On the surface, Marxism seems to have charitable intent which many would believe overlaps with Christian doctrine. It’s only when one takes a closer look at the implementation of Marxist principles do we see the stark differences which are rooted in motivations of the heart and individual liberties.
Marxism is a system, both political and economic, in which resources are owned and shared by the government or the public. The masses are more important than the individual. “They [Communists] openly declare that their ends can only be attained by the forcible overthrow of existing social conditions” (p.150). Given that most citizens are not willing to contribute all their labor and property to the state for the benefit of the masses, Marxism …show more content…
Marxism seeks to redistribute wealth from the rich to balance the classes in society. The poor are the responsibility of all. With Christianity, Matthew 6:24 states, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." The focus of wealth for Christianity is on the motivation of the heart in that money does not become one’s god. When it comes to the poor, James 2:14-17 states, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Christianity prescribes care for the poor, but says it should be a by-product of one’s faith, meaning, there should not be a need to compel a believer to help the poor since a believer will feel drawn to do so …show more content…
Acts 4:32-35 reads, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the Apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." The Bible describes the communal nature of the early church, but it does so to illustrate the motivations of the hearts of believers. The willingness of Christians to care and love one another was symptomatic of their conversion and the narrative was merely descriptive, not prescriptive. The focus of Christianity is on the submission of one’s heart and will to Christ, not the works that are the side-effects of that
Marxism is a system, both political and economic, in which resources are owned and shared by the government or the public. The masses are more important than the individual. “They [Communists] openly declare that their ends can only be attained by the forcible overthrow of existing social conditions” (p.150). Given that most citizens are not willing to contribute all their labor and property to the state for the benefit of the masses, Marxism …show more content…
Marxism seeks to redistribute wealth from the rich to balance the classes in society. The poor are the responsibility of all. With Christianity, Matthew 6:24 states, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." The focus of wealth for Christianity is on the motivation of the heart in that money does not become one’s god. When it comes to the poor, James 2:14-17 states, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Christianity prescribes care for the poor, but says it should be a by-product of one’s faith, meaning, there should not be a need to compel a believer to help the poor since a believer will feel drawn to do so …show more content…
Acts 4:32-35 reads, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the Apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." The Bible describes the communal nature of the early church, but it does so to illustrate the motivations of the hearts of believers. The willingness of Christians to care and love one another was symptomatic of their conversion and the narrative was merely descriptive, not prescriptive. The focus of Christianity is on the submission of one’s heart and will to Christ, not the works that are the side-effects of that