Was Jesus a communist? This Bible quote suggests he was....?

Question

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day. They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need. (Acts 2:41-45 NAB)

Answer 1

Sell their property and possessions? Obviously Pat Robertson or Benny Hinn never read these verses in Acts.

Your communism point is baited and funny.

Answer 2

Was Jesus a "communist"? Let's look at a few things. First, remember that he said, "Take all that you own and sell it, then give your money to the poor and follow me." I never read that anywhere in the Wall Street Journal.

But this is consistent with many of Jesus' other sayings and with his lifestyle. "Blessed are the poor, but woe to the rich." (Luke 6). Also remember what Jesus instructed the religious man: "Sell all that you own and give the money to the poor." (Luke 18). As for his lifestyle, we know that he traveled around a lot in his very few years of work. But he did not travel alone; he had several groups with him: the 12 disciples or apostles; a retinue of women that followed him about (and no doubt some had children); his mother and brothers and sisters were frequently with him; and another retinue of "disciples" who at one point is counted as 70. Over a hundred people followed Jesus around. ... All of this was therefore evidently organized and even by modern terms should be recognized as quite an impressive operation. ... The point is: All shared and shared alike.

Perhaps it is not absolutely clear, but in the case of the early church it is so stated. After Jesus' death, his original disciples form the early church. Now we find that all property and wealth was handled in a communal (communist) fashion.

"The church of believers were of one heart and soul, and none claimed anything as belonging to himself, all property was common property. ... There was not one needy among them, because those who owned land or houses sold them and brought the monies to the apostles, and they would distribute it to whoever had a need." (Acts 4).

Answer 3

Sounds like it.

From what I understand, Communism is theoretically very compatible with Christianity. Mennonites (a sect of Christianity) lived (and still live) in communal set-ups. It works in that situation because one of Christ's teachings is that if you want to be great in the Kingdom of God, you must learn to be a servant to all. And, love your neighbor as yourself.

Communism was set up in the Soviet Union with Atheistic values, so no wonder it failed. The idea of sharing equally just doesn't fit with the Atheistic survival of the fittest mentality. I also read recently that Communism was demonized by the United States leadership in order to create an enemy with which to better unite their people...which is what Bush did with Iraq.

Kind of makes Communism look pretty good to me.

Looks like I just proved UFO wrong! Cause I think she's right.

Answer 4

If being a communist means sharing all things in common, then He and all of the communities of Nuns, Sisters and Religious Communities of Priest must (also) be communist. The major difference of course being that Religious can leave their community when they want to. Do not confuse political communism with a religious way of life.

Answer 5

Every scripture indicates that if Jesus were alive today in the United States, he'd be a democrat. He had friends who were sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors. He was against stoning a prostitute, in favor of forgiveness.

He said, It is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. He advocated giving to the poor...which republicans can't stand doing and he was against capital punishment.

The best one...he rode a donkey into Jerusalem...not an elephant...now that's a joke but it is interesting. Jesus leaned to the left.

Actually, like liberals of today...he was crucified by the conservative party of the day.

Answer 6

There were no communists at the time, but it is for sure the message of the New Testament is not the social paradigm we practice today. Love, compassion, treat your neighbor as if he was yourself, etc., are not very compatible with let the buyer beware, dog eat dog, everyman for himself mentality we have today. That could be why modern teachers, preachers, ministers etc., don't spend much time on those topics of his as they would not have a job very long if they did.

Answer 7

If you look at the words "communist" and "community" you'll notice some similarities. If you look at the IDEAS those words suggest, you'll notice some similarities.
The bigger picture here is the concept of living outside of one's self, of one's own tiny little world. Of reaching out to others in need instead of reaching around one's own pile of possessions and screeching "Mine! MINE!"

Answer 8

Jesus was not a communist. His politics are spread over today and tomorrow. Christians are to behave in a manner of love toward others. Christians are to give due obedience to whichever government they are under as long as it is not contrary to God's word, as long as doing so is not sinning against God. Christians are under one ruler, a King of kings and LORD of lords. That is not a communist government.

Answer 9

I guess when the fat white men wrote the bible they had an illusion that the future would be a communist society or wanted it to be since jesus supported communism. lol

Answer 10

Careful how you interpret some of that. My study Bible suggest that they sold their own possessions to give to the needed of the church. I personally think of communism as a religion itself. They do not believe in God they are atheist. This would definitely rule out the own Son of God as being a communist. Thanks, but not a good question. Mike