Was Christ a communist?

Acts 2: 42, 44, and 45:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and in fellowship ... 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things in common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Matthew 19:16-2416 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why do you ask me about what is good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

brennakimi writes:i don't buy for a second that to be a christian you have to be a communist or live in abject poverty.

Saint Benedict's vision was a monastery with its fields and workshops that was self-contained and self-supporting. A monk was to think nothing as being his own property but all belonged to all. This ideal was a type of Christian communism like the apostles practiced. It was the early Christians in Jerusalem that Benedict cited for his precedent, all shared in the common stock. This same type of communalism still exists among the best Christian groups today. Upon arriving to America at Plymouth, the Pilgrims initiated communism and for seven years there was to have been no private ownership of land, and everyone was to have been fed and clothed from the common stock. It didn't last long.

being self-sufficient is an honorable goal. but you didn't ask if early american christians or benedictine monks had communistic societies, you asked if jesus was a communist. i answered your question.

brennakimi writes:there's nothing communist about giving away all you own and living off the kindness of others.

Ringo writes:It seems to me that He wasn't saying, "Don't be rich." He was saying, "Don't be too rich."
He was advocating redistribution of wealth, not equality of wealth.

brennakimi writes:but jesus specifically acted outside of any form of government. communism is a government instituted equalization of income.

Communism, as such, implies not only the abolition of social classes and private property, but the state as well. Christian communists, like all communists, do not wish to abolish the state in the near future; rather, they seek to abate it gradually over a long period of time. Nevertheless, the fact that they do support the eventual dissolution of government has drawn criticism from other Christians who attribute an intrinsic, hierarchical government to the kingdom of God. Most notably, Biblical prophecy in the Book of Isaiah 9:6-7 holds that the Second Coming of Jesus will result in the creation of a government by God on Earth:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (King James Version)One Christian communist reply is that a government by God is fundamentally different from a government by human beings, and that they oppose the latter but not the former. Some Christian communists argue that the Second Coming will render all human politics irrelevant, and therefore their political goals ” including the creation of a communist society and the abolition of government ” only apply to the period of time left before the Second Coming. Others believe that the utopian society established by Jesus after the Second Coming will practice many, but not all, of the features of communism.

nem jugg writes:However, since the ideal of communism is a very pure belief, the real question is why no one is able to make it a lasting reality.

Mathew 19:24 writes: And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

nem writes:This is a caveat about the superficial love of money and how to avoid its pitfalls.

Ringo writes:I hesitate to use the modern terminology. I think Jesus would have agreed with, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." But He would have emphasized that the distribution was up to individual consciences.

Instead of buying a second pair of shoes, I could give the money to a shoeless man. But how do I know he would spend the money on shoes instead of booze?

brennakimi writes:the simplified explanation that people in this country get about communism is quite flawed.
'first the capitalists are overthrown by a mob and then there is an anarchical system where people just give each other stuff.'it's crap. capitalism develops into a socialist system of the redistribution of wealth to ensure that everyone gets both what they need and what they deserve.

this is an occasion where wiki is really not your best source. i'd suggest a solid comparitive political theory book

brennakimi writes:and yet you keep arguing about christians being communists. that's not a legitimate argument. just because i have a classfull of students who decide to start a genocide after attending my class doesn't mean i'm a genocidaire.

brennakimi writes:and just because they decide that the scripture tells them that they should be communistic doesn't mean that jesus was a communist. it's not a legitimate argument.

Acts 4:32-37:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. (King James Version)

Ringo writes:I have already suggested that Jesus' instruction to "sell what you have" was not universal. I'll ask again: Who would they sell to?