As painstakingly as generations of Americans have tried to keep politics and religion separate in this country, the holistic nature of human nature will simply not allow it. It is simply impossible for one's religion, or lack thereof, to fail to impact one's politics. Too often, however, the inverse takes place--one's political leanings bend and contort his/her religion. This became apparent as Donald Trump was not only nominated despite his moral problems, but actually hailed as the savior of the American theocracy by some extremists. The other side of the aisle cannot claim to be innocent of this either as liberals have often imported the modern welfare state into the Bible, painting Jesus as the bleeding-heart type who would've supported the redistribution of wealth they so ardently desire.
The truth is that the Bible does not teach communism, or even socialism, at least not the kind that threatened to destroy Europe in the second half of the 20th century. The Bible does, however, present a specific kind of communism--spiritual communism. In Romans 12:1-2 Paul implores the Romans to differentiate themselves from the world by dedicating their bodies to God as a living sacrifice. The remaining 19 verses of the chapter describe how to accomplish this: by utilizing our spiritual gifts (charismata) to bless the body of Christ. He reminds them that, despite the diversity of personalities and gifts within the Church, we are ultimately one, and, therefore, that every God-given talent we have has been given to us for the advancement of the entire body.
Our culture encourages us to use our gifts purely for self-advancement, but the Bible teaches us that we have been given our spiritual gifts to bless the body and advance the Kingdom, not to garner ourselves fame or fortune. Just as Jesus emptied himself and became a servant, so, too, must we. John Calvin said it well in his Institutes:
Some Christians may not believe that they have any spiritual gifts, but if you have the Spirit, you have a gift. If you are a Christian, you have the Spirit. Therefore, all Christians have spiritual gifts. All Christians have some role to play, some purpose to serve, in the body. Some gifts may be more noteworthy (humanly speaking), but all gifts are equally important because they all are designed to benefit the entire body. Your gifts are not your gifts--they're ours. Your gifts do no belong to you--they belong to Jesus Christ. Simply not utilizing them is not an option. Ask the man who buried his talent (the monetary unit) under the ground!
This, and this alone, is the communism commanded by the Bible. Though Biblical principles may rule out certain ideas, the Bible does not stipulate a specific economic system that we must employ. For some of us sharing our gifts might specifically mean that we share our money with others, and we are all certainly called to be generous with our finances, but that is part of the bigger calling that we have to use everything that we own and everything that we are to bless the body of Christ.
The truth is that the Bible does not teach communism, or even socialism, at least not the kind that threatened to destroy Europe in the second half of the 20th century. The Bible does, however, present a specific kind of communism--spiritual communism. In Romans 12:1-2 Paul implores the Romans to differentiate themselves from the world by dedicating their bodies to God as a living sacrifice. The remaining 19 verses of the chapter describe how to accomplish this: by utilizing our spiritual gifts (charismata) to bless the body of Christ. He reminds them that, despite the diversity of personalities and gifts within the Church, we are ultimately one, and, therefore, that every God-given talent we have has been given to us for the advancement of the entire body.
Our culture encourages us to use our gifts purely for self-advancement, but the Bible teaches us that we have been given our spiritual gifts to bless the body and advance the Kingdom, not to garner ourselves fame or fortune. Just as Jesus emptied himself and became a servant, so, too, must we. John Calvin said it well in his Institutes:
But Scripture, to lead us by the hand to this [loving our brethren], warns that whatever benefits we obtain from the Lord have been entrusted to us on this condition: that they be applied to the common good of the church. And therefore the lawful use of all benefits consists in a liberal and kindly sharing of them with others.
Some Christians may not believe that they have any spiritual gifts, but if you have the Spirit, you have a gift. If you are a Christian, you have the Spirit. Therefore, all Christians have spiritual gifts. All Christians have some role to play, some purpose to serve, in the body. Some gifts may be more noteworthy (humanly speaking), but all gifts are equally important because they all are designed to benefit the entire body. Your gifts are not your gifts--they're ours. Your gifts do no belong to you--they belong to Jesus Christ. Simply not utilizing them is not an option. Ask the man who buried his talent (the monetary unit) under the ground!
This, and this alone, is the communism commanded by the Bible. Though Biblical principles may rule out certain ideas, the Bible does not stipulate a specific economic system that we must employ. For some of us sharing our gifts might specifically mean that we share our money with others, and we are all certainly called to be generous with our finances, but that is part of the bigger calling that we have to use everything that we own and everything that we are to bless the body of Christ.
Comments
Post a Comment