Can Christianity & Marxism Co-Exist?

In “Can Marxism & Christianity Co-Exist?” episode #118, Meredith Curtis takes a look at Marxism. She explains why it appeals to our sense of kindness and justice, as well as how it actually plays out at a national level.  She also reveals the dark side of socialism and how it is necessary to push God out of the picture. In the end, we must decide if we want to exchange faith & freedom for big government’s personalized care. Is it worth it?

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Show Notes

The 2020 election and the popularity of Marxism with young people.

What is Socialism

From each according to his ability to each according to his need.

The idea is that everyone owns a small part of the business so that they get their share of the profits. Does that happen? E.G. Venezuela where American oil companies were naturalized and Publix. Difference between 2.

A disadvantage to socialism is laziness and apathy.

“It is only when we have renounced our preoccupation with “I,” “me,” “mine,” that we can truly possess the world in which we live. Everything, provided that we regard nothing as property. And not only is everything ours; it is also everybody else’s” (ALDOUS HUXLEY, The Perennial Philosophy)

Group Think

For socialism to work, there has to be “group think” or complete agreement with one another.

Here are some things everyone in a socialist society need to agree on:

• People are Basically Good Except the Rich
• Theory of Victimization which Stirs Up Unrest (Everyone is either a victim or victiminzing)
• The Group is More Important than the Individual
• Wealth is Not Created, It Just Exists
• Hard Work is not Connected to Wealth
• Private Ownership should be replaced with Collective Ownership
• Goal of Business to Provide Jobs Rather than Make a Profit
• The Government Grants Rights rather than Protects God-Given Rights
• Government is the Provider Not God, providing Cradle to Grave Care
• God Does Not Exist or Intervene in the Affairs of Men
• Evolution

Conflict with Christianity

People are Basically Good Except the Rich

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).

These laws reveal our sin nature related to socialism

• “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15; Deuteronomy 5:19).
• “You shall not covet” (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21).

Theory of Victimization which Stirs Up Unrest

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).

“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 17:15).

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited” (Romans 12:16).

“Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the LORD” II Chronicles 30:12

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function” (Romans 12:4)

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them” (Romans 16:17).

The Group is More Important than the Individual

“But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor” (Galatians 6:4).

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Wealth is Not Created, It Just Exists

“But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:18).

Hard Work is not Connected to Wealth

“For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (II Thessalonians 3:11-12)

“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Ephesians 4:28).

“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?” (I Corinthians 9:7).

“Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread” (Proverbs 20:13).

Private Ownership should be replaced with Collective Ownership

“They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isaiah 65:21-22).

“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?” (I Corinthians 9:7).

Goal of Business to Provide Jobs Rather than Make a Profit

“Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored” (Proverbs 27:18).

“Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys” (Proverbs 18:9).

I said to them, “If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!” So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. -Zechariah 11:12

Equal Pay

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. …” (Matthew 20:1-34

“To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away” (Matthew 25:15).

“The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing” Proverbs 20:4

The Government Grants Rights rather than Protects God-Given Rights

The Lord allows us to choose Him, to choose to do or not to do what is right. Only God judges our thoughts and choices. The government can judge and punish our behavior if it harms other people or their property.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deut. 30:19)

Government is the Provider Not God, providing Cradle to Grave Care

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:2-4).

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

God Does Not Exist or Intervene in the Affairs of Men

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. -Psalm 103:19

“The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die. Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight. Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered” (Proverbs 11:18-21).

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. – Luke: 4:18-19

The Problem with Capitalism and Socialism

We live in a fallen world.

Capitalism needs a moral framework to keep greed under control

e.g. Colonial New England

Role of Government in Capitalism

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. (WINSTON CHURCHILL, speech in the House of Commons, “Demobilisation”, October 22, 1945)

Socialism NEVER works long-term!

Government is made of flawed people who live in a flawed world.

Socialists cry “Power to the people”, and raise the clenched fist as they say it. We all know what they really mean–power over people, power to the State. (MARGARET THATCHER, speech to Conservative Central Council, March 15, 1986)

Socialism creates dependence rather than freedom.

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