a thank you to liver their lives, yet freedom is the driving rigidity in the back of it. as an occasion, "do no longer tell me i won't be able to very own weapons to preserve myself," "do no longer tell me i won't be able to choose for an abortion if i desire it," "do no longer tell me approximately your God, i do no longer desire to hearken to it." All Freedom statements. In American politics, many would be "unmarried concern" electorate, picking a occasion on a unmarried concern or a minimum of the their maximum serious concern together with gun rights or abortion rights or taxes, as an occasion. those are generalizations, needless to say, yet are real with many, no longer inevitably all. the two events spout faith, one greater beneficial than the different. even though, the only president in cutting-edge circumstances that mentioned greater beneficial than an mandatory "God Bless united statesa." replaced into President Jimmy Carter. maximum could evaluate him to be a below stellar president, yet his humanitarian efforts via Habitat for Humanity are unquestionable.

Answer 8

I am a christian and a communist, Boo-ya.

Answer 9

Hey hey, slow down, we don't need christians thinking. That could be dangerous.

Answer 10

What?You surely know communism didn't exist 2k years ago.