the fight of faith

The following are some thoughts stirred up by a message from Tyler David (excerpts from his message italicized and in "quotes" below). Tyler is one of several teaching elders/pastors in my former church.

"One of the most conscious and consistent ways you can love God is by striving (battling/fighting) to live for his will more (rather) than our own." 

"The constant for the Christian is the fight against sin (i.e. unbelief or distrust)."

"Faith does not make you sinless it makes you fight." 

Some related thoughts:

I would add that faith is the fight i.e. fighting to trust or not trust God is at the heart of the battle against sin. 

The essence or heart of sin (all ⁴wrong/ bad actions) is distrust in God. Was this not at the heart of Adam and Eve's rebellion?

When do we choose relief - i.e. self-comforting through some temporary gratification to ease our pain - over the fight against unbelief? When we stop believing that what we are fighting for (i.e. Gods way and design) is better-more rewarding than immediate relief from the pain of pursuing God. Denying ourselves immediate gratification - i.e. taking up our cross - is painful. That's why it's called a cross. 

To say this another way, when we believe what we are getting, from some form of immediate gratification, is better and more rewarding than what we are giving up long term - i.e. the delayed gratification promised by God - we stop our faithful pursuit of Him.

"You should never be discouraged because you ¹always are in the fight, you should be discouraged (concerned) if you wish to no longer engage in the fight."

The problem with indulging in our natural human desires is they only give temporary satisfaction and always have negative repercussions; if not immediately, eventually, and particularly in eternity.

1Pe 2:21 "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps (i.e. suffer like him). 22 He committed no sin, (he never stopped trusting or turned away from God in his suffering), neither was deceit found in his mouth." i.e. not only were his actions right but everything he said was true, not misleading...

1Pe 2:23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but instead he continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly (Christ never stopped believing his Father's goodness and that His Father always did good and right by him in all he called him to say, do, and allowed him to go through/ experience, even in the midst of His experiencing great opposition). 

22 He committed no sin... i.e.  Jesus'  attitude was "I am going to trust the promises of my Father over the comforts/ promises of sin, even if that means suffering loss of relief in the moment."  This was the essence of his response to the satan (the deceiver and accuser) when He was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness. Because Christ did this, it enabled him to suffer well (endure) and not verbally lash out or strike back at those who caused his pain, i.e. Christ was long-suffering... He suffered over an extended period.

What is natural for you (us) without God in your life is actually contrary to what is best for you according to God's design/will.

Seeking immediate gratification or comfort is only natural because of our present state of pain due to our rebellion...not because of our original design, but rebellion to that design (and the Designer).

Our natural (fallen untrusting) heart seeks to find life apart from God, when it's just not possible (at least long term), simply because we are designed by God and for God and therefore can only find true meaning, fulfillment and purpose in and through God. This is the only way, simply because it is the way we are made as His image bearers, designed to receive and reflect back His love to Him and out to others.

That's not saying we can not find any meaning-fulfillment-purpose outside of God (we obviously can and do), just not lasting meaning, fulfillment and purpose and therefore not true meaning-fulfillment-purpose i.e. whatever we do find or gain apart from God is temporary and superficial.

The immediate comfort, relief and meaning we are able to obtain appears to be true because it is what we are experiencing "in the moment" i.e. It is what seems most real only because it is what we are presently experiencing. Yet when the moment passes we find ourselves left still wanting and looking again, never truly or fully finding what we seek.

What comes natural to you and me, leads to death. What seems most enjoyable and satisfying in the moment is usually what is most harmful and destructive long term.

What is actually best for us is contrary to what we naturally desire. This in itself is evidence of the power and deception of sin; of our blindness and unbelief i.e. that which brings us greatest satisfaction or relief in the moment is actually a means to our ultimate destruction, not our best long term. This is the essence of why Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Faith and trust in God is not what comes "natural" to us (it is supernatural) i.e. it must be God focused and inspired. 

Choosing God must be a conscious, deliberate choice. A choice based on the promises of God and who He is. A choice that believes God keeps his promises and what He calls us to is better than what we are naturally inclined to. In our present fallen condition and without the Spirit of God revealing to us the beauty of God, we default to distrust in God, seeking things to satisfy us apart from Him. In short, to use the biblical expression, we seek to be our own god.

We are so utterly blind to the love and goodness of God we choose to pursue that which results in our ultimate destruction instead of Him who is life. The true nature of our condition is ²we would not seek or pursue God at all if He did not reveal His beauty and loveliness to us.

Of course, the opposite is true. What is often hardest and most painful, most faith demanding is usually what is best for us. Not short term, but long term; not in the moment but in eternity, where it matters most.

And this is where faith comes in. God tells us death to (or loss of) temporary pleasures ultimately increases our capacity and experience of life (God) now but but even more importantly, in eternity. Delayed gratification can only happen by faith. 

So it all comes down to faith. What (who) do we believe knows best and is best. Do we believe God and what he tells us (promises) is best or do we latch on to the immediate pleasure of something (or someone) other than God, believing it is best?

This was the choice presented to Adam and Eve in the beginning. They chose the latter (being their own god i.e. to sustain themselves apart from God), which we still are naturally inclined toward to this very day.

The greatest source - generator and instiller of trust in God's love for us and his desire for our good, is Jesus. If or when you are tempted to question the love and goodness of God, look at Jesus - what he deliberately and willfully put himself through for us, for you - to restore us back to our Father. 

Why would he do that? Why would he and the Father agree to do for us what we needed most and could never do for ourselves when we totally rejected him and the life he alone gives? WHY!!?? It is certainly not because God needed to or felt he had to fix the mess we felt He created (he actually didn't but from our perspective we think he did) by allowing man to make a choice to reject him, when he knew we would.

But we would not truly be like God if we did not have our own understanding (ability to think/reason) and choice.

A most important prayer

God help me to see you more and more in all your beauty, goodness and love so that I might fall more in love with you and entrust myself more fully into your care so I might live more fully for your honor and glory.

Participating in God's love more fully

Often a key way God reveals himself more fully to us is in our acting in faith that he is exactly who he claims to be; God is most beautiful, lovely, trustworthy and good even if we can't see it at the time. 

Trusting God is exactly who he claims to be, brings God honor and joy. 

Christ also tells us if we are faithful in a little, we will be entrusted with more.

Not just greater resources necessarily, but greater responsibility and the resources needed to carry it out. He who is faithful with a little is given more but also to him whom much is given much is required.

So when we step out in obedience by faith, we do so believing God is exactly who he claims to be and will do what he promises, while also asking God to reveal who He is more fully.

We all must operate by faith

Everyone has a trust issue, i.e. no one can operate without trusting someone or something. The reason is simple; we are not all-knowing/wise or all-powerful. We don't have all the information we need to know whether we are taking the best course of action and even if we did know, we don't have the ability (power) to act/execute the task according to that knowledge.

A primary way we attempt to handle this is by dismissing the reality that there is design in the world (the unbelieving hearf says there is no designer. Everything came about by chance over a long period of time i.e. it evolved vs created). This enables us to justify not living according to God's will/design. 

However, if there is design, there is a right and wrong way to operate i.e. we should operate according to how things are designed to operate (i.e. in harmony with God, the designer). If we do, we are in harmony with how things operate and if we don't; we are not i.e. doing things a certain way matters. To not be in harmony means we are in disharmony i.e. operating in conflict, discord, friction, etc. This leads to destruction; our crashing and burning, so to speak.

We may despise the battle - the fight of faith - but love the fruit i.e. a closer union with God. If and when we discover the best way to obtain fruit is in and through the battle, we learn to ³love the battle as much as we love the fruit.

For a further discussion on how the righteous live by faith, click here.

For a further discussion on the anatomy of motivation, click here. 

For a further discussion on how faith is hard work click here
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¹Always being in the fight of faith is a common experience because we are broken [untrusting] and living in a broken (unbelieving/rebellious) world. Expect it, don't be surprised by it.

²whatever desire for God or joy we find/experience in seeking God is only because God has awakened our heart by his love.

To do so God often has to allow us to go through great pain 1st.  For more on this click here.

³i.e. to love the means as well as the end.

⁴at the heart of all good and right actions is faith i.e. trust in God.

Cultural vs grace driven Christians

Broadly speaking there are two kinds of "Christianity" in ¹America:

1.  Cultural Christianity (the majority)

2.  Grace-driven followers of Christ

The first is more of a worldview. The second is a relationship with God or state of being if you will. 

A. Cultural Christianity acknowledges certain fundamental truths of the Christian faith. Some of the basic and common elements in contrast with a secular worldview are...

·      Man has the capacity for good but is naturally inclined toward selfishness i.e. corrupt by nature.

·     There are moral absolutes and values i.e. there objectively is right and wrong and these don’t change i.e. they are absolutes.

·      Mankind should be and will be held accountable by His Creator (God) for his choices and actions if not in this life, the next.

These are very important and distinct from a non-Christian worldview which generally asserts or assumes three contrary beliefs...

·      Mankind is basically good and corrupted by his environment - i.e. from without vs within.

·      Morality is relative and subjective. We have our own truth. What is right for you is not necessarily right for me or others. There are no absolutes -- a key tenant of postmodernism.

·      This life is all there is, so eat, drink, and be merry, i.e. make the most of it... if it feels good, do it, and the like.  

Prior to postmodernism, a cultural Christian worldview was common among the majority of Americans - particularly after the 1st Great Awakening from the early 1730s on - though it has slowly declined from when it was a majority-held view in America (not only among the general population but among institutional heads and centers of influence to a great extent) up until the 1960s. Since Postmodernism, the contrast between a Christian and non-Christian worldview has become more pronounced and clear. The fundamental differences of cultural Christianity are very significant when compared to a non-Christian worldview and, for this reason alone, are important. So I do not want to dismiss its significance entirely. As a result, how a cultural Christian approaches life is very different compared to a nonbeliever. Holding these different views is not insignificant. 

B. Grace-driven Christianity is rooted in the good news that God did all that was needed to restore us to himself and free us from our inclination to serve ourselves. He did this because we could not free ourselves. It agrees with and holds to the same fundamental truths/values as the Cultural Christian but goes beyond these i.e. these cultural aspects will still be a key part of a grace-driven Christian's worldview but is not the essence of what defines or drives them to action. To say it another way, their worldview influences their approach to the world but does not alone or in itself empower them to rightly act, i.e. for the glory of God. Only the Spirit of God via the grace of God extended to us in and through the gospel can empower us to live for God, not simply willing ourselves to. 

The distinction between cultural and grace-driven Christians is important for two reasons:

1.  Non-Christians do not understand this difference (because they have not partaken of and experienced the power of grace and God's perfect forgiveness) and therefore lump these different "kinds" of Christians into the same group. 

     Does this matter? Many attitudes and approaches to various cultural issues can be very ³different between cultural and grace-driven Christians. As a result, grace-driven Christians are attributed certain views and attitudes the cultural Christian holds which they don’t necessarily agree with. For these reasons, these two approaches may look and sound the same to a non-Christian (and on the surface, they are in fact similar) but they are driven by a very different reason-motive. 

2. Those who adhere only to cultural Christianity do not necessarily understand or agree with the message of grace and may in fact be Christian only culturally in how they view the world (the first 3 bullet points above). They are not, in fact, true followers of Jesus as the bible defines it, i.e. they may not be true believers when it comes to the central message of Christianity — the gospel of grace.

So the differences are not immediately apparent on the surface to a nonbeliever (or even necessary to those who claim to be Christians - what I am ⁴calling a cultural Christian). It’s not until you look “under the hood” that you see the difference that drives these externally similar yet very different flavors of Christianity. 

So is cultural Christianity truly Christian? Yes, in so far as it adheres to these fundamental principles but not in so far as one's relationship with and posture toward God. As his child, our relationship with God is solely based on God’s work in and through Christ, not our work or views. There are many within and without the Church who are cultural Christians i.e. Christian in name only. 

To say it another way, the views of a Cultural Christian may be aligned with the Bible and in that sense are Christian, but this alone does not make one a true believer (a follower/disciple of Jesus) as defined by scripture. The Bible is clear that one’s standing before God is based on the good news (gospel) of grace (the work of Christ on our behalf) and accepting God's offer of righteousness earned by Christ, not in trying to adhere to a certain worldview or moral values or even being able to explain the gospel. I have known several nonbelievers who can explain the gospel well and who professed to be a Christian but never expressed true affection for God. I also know those who claimed to be a believer but later professed true faith, acknowledging they never understood grace or had genuine saving faith before then. 

For a grace-driven Christian, these same views held by cultural Christians are also adhered to but are the fruit of their relationship with God, not the grounds or cause of it. It is only by grace we are restored to a right standing and heartfelt relationship with God and not believing certain things taught in the Bible or about God. As James says, demons believe in God and tremble... but they're still demons. 

For a discussion on why there are hypocrites in the church click here. 

For a discussion on the church's tendency to legalistic morality, click here. 

For a discussion on the difference between the gospel and religion click here. 

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¹and elsewhere though this appears to be more common in the western church and particularly in America. 

²there can be some blending of worldviews between cultural Christians and nonbelievers but generally, if someone adheres to one of the distinguishing fundamentals of a cultural Christian worldview, they tend to adhere to all of them i.e. they all tend to hang together or not at all.

³"Cultural Christians" tend to be more rigid and unyielding in their approach to life. Their emphasis is more about being right than caring i.e. loving your neighbor. Grace-driven Christians tend to be more patient, understanding, and loving (though not automatically). To say it another way they bear the fruit of the Spirit. Like their Lord, they operate by grace and truth, and in that order. They understand the key essence of how we live is based on loving God with all our hearts and our neighbor as ourselves i.e. truth is vital but love is the primary driving force of their lives. They also understand to love God with all our heart... we must first know the love of God personally -- our love for Him and obedience to him is a response to His love for us. For more on this click here and here. Of course, there are always exceptions among any of these various groups. 

⁴I make this distinction based on my own experience not theory. What do I mean? I used to be a cultural Christian to a great extent up until around 1998 (I came to Christ in 1971). And this was after I had gone to Bible College and been involved in lay ministry for several years. I have found there is a huge difference between being able to articulate the gospel message (which I could do well) and actually experiencing grace. I think I genuinely knew Christ before then but it was far more in my head than my heart. I have concluded there are many (maybe most) within the church today that are like I was rather than how I am now. I think many of those folks are truly Christians as the Bible defines it, but I have observed many who may not be.  Only God knows their hearts we do not. Christ did say however by their fruits you will know them. Loving God and our neighbor is the greatest evidence and fruit of grace (Spirit) driven followers of Christ. 

We know Christ said he will separate the wheat from the weeds one day (i.e. they both exist within the church and will until Christ returns) and it is not our job to do so or decide who is and isn't a true follower of Christ, but for now, they are mixed together. To hear the words "depart from me, I never knew you" by someone who has done "many wonderful works" in God's name is a scary consideration. One we should all examine our hearts carefully over. 

avoiding guilt and shame

Why do we avoid experiencing guilt and shame (i.e. resist acknowledging our shortcomings), often with great energy and determination? Because guilt and shame is crippling i.e. It makes us feel worthless. 

This goes against everything in us. We are not designed to feel worthless but cherished and loved. To say it another way, we are hard wired to experience greatness/glory (For more discussion in this see the links below).

It doesn't take much 

Guilt and shame is right below the surface of our feelings and easily exposed/surfaced with the slightest provocation. We are walking guilt and shame time bombs with a hairpin trigger. We see evidence of this with some of the items listed below. 

How do we avoid (or respond to) feelings of guilt and shame? Our options:

·      Lash out at those who cause these (play the victim...common today)

·       Avoid those who cause these (find a "safe space" which can be lonely since none of us are perfect i.e. there are no truly safe spaces since we must engage people all the time).

·      Ignore or pretend our shame doesn't really exist i.e. It's all in our head.

·      Recognize and experience the removal of actual guilt and shame (not just the feelings) through the sacrificial death of Christ on our behalf (the only permanent and real solution).

For a further discussion of the cause and removal of guilt and shame click here.

For a discussion on the futility of indulging in guilt and shame click here and here.

For a discussion on our being designed for greatness/glory click here and here. 

socialism or capitalism?

What is the best economic system? Does the Bible have anything to say?

The challenges of Capitalism:

What is often referred to as  capitalism can result in either abuse of resources or abuse of others in acquiring them - and often does, though not automatically or necessarily. This is not so of true capitalism but rather the exploitation of it; sometimes referred to as "crony capitalism." This is what we often see today - particularly at the upper levels of government and the corporate world, especially within the monetary/banking system. This corrupted form of "capitalism" is fraudulent by design i.e. it is intentionally designed to exploit others. True capitalism - or free-market exchange - is intended to serve others. 

Making money isn't the driving force behind true free market exchange, service is. If we serve our fellow man well we reap the rewards. This is what is called a "win-win" scenario - when I help others acquire what they need or want I benefit in the process. This is not winning at the expense of another, which is exploitation. Communism and socialism assume all gains (profit) only come through exploitation. This is not the case in a true free market system. 

Corruption of productivity also does not negate the necessity of production proceeding distribution (or the *legitimacy of property ownership). We will address this more shortly.

Though capitalism addresses the problem inherent in socialism (having goods/resources to distribute) it poses its own set of problems. We still have to address selfish consumption and hoarding instead of sharing/charity. 

Productivity resulting in charity is actually the model promoted in the Bible. I prefer to call this free market productivity and exchange, vs capitalism, since crony capitalism and free market productivity are often lumped together. 

The limits of ¹Socialism:

¹Socialism does not work without production /productivity, i.e. you cannot give away what you do not have. Distribution of goods or services - socialism/communism - can not occur without something to distribute. This requires productivity first and the freedom (innovation) and incentive ²(fruitfulness) to be productive. Socialism kills both of these. Socialists themselves admit a productive economic system - i.e. capitalism - must be in place first before socialism - redistribution - can be exploited and implemented. 

In order for productivity to occur, several things must take place. For example, in the production of bread, you must have land to grow it on (which implies you own the land otherwise you must pay something to use it). The land must be fertile. Someone must plant, grow, and harvest the grain, grind it, bag it, mix it, cut the wood and heat the stove to bake it, pick up and deliver the bread, sell it, have a place to store it, with shelves to put it on display for customers to see and buy. The store must also be a pleasant place to visit if you are to see the maximum patronage -- or another store might offer a better buying experience and you lose customers -- etc, etc. There are many levels of effort/labor/energy that go into every level of production as well as the final product reaching the consumer. 

Giving away resources to others cannot occur without gathering, utilizing, and processing raw materials -- and raw materials must be available to process. This is why socialism or communism is often described as a redistribution of wealth. It's taking time, energy, resources, and wealth from somewhere and transferring it somewhere else...somewhere different from the origin of the energy that utilized resources to produce the product that finally reaches those who want and consume it. 

Since pure ¹socialism/ communism is an economic system that only redistributes instead of produces anything, it is parasitical in nature and design when it takes (vs gratefully receiving) from the producer and distributes it to non-producers. It can not perpetuate itself, i.e. it must have a "source" (host if you will) to draw resources from to distribute those resources. If it incorporates actual productivity (vs taking advantage of it), it is not pure socialism by definition. Why? Because productivity (capitalism, if you will) is considered exploitation in a purely socialist or communist model. 

Socialism and Capitalism are both right and wrong

The solution, however, isn't to oppose or shut down productivity/capitalism - the goose that lays the golden egg -- but to reassess charity -- what is the most God-honoring way to use those "golden eggs" he provides through our ²productivity. This is not only different from crony capitalism but from the general capitalist-consumption model. We could call this a third way. 

When productivity is only about personal/private consumption (for both the consumer and the producer) and does not take into consideration the importance of charity (blessing and benefiting others less fortunate) or proper care for the planet, it is not honoring God. The principles in scripture are to freely give what we have freely received and be good stewards of the gifts we are entrusted with. 

How is charity different from simple capitalism?

Fundamental to charity is recognizing our ability to generate a surplus (wealth) is a gift. All that we have, are, and can achieve comes from God. 

Deu 8:17  Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' 18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.  19 And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods (money can be one of them) and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. 

And since it is a gift we must heed the wishes of the Giver i.e. the source of life and all things. We should ask, who gave us our resources and why did He give them? Certainly at least to take care of those he has put under our direct care. But what about those who are not directly tied to us or dependent on us? God calls us to give as we have received. To not do so is to violate the very person and nature of God himself who is the overflowing, giving, sacrificial God of love who is always pouring out his goodness on others -- even those who don't acknowledge him or his gifts. To do so aligns us not only with the second greatest commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves but the very nature of God Himself. 

One of the most well-known statements made by Christ is, "...God so loved the world he gave…"  Jn 3:16

So the problem isn't being productive, it is being selfish. Instead of being givers, we become takers. We are however encouraged to be both fruitful, multiply, and good stewards of - "rule over" - the resources God gives us i.e. to use them as God directs. To put them to good use. To love others as we are loved.

The problem in our secular society is we have rejected the notion of God and therefore our accountability to use the gifts of life as He designed and intends. 

Christ said, "he who is faithful with a little is given more." So we are not only commanded to love our neighbor but promised an increased benefit for doing so.

We can not assume (or condemn) those who seek to be productive do so solely for ³personal consumption. Though this is certainly our tendency - and more so in a secular society - it is not necessarily the only motive or even the primary motive simply by virtue of someone being productive or having the desire to be productive. 

I once heard a Christian businessman say the following. He was making the distinction between the way of the world and the way of Christ when doing business (He was making about 2 million a year at the time he shared this...for what it's worth). 

"The world's way is to get all you can, sit on the can, protect the can, and don't let anyone get into your can. 

Christ's way is to get all you can so you can give all you can." 

A clever but accurate distinction I believe. Both involve "getting" but why we get and what we do after we "get" makes all the difference.

Institutional redistribution vs personal giving

Forced distribution - an inherent part of the socialist economic system - is not the same thing as cheerful giving. An issue of socialism is it is "charity" at the end of the barrel of a gun which is not true charity at all. It is not voluntary but imposed upon the producer by an outside authority. Law drives socialism, not love. This shuts down free association and free giving i.e. freely loving your neighbor. In short, it robs us of our dignity, freedom, and personal responsibility - not just for the provider but also for the recipient of the resources. 

Redistribution of wealth is institutionalized "charity" versus individual or private charity/giving. It is using the power of the state to enforce "charity" which actually means it is no longer true charity. Some may consider this okay as long as the person in need is cared for. But if the dignity of the giver (as well as the receiver) is to be honored and maintained, both must freely take part. Philanthropy would be an example of free (vs forced) distribution of resources. 

Difference in generations

How socialism is viewed has changed over the years. The shift began in the late 50s to early 60s. Many in the younger generations have little concept of lack that the generation before the Boomer generation experienced. The Boomer generation was closer to parents or grandparents who escaped communist or fascist oppression to seek life in "the land of the free and home of the brave." This was a major part of the "American Dream." Unfortunately, over time, much of the material elements of that dream became more important than the familial elements to the point that with the Boomer generation, both mom and dad worked and abandoned their kids to daycare, exhaustion, escape into recreation and entertainment, and the like. This naturally produced a backlash. Boomers, and even more so, kids of Boomers rebelled against consumerism and saw the damage it was doing to family and the environment. Hence eventually leading to the rise of Bernie, socialism, and environmentalism. In short, the difference between generations is not that one generation is "dumb" or wrong and the other is not -- often asserted by both sides of this debate. It's that the generations have a unique value system, shaped by their individual experiences i.e. they each value things the other generation no longer values due in large part to their individual experiences and the world they each grew up in. 

The solution:

Since there must be resources -- and the gathering, engineering, and production of goods and services needed -- before distribution can be made, pure socialism/communism cannot work alone. Some would argue socialism is the marriage of communism and capitalism. 

Since self-preservation is bound up in the hearts of humanity -- resulting in us not having a sense of accountability to our Creator  -- focus on productivity and profit alone often leads to personal consumption and hoarding. 

So do we force those who are productive to share their resources with those who are less able to produce e.g. by raising the level of taxes on the largest and most productive to the point it kills the reasons for being productive? OR do we encourage charity and seek to help man understand that all things are gifts from God and God gives to us in part, so we might, in turn, give to others, as well as reward us in doing so?

The latter is God's design i.e. to give because we have received. This is not something that government can or should implement. Government has proven to be the least effective means of implementing true charity. It's virtually impossible since mandated charity is not true charity at all. Governments may incentivize it but anything more is coercion and not charity at all. The same brokenness (natural inclination to selfishness) that keeps private citizens from properly loving their fellow man also infects those in public life i.e. government. And in some ways even more so. As the saying goes, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. 

Caring for others is the role of the people who trust God and believe they will be held accountable for how they acquire and use all the things God entrusted to them. 

Even if one rejects God, most agree with the golden rule...do to others as you would have them do to you. 

The bottom line? 

Due to humanity's natural fallen inclination to take care of "number one" (self), there will never be a complete utopia in this life -- the goal of all economic systems.

This does not mean we should abandon either productivity or loving others as we were designed to. However, the only way we can be who God designed us to be is when we are fully connected to God, the source of life, love, and all things i.e. The solution to the socialist/capitalist question isn't imposing or enforcing a particular economic model on any given counties citizens but our being fully connected and aligned with God himself. If the individual parts of a system - i.e. you and I - are broken, the system will not work, no matter how perfect that system may be. For this reason, there can never be a perfect system, only perfect values and people willing to pursue them. Ultimately this can only occur through people who recognize the Creator and their accountability to Him.

The solution ultimately is spiritual, not political or economic. It is in first knowing God and then making him known; not just in word but also in deed.

For a discussion on giving as you have received click here. 

For a discussion on being fruitful i.e sewing and reaping click here

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¹I am using "socialism and communism" in the political and structured sense, imposed on us by the state, not in the organic sense. We are social-relational creatures and as God's image-bearers we are designed to receive and give love. However, we are also broken image-bearers. For more on our brokenness, click here. 

²We are clearly instructed in many places within the bible to be "fruitful." Most of these verses address spiritual fruit. However, spiritual fruit translates into actions that often produce material fruit. In fact, any action that produces material fruit should be driven spiritually i.e. by the Spirit. If it is, it is valid. It is spiritual in motivation with a material outcome. 

For several posts addressing operating in the Spirit click here.

³There is nothing wrong with personal consumption. A pursuit that is solely driven by personal and excessive consumption is our challenge, not consumption. If we do not consume vital resources -- water, food, shelter etc. -- we die. Consumption is not just necessary but vital.

*private ownership of property and the opportunity to acquire property through diligence is assumed throughout the bible. The founding fathers who penned the Constitution and Declaration of Independence acknowledged this when they declared we had a "right" to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What most don't know is that the pursuit of happiness is the right to the fruits of our labor which includes owning property.  

For an interesting discussion of this, click here. 

Communism and socialism justify taking money from the producers and giving it to those who don't produce (and sometimes genuinely can't... though often those who claim they can't often can)  Because they assume all productive and profitable endeavors are built on exploitation when they are not. For a further discussion on this click here.

Communism and socialism are built on a victim mindset. A victim mindset is the fruit of not knowing God and seeing how he intends and uses pain for our good if and we trust Him.