Christianity vs. Socialism

I am not trained in economics, but from what I can see socialism seems to bring out the worst in people. For those who receive help, the danger of an entitlement attitude seems too strong of a temptation to overcome. For those who give the help, the danger of social, and therefore, emotional separation seems too easy of a temptation to overcome. It brings out the worst in people. On the one hand a person becomes apathetic about their responsibility to provide for their family. On the other hand a person becomes apathetic about their responsibility to care for families around them and not just write a check.

Christianity demands more of people and produces a better result. In 1 Timothy 5 Paul is training his young protégé in the social functions of the pastorate and the church. He is teaching him how people are to be cared for and how they are to give care within a church family. His instructions require the leaders of each family to provide for their family. 1 Timothy 5:7-8 Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. 8If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. How’s that for high expectations and clear accountability? If you don’t provide, it is clear you not only don’t believe, but are even worse than an unbeliever.

The church is then responsible for those who cannot care for themselves. 1 Timothy 5:3-5 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. The people of the church incapable of working and providing for their needs must be cared for by the church. Note that they are to be people of the church being cared for by the people in the church.

I love the way I see this happening in our church. We have a benevolence fund, but that is more of a last resort option in my opinion. What I see happening is people who are in small group, service team, or an adult bible fellowship caring for each other. Someone loses a job and the others come together and help out until they get on their feet. A young mother has to go back to work to help make ends meet and another mom provides child-care. Two families with changing needs swap houses rather than incurring unnecessary expenses in buying and selling a home. Someone is called to go to Africa, so everybody chips in to cover the costs, provides meals for the person’s family while they are gone, and helps with child-care and other errands. A health crises erupts suddenly and people are taking shifts to stay with the one in the hospital and helping out at the family’s home to keep things going.

It’s not complicated. It’s love. It’s Christianity and it brings out the best in people receiving and giving the help. There is no sense of entitlement nor is there a buffer of separation. It’s just people doing life together.