Would Christian Socialism Work?

A Comparison of Christian Socialism

--Story from the internet--
Many people have sent this one to me. I don't know if it is true or not, but it is a fine example of socialism in action.

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single student, but had once failed an entire class.

The class (students) insisted that socialism worked since no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer. The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism."

"All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A."

After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who had studied hard were upset while the students who had studied very little were happy.

But, as the second test rolled around, the students who had studied little studied even less and the ones who had studied hard decided that since they couldn't make an A, they also studied less. The second Test average was a D.

No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around the average grade was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name calling, all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for anyone else.

To their great surprise all failed.

The professor told them that socialism would ultimately fail.

The harder people try to succeed the greater their reward (capitalism) but when a government takes all the reward away (socialism) no one will try or succeed.
--End of Story from the internet--



Socialism fails. But the early Christian church practiced a form of socialism, which we can call "Christian socialism," and it worked (see references below). But there is a very major difference.
Why did Christian socialism work?

If this were Christian socialism, the story would go more like this ...
The class immediately went to work. Those who were fast readers read out loud to a group who could not read as fast. Several study guides were distributed, so they could be compared and studied together. Study groups were set up, and everyone was involved.
Well, everyone except Albert. Albert has always done very poorly in school. Albert didn't show up to the study group, and he never looked at the study guide he received. Trying to help, the class organized a study group at Albert's house. They made sure he was involved, asking questions, and challenging his responses to make them better. Albert did not tolerate this for long. He sent them all away. He did continue to show up to the "coffee and cookies" study sessions, though he didn't seem to participate in much other than the cookies.
When the grades came back, most were As, a few Bs, and 1 F -- Albert.

In Christian socialism, standards and judgment are not taken away. It is community helping fellows, not averaging of results. It is everyone working together to meet the same standard, not redefining the standard to the average.

In socialism, judgment (result) is spread out so all share equally.
In Christian socialism, all share and work together to prepare each for the judgment.



The book of Acts shows us the example of Christian socialism.
Acts 2:44-45 "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need."
Acts 4:32-35 "All 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. . . . There 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 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."

However, we notice this striking difference that I mention above in these verses:
Acts 5:1-5
"Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened."

2 Thessalonians 3:10
"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."

I Timothy 5:8-10
"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds."