Would Jesus be a communist?

Answer 1

Jesus was certainly bigger than any human classification. He was a liberal in that he Held sacred that the Law(of Moses) was made for humans and not Humans for the Law. He called Himself the Lord of the Sabbath and set aside external observance of the Law when it violated human dignity or human need. He was a conservative in that He returned to the original values which enshrined marriage, and love of neighbor, and care for the marginalized in The Law given by God to Moses. He asserted that the Greatest Commandment was Love of God and that Love of Neighbor was "like it" that is equal to it in importance. He provided the most complete example of what this living was about in laying down his life for others. He embraced what the true meaning of human life was in trusting the Good God who cares for the birds and the flowers and who would likewise provide for people. He asserted that God let his rain fall on the just and the unjust alike.(unconditional love).
He testified that God's Reign was already among his followers. He witnessed to Pilate that His Reign was not "of this world". His followers would not use the strategies of the world to keep him from being handed over. Yes the First Disciples did share all in common, attended to the common prayers, and the Teaching of the Apostles. The response of the Jerusalem Community which followed Jesus was so that there would be mutual support for those who walked in "The Way". The social consruct at the time was extended family. When his followers identified with Him they would be cut off from all previous bonds to family, friends and business dealings which had sustained them as Jews. Now in this new community they were to look out for one another as Jesus had done. The Roman authorities knew well this new social structure was undermining the previously accepted practice of the Mediterranean World. Jesus had said that those who loved father, mother, spouse, children or relatives more than Him were not worthy of Him. All could expect persecution for this new stance in the world which overturns the world's values and policies. The Romans said "See How the Christians love one another. There are No Poor among Them". Caring for orphans and widows was a controversial policy which began the slow transformation of culture and relationships. Slavery would eventually be abolished; women would be emancipated; children would be regarded as more than property of parents. Those who live by the sword would perish by the sword. The unworthy would be given the first places in the Reign of God while the self-qualified would move beyond the reach of God's Mercy.
Look at Christian History. Has any culture fully realized the Reign of God?Is the Reign of God identifiable with any exact epoch or nation? Who has actualized what Jesus announced? We all try I suspect to do something a bit better than previous generations. Yet we struggle to believe in the Trustworthiness of God like Jesus did. We excuse ourselves from the demands of His Words. We imagine that we are the exceptions to His Rules and Values. Communism is an expression of the frustration of many who still suffer when others ignore or minimzied their plight. Poverty, discrimination, violence are sins against the Justice which Jesus lived and required of his followers. The Church has had to remember over and over that it cannot adopt the world's strategies and values and remain true to the requirements of the Reign of God. Some eras are better than others at illkustrating a part of what it means to be Christian. Like Jesus those who take seriously the demands of God's Reign will suffer for this way of embracing human life.
Communism imagines that all will be solved here on earth by the State in all these regards. It doesn't work that Way. The Reign of God(i.e. Justice, Peace, Human Dignity and Freedom) are a Gift from God and not the result of human effort. We must ask God to Let the Kingdom Come and then get out of the Way as it does.

Answer 2

'communist' is a modern appellation...Joshua ben
David,[translated into Greek the name was 'Jesus'
('Christo'/'Christ' meant 'Divine' in Greek, and the change into Greek from Hebrew/Aramaic was begun by Paul who was educated in Ionian Greece, and the son of a father, who held an administrative position in the Roman gov't. in Ionia (later Turkey) and a mother who is believed to have been Hebrew], was
considered a 'rebel' by his contemporaries. There are
several reasons, all very complicated. But, simply
put, the Pre-Pauline Xians had a very different
'slant'/opinion on Joshua and his reasoning behind
what he did, as well as what was done to him. It is
the opinion of many historians that he was part of the
Essenes community. [Not the ones who were monastic,
but the order who traveled the known world as
healers]. They have now uncovered, at Qumran, beneath
the 'monastary', a fort. But, because Joshua was a
healer, and not the messianic general wanted by the
general population of Judea/Israel, and would not lead
a rebellion against the Romans, as well as their ally,
Herod, Joshua was labeled a 'rebel' by the corrupt
clergy and although Rome considered it an 'internal
problem', they were finally forced to deal with the
unrest between the two.
It is more complicated than I can explain, but this is
a bit of what actually went on....
Jane/isis
[e-mail]
Convenor; Avis Pirum
Gaia Antonia Apollonius; Nova Roma
Owner/Mod. Egypt and Beyond
Author: "Tombs, Temples and Thrones"

Answer 3

Yes, more then likely. But not like the fascists that we call communists today. A true Communist.

Answer 4

In a very strict sense, yes he probably would be. The early church was very communistic/socialistic without the stigmas attached to those in the cold war days.

Answer 5

Jesus actually taught strict adherence to the laws of Moses. He often pointed out how the church leaders down through the ages had perverted the laws to their own benefit.

If you insisted on putting a modern day label on him, he was most definitely a conservative.

Answer 6

According to the Book of Acts in the early church all possessions were held in common.

Answer 7

It seems to me that He believed people could only truly live for the good of others as part of a spiritual commitment to a higher being, so I don't think communism would fit with that. There are similarities, though.

Answer 8

I don't think so. A communist wouldn't have said, "The poor you will always have."

Answer 9

Thats a rather interesting question, I think I may bring it up at my church's next youth group meeting.

Answer 10

No.
Communism excludes all religions, and God is just a byword for opium according to their political philosophy.