And for the past five months, you know what the number one news story has been about.
Something related to the coronavirus pandemic.
But do you remember what the top of the news was, number one story was about before the virus?
Broad subject, politics.
Specifically, the Democratic presidential primary.
But since March, the pandemic news has overall, if you balance it out over a week, has overshadowed political news.
Before March, when there were over a dozen Democrats running for their party's nomination,
all of them were either openly advocating the virtues of socialism in general,
or they were promoting socialistic programs like Medicare for All.
Those liberal Democrats were so unified in promoting a socialist agenda that some conservative commentators said that this year's election is going to be a referendum on socialism.
Now, in many ways, that's an accurate description of what will take place when we go to the polls on November the 3rd.
As Christians, it is important for us to understand that socialism is not just a political or economic issue.
It is a political issue.
It is an economic issue.
But it is also an ethical and biblical issue.
Socialism is a political and economic system that is contrary to the way God designed human beings to provide for themselves,
their families, and people in this country who legitimately cannot take care of themselves.
I want us to begin today to think biblically about socialism,
because it's something that every Christian needs to be aware of, concerned about, and actively opposing.
Let's begin by looking at what it is.
What is socialism?
I want to give you a couple of definitions that are representative of what you'll find basically anywhere if you do a Google search.
Various sources.
Here's representative definitions.
Socialism is any economic or political system based on government ownership and control of important businesses and methods of production.
Another source.
Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership
and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.
Secondary definition.
A system of society or group living in which there is no private property.
A system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.
R.C. Sproul, I think, does a good job of looking at those definitions and stating it in what I think is a helpful way for us to dive into it this morning.
Sproul says,
Now, liberal Democrats, led by Bernie Sanders and embraced by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,
call their version of socialism democratic socialism.
Now, they don't publicly advocate government ownership replacing private ownership,
the ownership of companies, businesses, industry.
Their plan is for government to so regulate private ownership to the point that the government,
for all practical benefits, it does control the companies, the businesses, industry.
Democratic socialists also advocate making things like medical care and a college education free to everyone.
Now, as thinking people you know, nothing in life is free.
Somebody has to pay for everything.
So these democratic socialists,
they plan to raise the taxes on every dime responsible working people,
earn, save, and invest,
so that they can make everything free for those who don't earn, save, and invest.
These democratic socialists plan to redistribute the wealth of responsible working people
by giving it to irresponsible, non-working people.
This is how democratic socialists define equality and fairness.
Now, before anyone accuses me of preaching politics this morning, which I am not doing,
let's look at how the Bible reveals that socialism is contrary to God's design.
How is socialism contrary to God's design?
That's the question we're going to answer now.
Let's begin by looking at the way God created human beings.
God created people to be stewards or managers of everything He created.
Now, we did a study of stewardship last year in 2019,
and we looked at how we are responsible to take what God entrusts to our care,
everything, our time, our talents, our treasures,
and responsibly manage those things.
We're called to steward, to manage everything God has created and given to us.
The Bible begins by telling us that God created the world and everything in it.
And by the way, I meant to say, we looked at that a year ago,
and I'm not going to go into great detail this morning.
I want to just sort of hit the high spots for an example.
You know, it goes without even having to put it on the screen.
God created this world and everything in it.
That's how the Bible begins.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
The fact that God created everything means that He owns everything,
and this is repeated throughout both the Old and New Testaments.
Here's a good example from Psalm 24.
The psalmist writes, the earth is the Lord's and everything in it.
The world and all who live in it.
The Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians,
quotes the first part of that verse.
The earth is the Lord's and everything in it.
God created human beings in His image,
and He intends for us to be stewards or managers
of all that He has created and owns.
I want you to look at two verses from Genesis 1
that points out how God created us
and put things under our care.
For an example, Genesis 1, 26.
Then God said,
Let us make man in our image after our likeness,
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the birds of the heavens,
and over the livestock,
and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
Then verse 28.
And God blessed them,
and God said to them,
Be fruitful and multiply,
and fill the earth,
and subdue it,
and have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the birds of the heavens,
and over every living thing that moves on earth.
God created human beings,
and only human beings in His image,
and gave them the privilege and the responsibility.
Subdue.
Get control of what I have created.
It is there for you.
It is there for you to manage.
It is there for you to use.
It is there for you to enjoy.
You've got to be responsible stewards.
Don't waste it.
Don't abuse it.
But take care of it,
and use it in a way that will bring glory to me,
and joy to you.
That's what God did in creating human beings,
and giving them the responsibility to take care of this world.
Wayne Grudem explains what this means in terms of stewardship.
Look at this.
The Hebrew word translated as subdue,
means to make the earth useful for human beings' benefit and enjoyment.
God was entrusting Adam and Eve,
and by implication,
the entire human race,
with stewardship over the earth.
This world that God's put us in,
He has given us the authority,
the responsibility,
and the privilege
to use it wisely,
to benefit from it.
I want you to think.
From the very beginning,
human beings have been given a God-given privilege
and responsibility
that no other creature
was ever given.
We have the privilege of using God's creation
for our benefit,
for our good,
for our enjoyment.
Think about that.
God created us
and said we can enjoy
what He's given us.
But there's also responsibility.
We've got to manage His creation wisely,
not abuse it,
not do anything to destroy it.
Be wise.
Take care of it
as you enjoy it.
Now,
when you look at the big picture
of creation,
the Bible is clear
that God owns everything
and we're stewards
or managers
of His creation.
But when you look at
what the Bible
specifically says,
what it teaches
about how we are
to live in this world,
the Bible clearly shows
that we are owners
of stuff.
We are private property owners.
us,
you and me,
as people.
God gave human beings
the privilege and responsibility
of having earthly ownership
of private property.
And this is the clear testimony
of Scripture.
For example,
the very first act of worship
that you find in the Bible
is in Genesis chapter 4.
The giving of offerings to God
by Adam and Eve's sons,
Abel and Cain,
they gave what we would call
a first fruit offering
from what they owned.
Look at it.
Now,
Abel was a keeper of sheep
and Cain,
a worker of the ground.
Abel was a shepherd.
He was a,
you know,
in today's term,
he was a cattle farmer.
Cain was a farmer
who planted crops.
Well,
in the course of time,
Cain brought to the Lord
an offering
of the fruit
of the ground.
And Abel also brought
of the firstborn
of his livestock.
Cain
took the land
that was his,
planted crops,
and at harvest time
presented an offering
to the Lord
from his crop
that he owned.
Abel
brought the firstborn
of his flock
that he owned,
presented it to the Lord
as an offering,
as a sacrifice.
R.C. Sproul explains
how this demonstrates
the existence
of human ownership
of private property
shortly after creation.
Look at it.
Notice that their offering
is validated
and that it belongs
to the one
who offered it.
The offertory system
of the Old Testament
makes no sense
when divorced
from the system
of private property.
One of the basic
stipulations
of making an offering
is that you present
something
which belongs
to you.
The right
of human ownership
is something
God has assigned
as part
of our covenant
partnership
with him
in creation.
Many of you
are familiar
with the Old Testament
sacrificial system.
You're familiar
with the giving
of tithes
and offerings.
The people of Israel
were required
to take
something
that they owned,
something that they
produced,
and give it
to the Lord.
They gave
of their income,
their resources,
what we call
financial resources,
as a tithe
to the Lord.
This is debatable
what I'm going
to say.
You may condemn
me for this
and I may have
been wrong.
I never gave
my boys
an offering
to give
at church
because they
can't give
my money
as their offering.
Now I know
the theory,
give them money
and let them
give it,
teach them
to give.
I like the idea
of making them
earn money
or take
their money
and they
give it
as an offering
to the Lord.
That's what the
whole sacrificial
system is about.
If you have
given or give
online or in person
of your tithes
and offerings,
you're giving
something that
you earned,
that you have,
that's yours
as an offering
to the Lord.
You can't give
unto God
if there's no
such thing
as private
property.
Private ownership
is the point.
The next major
passage of Scripture
that reveals
God's approval
of the ownership
of private property
comes from
the Ten Commandments.
The Eighth Commandment
says,
you shall not steal.
You know what it means
to steal?
To take something
that rightfully
belongs to
another person.
The Tenth Commandment
begins,
you shall not covet.
To covet means
that you have
an improper desire
to have what
rightfully belongs
to someone else.
God gave these
two of the Ten
Commandments.
Do not steal
and do not covet
because people
have a right
to own
possessions
and have
a law
prevent
other people
from taking
them away
from them.
People have
a right
to own
possessions
and have
those rights
protected
by law.
Now the New
Testament
repeats
both of these
commandments.
Paul on more
than one occasion
will write
and talk about
do not steal.
In fact,
he says to the thief
do not steal
but work,
make a living
so you can have
something to give
of your own.
Do not covet,
we are told
repeatedly
in some of
Paul's letters.
The right
of private
ownership
of property
and possessions
is a God-given
right
that is found
throughout the Bible.
It begins
at creation
nearly.
Genesis 4
is found
throughout the Old
Testament.
It's found
throughout the New
Testament.
Therefore,
any economic
system
like socialism
or communism
that prohibits
private ownership
or private
control of
property and
possessions
is unethical.
It's unbiblical.
It's contrary
to God's
design
of how life
is supposed
to work.
Therefore,
we in this
country,
as Christians,
this is a message
especially for
Christians,
we need to
get involved
in the
democratic process
of our
country.
We need to
exert influence.
We need to
talk to people
about why
socialism and
those who will
advocate advanced
socialism are
wrong and should
not be voted
into office.
We need to do
whatever we can
to oppose any
politician,
political party,
or government
action that
would take away
or regulate
away our
God-given
right to
enjoy the
private ownership
of property
and possessions.
Now,
let's look at
one more
foundational matter
that reveals how
socialism is
contrary to
God's design.
God calls
human beings
to take care
of His
creation and
themselves by
working,
by their
labor.
A lot of
people don't
think of work
as a God-given
blessing,
but that's how
God originally
intended that
work be seen
and done.
Work is found
in the Bible
before sin
took place,
before sin
entered the
world,
God gave
Adam and
Eve work
to do.
Look at that
verse 28
that we looked
at a while
ago.
And God
blessed them
and God
said to
them,
be fruitful
and multiply
and fill
the earth
and subdue
it.
Have
dominion.
It takes
effort.
It takes
work to
do that.
If you have
any doubts,
Genesis 2,
the Lord
took the man
and put him
in the garden
of Eden
2,
work it
and keep
it.
From the
very beginning,
God created
that first
couple with
responsibility,
with labor,
with work
to do
to take care
of the creation.
The idea
of work
being tall,
having briars
and thistles
and so forth,
that comes
from Genesis 3.
Genesis 3
describes the
result of the
fall.
When sin
entered the
world,
it made
work a
chore.
It made
it much
more difficult.
But work
has always
existed for
men and
women to
do.
It was a
part of God's
original good
creation.
salvation.
Now,
the Bible
is filled
with
statements
about the
importance
of people,
all people,
but especially
Christians,
working and
taking care of
yourself and
your family
and not
looking outside
of yourself
except to
God for
what it takes
to make a
living.
Let me give you
some examples.
Paul wrote
this to the
Thessalonian
Christians.
He says,
you should
mind your
own business
and work
with your
hands just
as we told
you so that
your daily
life may win
the respect of
outsiders and
so that you
will not be
dependent on
anybody.
It's important
to have a good
reputation in the
community to be
someone who works
and takes care of
what you have,
takes care of
your family,
takes care of
yourself instead
of being dependent
on someone else.
It is important
that we as
Christians look
to God for the
ability to
provide for
ourselves so
that no one
else will have
the burden,
individual,
the community,
the government,
of taking care
of us.
Another example,
in 1 Timothy,
Paul writes,
but if anyone
does not provide
for his
relatives and
especially for
members of his
household, he
has denied the
faith and is
worse than an
unbeliever.
Here's what Paul
is saying to
Christians.
Let me qualify
this first.
If a person is
unable to work
because of health
issues, emotional
issues, there's a
lot of different
reasons why a
person is unable
to work.
And the Bible,
we're going to
look at this next
week.
The Bible charges
us as Christians
with a responsibility
to take care of
those who through
no fault of their
own cannot take
care of themselves.
If a person,
anyone here,
anyone in your
family, who is
truly disabled,
unable to provide
for themselves and
their families,
that is not a
reason for shame.
And Paul is not
trying to shame
anyone like this.
But if a person
is able, but just
not willing, and
look at this verse,
and does not provide
for his relatives and
especially for members
of his household,
he has denied the
faith and is worse
than an unbeliever.
It is contrary to
the Christian way of
life to be lazy
and refuse to work
and provide for
yourself and your
family.
Let me put it even
more bluntly.
It is a sorry
human being who
refuses to take the
responsibility to
work and provide
for himself and
his family and
expect someone else
to take care of
him.
It is a sorry
human being,
according to the
Apostle Paul.
Such a person has
denied the faith.
He's worse than an
unbeliever.
He's destroyed his
Christian testimony and
witness.
That's what Paul is
talking about here.
And this is not the
final word.
One more.
He wrote another
letter to the
Thessalonians.
First letter didn't
get the job done with
some of these who
were unwilling to
work.
For even when we
were with you, we
would give you this
command.
If anyone is not
willing to work, let
him not eat.
Now these liberal
democratic socialists,
they don't agree with
Paul.
They want you to take
your money that you
work for and give it
to those who won't
work so that they will
not have to do
without.
That's not what Paul
says.
That's not biblical
teaching.
Again, we'll look next
week.
If people are unable,
through no fault of
their own, to provide
for themselves, they
should not go hungry.
We have a responsibility
as Christians to help
such people.
But here, if anyone's
not willing to work,
let him not eat.
For we hear that some
among you walk in
idleness, not busy at
work, but busy bodies.
Now such persons we
command and encourage
in the Lord Jesus
Christ to do their work
quietly and to earn
their own living.
It is vitally important
that we as Christians
understand we have a
God-given responsibility
to be productive in
this world, in our
economy, to work, to
make money, to save, to
invest, so that we'll be
able to take care of
ourselves and our
family.
And it's important to
say and point out today,
take care of ourselves
when we're no longer
able to work in our old
age.
We need to have savings
and investments for that
purpose.
Do not expect the
government to take care of
you for the rest of your
life.
R.C.
Spurl makes an important
statement that ties
together with what the
Bible says about work and
the ownership of private
property.
Look at this.
The sanctity of labor is the
ground basis for private
property.
In both the Old and New
Covenants, the call to labor
is an emphatic one bringing
fruit as its just reward.
We're supposed to reap the
benefits of our labor.
We're supposed to be able
to work and enjoy the fruit
of our labor because it's
ours.
There's a place to give, but
there's a place to enjoy
because it's yours, because
you worked.
That's God's economy.
Spurl goes on.
The avoidance of labor is
regarded as sin.
Paul commands labor as the
ethical norm.
God's plan from the
beginning was for people to
work and provide for
themselves and their
families and not be dependent
on other people or society
or the government to meet
your needs.
Now, there's a word of
caution and order here, I
hope that it's not
necessary, but I want to
throw it out just in case.
We must never think of
ourselves as being
independent from God.
I want you to look at what
is written in Deuteronomy
chapter 8 about what we're
talking about.
But remember the Lord your
God, for it is He who
gives you the ability to
produce wealth.
Then in 1 Corinthians, Paul
says, what do you have that
you do not receive?
If then you received it,
why do you boast as if you
did not receive it?
There's no place for any of
us in this room to be
prideful.
If you have thought to
yourself, I have worked
hard, I've been wise in
what I made, I've saved,
invested well, and you want
to pass yourself on the back,
don't do that.
There are people who work
harder than you, but they
haven't done as well as you
have.
For whatever reason, God
blessed you more than some
people who have greater
ability than you.
Just think about it.
Look around this room.
We're all very different.
We look different.
We have different levels of
intelligence, different
abilities, different skills.
It's not a matter of who's the
smartest, the best looking,
the hardest working person
always comes out on top.
It doesn't work that way.
So whatever it is that we
have, don't pass yourself on
the back.
Thank God that he gave you the
wisdom, the skill, the
motivation.
You followed through.
You used your intellect.
You used your skills.
You acted on that motivation.
Thank the Lord.
You were responsible.
But don't be prideful.
Don't brag on yourself.
Whatever we have, God gave it
to us.
And if you've prospered, just
thank him.
Let it be a reason to praise
him for his blessings.
But socialism, it is contrary
to God's plan.
Socialism teaches people the
opposite of what we looked at
this morning.
Socialism teaches people that
you don't have to work.
You don't have to support
yourself and your family.
Socialism says you can be
dependent on other people.
Socialism says look to the
government.
Work for a government check is
what socialism says.
Socialism says it's the
government's responsibility to
take care of everyone.
Even if they can work.
But just choose not to.
Socialism also robs working
people of the fruit of their
labor.
The right to own property.
The right to have things.
The right to save and have
money.
The right to enjoy what we
earn.
Next week we're going to look at
some of the things the Bible
says about the dangers of
wealth.
You can't cover everything in
one message.
But I want to make sure everybody
understands.
While the Bible in no way
condemns wealth.
The Bible in no way teaches us to
feel guilty if you have worked and
saved and invested well and you
have nice things.
That is not wrong.
It's not sinful.
But the Bible has much to say that
wealth can become our God.
We can real easily become greedy,
covetous people.
The Bible has much to say about
wealth ruining people.
Destroying Christians' homes.
Destroying our witness.
And we're also going to look at next
week about what the Bible says about
our responsibility to help those who
truly cannot work through no fault of
their own.
But today we need to understand
socialism is not a political or
economic system that will help our
country solve any problems.
Socialism is an unbiblical and
unethical political and economic
system that is a real threat to our
country's survival in the future.
In time, socialism will destroy our
country's economy just like it did
Venezuela in more recent times.
It will destroy our country's economy
and our ability to provide for
ourselves and our families as God
intends and as we historically have
been able to do in this country.
We need to pray much.
We need to vote.
We need to do whatever we can to
oppose radical democratic socialism
that is the focus of today's extremely
liberal democratic party.
That's not being politically taken one
side.
That is being that is just a statement of
fact.
It is the reality that anyone can see just
by reading what the democratic party
advocates today.
What leading democrats are saying today.
But I want us to end on this thought.
John Frame, respected theologian.
He talks about some of the things we're
talking about today.
He talks about some of the same things
R.C. Sproul and Wayne Grudem does,
agrees with them.
But as he comes to the end, some of his
discussions about economic issues and the
dangers of socialism, he does a good job of
helping us always stay focused on the right
thing, the most important thing.
Look at this.
But what the Bible will teach us above all
is this.
We should not put our trust in government,
private industry, or economic theory,
whether capitalistic or socialistic.
We should not be looking to government to
make us wealthy or to deal with the sins
that have led our nation to this point in
history.
Now, as never before, we should trust only
in the name of the Lord our God, the name
of Jesus Christ.
Government can never be our God.
But our ability to work and save and have,
we must never worship that as well.
We exist in this world as Christians
to glorify God in everything that we do.
We exist as Christians to know and do His will.
And as the economy is important, it is a
spiritual matter.
Systems like socialism, capitalism, they're
important matters.
Take this message to heart.
Act on it.
Influence others.
But when all is said and done, God is sovereign
over every nation.
The most socialistic, communistic, as well as
capitalistic nation.
And we need to be known more for our love for Him,
our commitment to all of His word,
than anything else.
So as we go today, now as never before, trust only in the
name of the Lord our God, the name of Jesus Christ, our
Savior and our Lord.
Let's pray together.
Father, help us to see now how we should respond,
how we should be salt and light, as Jesus called us to be in this
world, concerning the election, the economy, socialism, and these
matters.
But Lord, as we do this, help us to do it in a way that you are
honored, that we demonstrate Christlike character.
That if people oppose us, they oppose us because of the truth of
your word that we proclaim.
God, Lord, we're not going to be in this world, not because of our
hard-heartedness and bitter words and just plain lack of love and
concern for others.
Lord, make it clear what you want us to dwell on right now, how you
want us to respond, and leave here being influential Christians.
about these important matters.
Let's just, in an attitude of prayer, listen to the Lord and
respond to Him.
Amen.