Socialist Christian Order
Emails & Questions
Socialism under our Savior?
Will the Kingdom Be Socialist or Democratic?
Q: Isn’t the Christ going to establish Socialism when He returns? Didn’t the First Church practice Socialsim? We read how the First Church became a commune type of socialism. Everyone was sharing what they had for a single cause.
A: No, YaHshua, our Savior is not going to institute Socialism and it will not be Democratic either. He will, however, establish a totalitarian rule, sort of. I will explain, but first the answer to your second question. Did the First, Jewish Roots Church, practice socialism? Yes, they did and it was a total failure.
The First Church was founded in Jerusalem and in the excitement about the Gospel and the possibility that the Kingdom was about to come, they joined in a untied front of sharing. Some, went so far as to sell their homes and their property and pool their resources in a common destribution center that began to overwhelm the Apostles. It was decided to organize better and put people in charge to wait tables, wash dishes and destribute, equally the resource of these united baptized believers.
But first, here is the quick answer, and answer that should settle this once and for all, and then we will get into a little more detail. Here is the ultimate answer and when you add in what follows you will see that the social group or communal beginning, it did not last and was demonstrated that that was not the way for those called to the Messiah, YaHahu.
Hear This
2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he (or she or they) eat.
2Th 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
2Th 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord YaHshua the Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
That is the instruction given to the Church or ecclesia that came out of the preaching of the Gospel and to those claiming and confessing the Messiah, YaHshua, in repentance and acceptance of the New Covenant. If you are not willing to work, then you should not expect to be fed and to those who are working, to do it quietly and eat their own bread, that is, food. What follows will show how the First Group or ecclesia failed and need to be supported by others.
The first converts:
(Act 2:37) Now when they heard this, they (Jews from all parts of the Roman Empire) were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
(Act 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of YaHshua the Anointed for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Act 2:41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The first call to the Baptism of YaHshua produced about 3,000 people who willingly repented and confessed YaHshua as the coming King. Just think about the excitement. Everyone baptizing and being baptized in His Name. Soon, things had to be organized and with such a large group is seemed only natural that everyone would share whatever they had. This grew into an organized movement and would be the beginnings of the Socialist Church at Jerusalem -- but it was doomed to failure. Why? Because, as Prime Minister, Marget Thacher once said, in a question about Socialism -- “Sooner or later you run out of other people’s money”. This is exactly what happened with the First Church, social experiment, and it ended there.
How do we know it ended in failure? Because, collections had to be take to support the poor Christians at Jerusalem, even thought the movements Council was based at Jerusalem they had become so poor, having run our of other people’s money, that they had to rely on donations from those called to YaHshua in out lying communities of Jews and Gentiles.
(1Co 16:1-3) Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
(1Co 16:3) Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.
Some, from the Christian pulpits, have used these verses for and excuse to collect Tithes or offerings or for passing the collection basket on Sunday, and because everyone is, apparently, gathered together on the first day of the week, Sunday, it is assumed or take as verses condoning the gathering together of believers on Sunday as opposed to Saturday, the Seventh day of the week, which in truth, is the only day in all of the Hebrew/Christian Bible authorized as a Day of Rest that belongs to our Creator and was instituted as a blessing for mankind. Mankind, however, knowing so much more than their Creator, decided that day of worship should be changed to the SUN’s Day. That aside, what we see here is a collecting of money or goods, to be gathered through out the week or weeks before Paul was to arrive and meet with them on the first day of the week, to pick up the “collection” meant for the poor people of the Jerusalem Church.
The First Church, founded at Jerusalem engaged in a socialist experiment -- not by design but because of their enthusiasm to stay together and learn more and hear more and to be prepared for their Savior’s return. The context, running through most of the New Testament show that the people in the first groups and that first century thought that YaHshua was coming back soon, in their time. As it turned out the money or the resources this first body of believers started out with, ran out. Simple as that, and there is not one other place in all of the New Testament where this kind of union or order or government or governing body was encouraged -- it happened only at Jerusalem.
Because of this, and the Jerusalem example, we should all be suspicious of any group that attempts to get others to do the same thing, because, as Margret Thacher said, you will run out of other people’s money, sooner or later and then what?
No, the Church did not support a communist system.
When YaHshua returns, however, He will be the King of kings. No more rule by parliment, or the senate or the congress or a dual presidency. He will have absolute authority. A Master Dictator, with a final say about everything and absolute power. With a perfect personality, a perfect wisdom as ruler every decision would be correct and without error, something that is impossible with mankind, which, includes women. A dictatorship would be the perfect government if the Dictator were perfect in all ways and only serves to do the best for the most and to bless those who deserve to be blessed. This perfect Leader, this perfect King of kings will judge by the rules and conditions set in the righteousness of our Heavenly Father. The argument over what righteousness is or is not will be settled. Evil will be defined as well as what is good. No longer will men and women be allowed to call evil good and good evil, which is what we see everyday in the news. And this is what makes many of the leaders in the world seem crazy.
(Psa 52:2) Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit.
(Psa 52:3) You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. Selah
(Psa 52:4) You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue! NIV
(Pro 17:13) If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house. NIV
(Isa 5:20) Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
The Apostle Paul struggled with this very thing:
(Rom 7:18) I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
(Rom 7:19) For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.
(Rom 7:20) Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
(Rom 7:21) So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. NIV
From this honest account, we can be comforted in the knowledge that we are not alone in this struggle with what is evil warring with our Spirit of freedom and doing what is right. Evil is with us all the time, the pull away from perfection and this is why we need and must have a Savior. But, as we are instructed by this same Apostles, who suffered in the flesh as we do, now, he also told us that it is not the will of our Heavenly Father to commit or continue to live in evil, as if that makes the law of righteousness more righteous, proving it by our sin. No, we are to fight against the evil in us and around us we are to reject it, even though we are flawed we are never to stop struggling against the pull toward evil acts and thought. And it is the patience of the saints to continue in overcoming.
What is man’s (including women) response?
(John 18:37) Pilate therefore said to him, "Are you a king then?" YaHshua answered, "You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
(John 18:38) Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no basis for a charge against him.
(John 18:39) But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Therefore do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" YSRB
The Ultimate Answer:
(Rom 3:23-26) ...for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of the FATHER (God); being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in the Anointed, YaHshua; whom the FATHER set forth to be an Atoning sacrifice, through faith in His blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in the FATHER's forbearance; to demonstrate His righteousness at this present time; that He might Himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in YaHshua. YSRB
There it is, my friends, the ultimate sacrifice, removing all of your sins and making you and me, those not worthy of salvation, not really, being justified by our Faith, which is our Belief in YaHshua as the Only Begotten Son of the Living God, whose Name our Savior came in. It is His work for us.
Peace, we do pray, in His Name, YaHshua, HalleluYaH.
Questions and comments to: Servant@servantsofyahshua.com