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@princess-foo

Do you realize that the places in which Socialism has been lived out have fallen into depravity beyond what this country has seen. Are you aware of Venezuela’s state of poverty? Whether or not we say it’s evil… it’s not wholesome. It crumbles in upon itself. All over we see where it doesn’t work, nor should we expect it to work.

You example of Acts 2 is far from Socialism… first of all it’s not speaking from a government standpoint. Instead it says: “42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2: 42-47 (ESV) 

That passage of scripture makes no reference to government, other than self government, which we are all to have has believers. It’s a willing putting forth of goods to help those in need… Even so far as being as act of worship as it would seem. This isn’t an example of acting civil government, but instead self government by Christians, voluntarily giving and selling.

The Sixth Commandment says: 15 “You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15 (ESV) 

To make a law telling not to steal, it must presuppose that there is ownership among the people. We are also told not to covet in the tenth commandment… because our neighbor’s stuff is not our own.

Socialism requires that the government controls means of production, and that people don’t truly own what they have. This is not by any standards biblical. We see the way land is legally divided in the OT… there was no socialism there. Men still owned their land, their crops, their cattle. The governing authorities didn’t own that. It was self government and ownership. Don’t get me wrong. There was still a civil government, but it didn’t own the means of production.

In Ephesians we hear: “…Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, that he may have something to share with anyone in need…” Again, this is a voluntary act of mercy. The man must still work to provide for himself, before he can provide for someone else.

And the reason it’s getting popular in our country, is that our culture is turning its back on God. When we don’t have the foundation of self government, nor even Godly government that we are shown in the scriptures, we cannot but fall into a government that crumbles.

We live in a fallen world, which is why we are to be the salt and the light. This doesn’t mean we’re unloving about it. No! We are to speak the truth in love! But that doesn’t mean we are passive about things like homosexuality, and adultery, ect… As laws are made to allow these things… the rights of safety will be taken away from us. Our women will not be safe… no… they will be less safe. When the law stops backing us up on things of this nature… what goes next?

As a martial arts school owner, what happens when I can no longer legally refuse the male students into the ladies bathroom, or visa versa? Where do we draw the line, and stand? Being loving does not require we be sweet. Salt burns in the wound. Truth is painful among lies. And light scorns darkness. When someone is confronted with the truth that they are in sin, it hurts… even to believers.

So we don’t shun them. But we certainly don’t go along passively. Matthew 24:42-43 says: “42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.” Right there… Jesus is comparing a truth of how we act non passively against someone breaking in, with the truth of staying awake, preparing us for the day (which we do not know) that the Lord returns.

We are to be vigilant… and we are to be loving. But when we are stopping someone from entering our house, we are showing love to those inside the house. We are to be angry, but without sinning. We are told that there is a time for “corrupt words”… and that means we sometimes break the peace.

So those are my thoughts on the subject… and as said by Erica… this is not to be hurtful, but to explain why Socialism cannot stand, and why it isn’t biblically supported. It is with most Christian love that I say this.

@ericawordsmith I actually started typing well before you asked… so here ya go!

May God bless our discussion.