Jesus Christ as a communist?

Question

Do you believe that Jesus Christ was a communist? I think he was, by the definition of the word, because he always acted selflessly and worked towards the common good. Any other thoughts?

Fidel Castro is not a true communist, he is selfish and has never worked towards the common good. Just because someone calls themself a communist doesn't actually make them one.

Answer 1

Communism has never offered to humans the prospect of everlasting life promised by the man Jesus.

Answer 2

I want to say yes but...even what we know of Christ's life is written 50 years AFTER the fact. There was probably quite a bit of exaggeration in that translation from life to paper. Then there's the further edit at the council of Nicaea. Communism suffers the same problem - it's one thing to talk about it, quite another to implement.

Oh, and as somebody else noted, communism does actually talk about revolution - the working class taking back the means of production. I don't think Jesus really thought that way. He might be more of a socialist.

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a Communist."
--- Don Helder Camara, Brazilian Archbishop

Answer 3

Luke 12 (NIV--Jesus speaking)
33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Acts 4:
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

You have a great point there. We will all be communists (in the true sense of the word) in heaven. Too bad we're not brave enough, or pure enough, to do it here. I know I'm not.

Hopefully we and our governments will be shrewd enough to establish the kind of economic system that God established for Israel, which I believe was a blend of capitalism and socialism. (God commanded the Israelites to leave portions of their crops for the poor and needy.)

Answer 4

Communism, at it's purest, is a noble endeavor. The problem is that Communism relies on people being good and noble and self-sacrificing, willing to pull towards a common goal without thought of personal advancement.
The big problem with communism is that people are scum. They don't work together that well. While I certainly see your point, the message Jesus preached was not one of communism. He knew the nature of humanity better than that.

Answer 5

Jesus always stayed out of political debate. He never encouraged changing or rebelling at the roman rulers of his time. His message was voluntary charity. He grew up working as a carpenter under an economic system that was similar to capitalism, and he never advocated changing the system.

Answer 6

Jesus Christ is a King, but He expects His people to share. Yes, loaning at interest is a sin in the New Testament and the early Church shared all their goods according to need.

Answer 7

Jesus Christ is not a communist period

Answer 8

That's exactly what I've been saying. Whenever I see a capitalist Christian (and that is quite often, obviously), a little part of me dies inside.

Answer 9

yeah i think the same thing that he's a communist

Answer 10

Ranks right up there with Castro. Not!