Should A Christian Endorse Socialism

By: Justin Ray

This is a hot topic in our current political and social climate. Passions run high on both sides of the debate. So does ignorance! Many people are making arguments based on soundbites and memes they see on social media. However, most could not tell you the difference in the ideas of Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Henri de Saint-Simon.

To be fair, I have no interest in arguing the economics of socialism verses capitalism. What I do want to consider is the foundational premise upon which Karl Marx built the driving principles of socialism. He took the work of Henri de Saint-Simon and pushed it into the mainstream with his seminal work Manifesto of the Communist Party.

My goal is to consider some of the foundational elements of Marxian philosophy and compare them with the Word of God. If we are indeed Christians, nothing else matters. God’s Word is the only authority of importance concerning morality and righteousness. Feelings do not negate God’s Word. Altruistic motives do not invalidate the scriptures. Our opinion of what is “just” does not refute God’s law. If we do not agree on this point, then we probably will not agree on much else here on out.

I grew up in the deep south. Not only was I blessed to grow up in the deep south, I grew up in rural Georgia. I was raised in a Christian home that was apolitical. However, my mom loves history and I inherited that from her. Also, my grandfather served in the Korean War and I greatly respected him. All of this helped to shape me into the man I am today.

I said all that to say that I grew up believing socialism was evil. I remember seeing news clips of the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. I was raised to believer that Communist Russia, China, and Cuba were evil. Why? Because that is what Patriotic Americans believed. I grew up wanting to be a patriotic American. I still am. So, growing up, Karl Marx was a bad name in my mind.

With all that is happening in our nation, I decided to read the works of Karl Marx (know your enemy). So, I purchased Karl Marx Ultimate Collection and began reading. What I found out was that my way of thinking about Marx was correct. However, I also began to pity this angry man who was looking for contentment without the only source real source of peace in the world, God.

Keir Hardie wrote the introductory biography of Marx. He describes a hard life of constant trouble and poverty. For instance, he was stateless because of his radical views. So, he left his home of Germany and settled in London. Also, at a relatively young age, his wife died. This left him to raise their children alone. He lived in poverty because his writings did not provide a suitable income.

From the description of his life, you can see why he would have been interested in “wealth redistribution”. Upon reading his philosophical works, I found him to be discontent, if not bitter, and hostile towards religion, especially Judaism and Christianity. In all his philosophical works, he managed to malign religion as a major factor in society’s ills and something that man must “abolish”. (Marx & O’Malley, 1970). He wrote, “Religion is the moan of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of a heartless world, as it is the spirit of spiritless conditions. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion, as the illusory happiness of the people, is the demand for their real happiness” (Marx & O’Malley, 1970). This is the thinking of the most popular preacher of socialism. Marx is to socialists what Spurgeon is to Evangelicals.

There are three attitudes of Socialism I want to consider: atheism, discontentment, and greed. While the use of these exact words may not be palatable to disciples of Marx, that does not change the fact that they are the bedrock upon which socialism is founded.

First, only someone ignorant to the teachings of Marx would argue that socialism is not an atheistic belief system. This is why Vladimir Lenin made the Soviet Union atheistic following the Bolshevik Revolution. Before this, Russia’s official religion was Eastern Orthodox Christianity (Greek Orthodox Catholic). Lenin, being a disciple of Marx, forced religion out of the Soviet Union, or at least he tried. The true Christians endured and continued to evangelize even though it often meant imprisonment and death. A true follower of Marx must be godless.

Second, socialism is defined by discontentment. There is no reason to revolt if you are content with your life. There will be no class war between the proletariat (working class; poverty) and the bourgeoisie (middle class) if you are content with your life. The whole premise of revolt is predicated upon discontentment of those who feel disenfranchised.

Third, socialism is defined by greed. This is fueled by the aforementioned discontentment. Marx, banked on the proletariat being discontent and desiring to have what the bourgeoisie had. They would therefore rise up and take what they felt entitled to.

Before I take a Biblical look at these 3 core tenets of socialism, let me point out that many Christians are in favor of socialism. Because they want to help the poor, and the Bible does teach us to help the poor, they feel that this would be an effective means of doing so. What they fail to realize is the foundation upon which socialism is built. You cannot divorce socialism from these ideas and, as I will point out, these are all contrary to God’s word.

Let’s take the first point: Socialism is atheistic. The prefix “a” means “no” and the root word “theo” means “god”. They believe there is “no God”. Psalm 14:1 and 53:1 says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God”.

If we are indeed Christians, (we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior; more than just a religious affiliation) how can we support something that denies the very existence of God? When Moses asked God, “What do I tell the people when they ask me your name?” (Exodus 3:13 paraphrased), God said, “I AM THAT I AM.” There was no explanation of his existence; he simply is. To support something that denies the existence of God is to endorse the ideology. Jesus said, “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven” (Matthew 10:33). We must be careful which philosophies we endorse. I am not saying we can lose our salvation, but we do bring shame on the name of Christ and our testimony. Should Christians endorse denying God? No!

The second component of socialism’s foundation is discontentment. Jesus told a solder who asked how he could live as a disciple of Jesus, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14 emphasis added). These low ranked soldiers were told to be content with their wages. The Apostle Paul said, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11 emphasis added). He also told Timothy, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (I Timothy 6:8 emphasis added). Then the write of Hebrews added, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5 emphasis added).

Over and over again, we are told to be content. Jesus said contentment was part of being a disciple. Paul said it was part of spiritual maturity. He also said it was mandatory for pastors. Then, the writer of Hebrews said it demonstrated faith in God. Therefore, to disobey God and be discontent is sin. Should Christians endorse sin? No!

The final component of socialism’s foundation is greed. This strikes right at the Ten Commandments. God said, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's." (Exodus 20:17 NKJV). Just prior to that God said, “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15 KJV). Wealth redistribution is taking (stealing) from one person to give to another who wants it (greed or coveting) through revolution (violence). It is armed robbery! It is armed robbery by someone who covets what someone else has. Should Christians endorse breaking God’s law? No!

This very basic understanding of socialism and how it violates the Word of God should cause EVERY Christian to denounce socialism. Isaiah cried, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter…Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 5:20, 24). Let us not be guilty of such. Let us stand firm on God’s Word. Let us stand firm on the Chief cornerstone, Jesus (Ephesians 2:20).

Marx, K. (2019). Karl Marx Ultimate Collection. Musaicum Books.

Marx, K., & O'Malley, J. J. (1970). Critique of Hegel's 'Philosophy of right'.