Pod Prep: 7-13-18
Does the Bible Support Large Central Government or Less Government ?
IS SOCIALISM RECOMMENDED BY THE BIBLE ?
Does God support the idea of huge governments that can dole out funds for the needy? Does God lean toward big government programs to help everyone? Big government socialist supporters sometimes try to use the Bible to garner support for their many programs. Are they correct or is it an issue where the Bible indicates no preferences. What does God think of the welfare state?
2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (NKJV)
Paul is quite blunt ! He makes it clear that the welfare state where able bodied people do not work is not good for Christians. It is not good for society. The expression idle hands are the devil tools comes to mind.
2Th 3:11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. (NKJV)
Christianity is about becoming a giver and not a taker. Paul wants us to do good works like giving to others and not taking advantage of the system. Some may ask, ' Did not the church start off in a commune' ? Wasn't that a form of communism which is total socialism a government that owns everything ?
Ac 5:2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." (NKJV)
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF THE EARLY CHURCH BEING A COMMUNIST COMMUNE IS NO , There was no such thing! God struck Ananias dead and everyone learned that God was not to be trifled with. Peter makes it clear that the early church was based on voluntary charity not on government like coercion or taxation. God loves a charitable and generous person. Ananias wanted the credit to be elevated without doing the full generous deed. He thought he could manipulate God's church.
WE WANT A KING NOT GOD'S FORM OF SMALL GOVERNMENT
The history of God's people Israel had a very revealing episode with regard to large central government. As the great prophet Samuel is getting older and retiring , people come forward with a new demand. They wanted a king.
1Sa 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD.
Samuel knew immediately that this would be displeasing to God and was sinful. This sudden change of government after all these centuries was a shock. He needed to talk with God about it. In private prayer he no doubt said to God ,if I deny their impudent request they will turn against me. Yet if I agree with their demands that would be against your will Jehovah or Yahweh. God said don't be too upset over this request.
1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 "According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day-with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods-so they are doing to you also. (NKJV)
God saw their true intent even better than the people saw it themselves. What they really wanted was to get further away from the ruler ship of the true God. The carnal Israelites never really liked following or obeying the true God. They no doubt convinced themselves that they only wanted a human champion riding on a white horse to take care of them. They also wanted a big central government to look to for protection and sustenance. Prior to the period of kings , Israel had basically a local governmental structure with a high priest or prophet to settle national matters when necessary. They had no IRS to collect taxes. Your tithing was a private matter between you and God. They were warned about the burden of a big central government administered by a royal line.
1Sa 8:11 And he said, "This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 "He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 "He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 "And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 17 "He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 "And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day." (NKJV)
They were told about the burdensome taxes of big central government and other human costs and loss of freedom. Yet the people refused to believe. They felt like that might be what happens to pagan nations but it would not happen to them. Most socialist today if told about the many countries that suffered so much under communism or many countries now that have over half their income taxed away think , well ,the wrong people were in charge. If they were in charge it would work and be paradise. Carl Marx promised paradise instead of the starvation nightmare the communist empire delivered. They murdered over 100 million of their own citizens. Remember this phrase by the famous historian Lord Acton.
ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY !
Joseph Stalin is the poster child proving this maxim's eternal truth. Large central governments have too much unchecked power over our lives. Socialists like Hitler ( NAZI stands for national SOCIALIST party) have a lot of power over the individuals and communist have total power over their citizens political and economic lives. They allow NO private property. The government totally runs everything and the economy.
GOD WARNS THE PEOPLE AGAIN
Samuel told the people that up to this point God was their king. He ran the country. God led with high priests and prophets and small government with individual liberty. Whenever they needed a deliverer or champion God gave them one. He gave them Moses when needed. Samuel explained that they were just looking for an excuse to move away from God's leadership.
1Sa 12:6 Then Samuel said to the people, "It is the LORD who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.
7 "Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did to you and your fathers: 8 "When Jacob had gone into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. 11 "And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. (NKJV)
God was going to allow them to have a king anyway but wanted them to know that it was a sinful mistake. Samuel asked God to give them a surprising rainstorm out of season to punctuate God's displeasure.
1Sa 12:17 "Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking a king for yourselves." 18 So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19 And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves." (NKJV)
They saw that it was an act of turning further away from God and when we Americans took religion out of the public square we did the same thing. When people ask for a purely secular government and schools we are also moving further away from God's leadership. No Bible influence is allowed anymore!
IS CAPITALISM SUPPORTED BY THE BIBLE ?
Social programs that help the disadvantaged get stronger are obviously good. Charity that helps individuals move away from dire needs is wonderful. However stealing from the rich ends up spreading poverty. It is as if a law exists the eight commandment that when one violates one of God's laws it creates harm. People with capital create jobs for many. THE BIBLE advises one to diversify investments Eccl 11:1-2. Entrepreneurs create new industries and firms that make a society wealthier. God likes capital success. Governments that STEAL capital find that it dries up in the future making all poorer.
Mt 25:14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 "Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 "And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 "But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 "After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
The Lord of these investors indicated his pleasure with their capitalistic gains and successes.
20 "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22 "He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' (NKJV)
God uses this analogy more than once in the New Testament. He believes in investing for the future even though this is speaking more of spiritual gains than just monetary. God's laws support private property and therefore capitalism. Big central government means less freedom and more ungodliness.
