Socialism in the New Heaven and New Earth
We are not truly objective in our reading of the Scriptures. The culture into which we were born, and then develop our worldview, dramatically shapes our understanding of the Bible and how we interpret it. This is true in many areas of life, but one that has recently challenged my preconceived ideas is the contention that socialism could actually be a Biblical concept. My upbringing in a culture that champions capitalist ideals directly affects how I respond to such a statement. Is it true that the principles of a much maligned economic system are actually Biblical?
As you read the narrative of the Bible, you get a picture of God’s concern with those who are being tread upon and overlooked, while His harshest rebukes are directed toward those who are the oppressors. There are well-known statements which some in society are unaware have their origin in the words of Jesus Christ. One of them is recognized as the Golden Rule. Jesus said, “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matt. 7:12 NIV). In the kingdom of God, unlike in the empires of this world, we are to treat others the way we would want to be treated. I argue that citizens in God’s kingdom are actually treated as human beings in the original intent that they were created by a relational Creator. There is a level of respect afforded you, regardless of your status and role in society, due simply to the fact that you have been created in God’s image. In the kingdom of God, this is fully realized and carried out.
Another statement from Jesus gives us a view into how the kingdom of God operates. He declares that many who are first in the domains and systems of this world will actually be last, and those who have been overlooked and have fallen behind will essentially be first. Jesus first clarifies that those who are sacrificial in their devotion to the Gospel will be well-compensated in the next age, while in this life, they will appear to suffer loss (Mark 10:29–30). He then goes on to announce, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first” (verse 31 ESV). This is not as simple as telling everyone in a line to do an about-face so that those who were at the end of the line are now at the beginning. It is a concept that challenges human nature at its core.
Our place in society will dictate how we view these words of Jesus. If our status in this life is over others, we cannot simply change our position or station in life with the motive to increase our rank in God’s kingdom. In fact, this attitude is completely contradictory to the edicts of the kingdom of God. One cannot, with false humility, move to the back of the line while dramatically ushering those he is replacing to move to the front. Jesus simply means that the playing field will be leveled. Think about it this way, if I am accustomed to being treated with respect and dignity, and I am suddenly equal to those that I have looked down upon, it will feel as if I have been reduced to a much lower status. Conversely, if I am familiar with being ignored and tread upon, and I am suddenly elevated to the same level of those who oppressed me, it will feel as if I have been raised to a level above them. However, the reality is that in God’s kingdom, we are all on equal footing.
Peter Dreier believes that Jesus’ words were not simply meant to instruct us to be kind and considerate of others on a daily basis. He wrote of Jesus, “He was also talking about those in government who ruled over others, including the priests who ruled Judea for Rome” (Dreier). He went on to clarify that Jesus included even those who ruled the Roman Empire. This seems extreme, since most of us would argue that the kingdom of God is not the kingdom of this world. Even Jesus said, “But my kingdom is not from the world” (John 18:36 ESV). So who is right? Is our role as followers of Christ to simply be His ambassadors to our culture in our smaller sphere of influence? Or are we called to seek change at a societal and governmental level? I believe that each must face this question honestly. Your answer may be different than mine, and that is okay. However, we should not gloss over these questions and stick with our knee-jerk reaction.
Depending on your social and religious upbringing, terms like Christianity and socialism could be as compatible as oil and water. For many, being a Christian means you are conservative in areas of economics and politics, so the word socialism is contradictory to all you hold dear. I think this may be true because most of us are not well-versed in how politics and economics intersect, and so we confuse socialism with communism. We have seen how the concepts of socialism have been carried out by brutal and egotistical dictators, so we lazily dismiss the theories of socialism. Capitalism has worked for many in our society, while communism has a history of failure. Socialism can be defined as “An economic system in which goods and services are provided through a central system of cooperative and/or government ownership rather than through competition and a free market system” (What is Socialism). This flies in the face of all we have learned, and all we hold dear in our capitalist society.
In a culture that prides itself on hard work and self-made success stories, the idea of taking care of those who cannot (or will not, depending on your perspective) work for themselves, frustrates some people. In a system of survival of the fittest, the foot of the strong is often on the neck of the weaker. For those who have done well in this economic system, it has worked. Most of us know someone who, through hard work and dedication, have reversed their standing in society. Our economic structure allows for and encourages these success stories. Unfortunately, this is not everyone’s story. I would be willing to bet that each of us also knows someone who, no matter how hard they work, continue to fall farther and farther behind.
It is not shocking then that many view this disparity in our culture and call for us to consider how the concepts of socialism could alleviate many of our societal woes. With all of this in mind, as followers of Christ, how should we view socialism? Is part of the reason the ideals of socialism are difficult for some Christians to see working in society due to the fact that we have only seen them abused? Is it the fact that sin, selfishness, greed, and hunger for power have tainted the ideals that actually find their root in Acts 2:44–45 when the early church took care of the needs within their local assembly? Christians may concede that some of the concepts of socialism can be found in the Gospel, but it is harder for some to see how it can be realistically applied to a flawed system run by flawed people. What if the effects of sin were removed? Would socialism look a lot more Christian?
The prophet Isaiah, hundreds of years before the incarnation of Jesus Christ, spoke of a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17). The writer of Hebrews addressed it (12:26–28) as did the apostle Peter (II Peter 3:12–13). But the most vivid descriptions of the pending fulfillment of God’s kingdom fully realized come from John’s Revelation. As we read the closing chapters of the Bible, we see that the eternal destination we are seeking is a new heaven and a new earth when all will be restored and redeemed. We are told that Jesus will ultimately wipe away tears, and that death will be banished, and weeping and pain will have passed away (21:4). In this kingdom, all that separates and creates division will be expelled. All will be free to drink from the water of life and enjoy the fruit and leaves of healing trees (22:1–2).
One distinguishing focus for Christians for the past two centuries is the hope that Christ will return to restore all that has was broken by the fall in the Garden of Eden. John closes his apocalyptic letter with bride of Christ crying out for the Lord to “Come” and restore all things (22:17). In this new heaven and new earth, we are told that the predator will lie down with the prey and not devour it (Isaiah 11:6). If even nature lays aside its instinct to consume that which is weaker, can we not also conclude that the structures and systems of this world will also be abolished to give each person an equal share and portion in the kingdom? I contend that once God’s kingdom is fully in place, He will be the provider and sustainer of each one of us with no partiality. We will not lose our uniqueness or personality, but we will all have the same status in the kingdom because our gracious King has bestowed it upon us lavishly.
Works Cited
Dreier, Peter. “Jesus Was A Socialist.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 25 Dec. 2016, www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/jesus-was-a-socialist_b_13854296.html.
“What Is Socialism? Definition and Meaning.” BusinessDictionary.com, www.businessdictionary.com/definition/socialism.html.
