COMMUNISM, CAPITALISM OR CHRISTIANITY
By Ben Uugwanga

Introduction

Man has grappled with many ideologies and systems of social organization that where intended to present him with the best alternatives in forging socio-economic and political relations in society, for the common good of all. As time passed some of the systems where replaced by others depending on whether they were compatible with evolutionary and revolutionary ethos.

It is said that society has gone through various developmental stages, namely the hunter/gatherer age, the agricultural age, the industrial age, the knowledge and information age and lastly the age of wisdom.

During the hunter/gatherer age, man was reduced to live from nature. Up to this moment there are communities still trapped in this state of affairs. These communities have not progressed to other levels because they did not find new means to change their life styles.

The agricultural age enabled man to live from his fields and flocks. Many agrarian communities still follow this pattern or communalistic system. In these communities land, water and natural resources were and are held in common. The kings or the chiefs were or are the hierarchy placed to solve conflict through a legal code. The subjects pay taxes to the crown.

The industrial age ushered a period when man was involved in mass production through advanced production methods. The industrial age totally transformed society with regard to the relations individuals have vis. a vis. the factors of production. The industrial age cut across all sectors and brought about mass production of commodities. At the same time factories mushroomed everywhere with commodities been produce for local and overseas consumption.

The information/knowledge age resulted in an upsurge of knowledge and ideas. It also resulted in the contraction of borders and the strengthening of relations among people through trade, service delivery and the exchange of knowledge and information through what is known as globalization. During this age the world has become a global village with the computer, satellite communication devises bringing information at a tick of a button.

The age of wisdom overlaps with all development ages. It is charecterised by the continuous effort of the Creator to win people unto Himself despite developmental advances. The age of wisdom is gaining more ground during the information age as more and more people are looking for answer about the fate of humanity. The age of wisdom is an age of the fulfillment of prophetic oracles. It triggers introspection in people to provide answers on morality, development, true religion and peace. The age of wisdom is about reflecting on one’s journey and to assess whether one has lived a purpose driven life. It is an age of the search for true happiness amid the failure to find fulfillment, joy, self-mastery and fullness.

This research piece therefore strives to highlight the different developmental stages of man and to look at the different philosophical/ideological systems of reasoning advanced by man by uncovering their justification, the claims they lay and the accuracy of those claims.

It should be noted that the research main investigation is made on the premise that development is an integral part of social systems. Put otherwise development and social systems are mutually inclusive in that development addresses the means of using skills and knowledge to address societal challenges such as the production methods of goods and services, while the social system address the ownership and distribution methods.

Development comes first and the social system follows through consent or coercion. Development goes with skills and knowledge and social systems are operated on roles, privileges, positions, power and prestige. The level of development leads to the type of social system followed. The less advanced a system the most likely it addresses equity. It should however be stated that the world has attained the apex of its developmental level. These is evidenced in the macro and microscopic technological breakthrough registered by man. Certainly, during this time one should ask one self the question whether development and whether the current system addresses equity with the passion and energy desired.

Therefore, this research will look at how Marxism, Capitalism and Christianity happen and continue to shape the social systems we have and to interrogate whether their principles provide fullness, prosperity and infallibility.

Marxism

According to Bertrand Russels (cited in Du Preez 1991:40) Marxism is a metaphor of Messianic Judaism. In other words Russels argues that Marx developed his ideology from the doctrine of Christianity and Judaism. This claim does not surprise as it is qualified by the similarities outline in the underlying metaphors:

Yahweh - Dialectical materialism
The Messiah - Marx
The Elect - The Proletariat
The Church - The Communist Party
The Second Coming - The Revolution
Hell - The Punishment of the Capitalists
The Millennium - The Communist Commonwealth

Dialectical Materialism is a theory that explains why changes occur in nature, society and knowledge. The theory opines that nature, society and knowledge are not constant. Marx adopted this theory to justify that society has moved from feudalism to capitalism and that the last system would be communism.

Marx regard Marxism to be the last system that mankind will adopt. Though his theories are derived from Christianity he disqualifies Christianity and religion in general to be the opium of the masses. Marx presents Marxism to be the historical destination that will see society riding itself of unscientific systems.

The Proletariat is defined as the class consisting of the peasants and the workers. The Proletariat through class consciousness are said to unite at one point in history to fight against the capitalists. This will be during a time when the inevitable revolution will gain ground to liberate the oppressed from class inequalities.

The Communist Party is regarded as the vanguard of the revolution. It is said to provide the intellectual and organizational leadership during and after the class struggle. The Communist Party is regarded through its leadership to institute the economic and political program of communism as an alternative to capitalist leadership.

The revolution is said to be that defining moment in the history of the world when the proletariat will rise against the capitalist to overthrow capitalist leadership and structures through a well coordinated program of mass mobilization as steered by the Communist Party. The Communist Party through the ultimate class struggle will take over of the state and liberate the workers and the peasants from an exploitative order that sought to entrench inequalities in the state system.

The Punishment of the capitalist is the final purging of counter revolutionary and reactionary elements whose raison d’être is to live in opulence at the expense of the oppressed people.

The Communist Commonwealth is defined as the period that characterizes communist internationalism reflected in an egalitarian global political economic order based working class hegemony. This state of affairs according to Marx, marks the self-perpetuation and infinite endorsement of a system that was destined to reign up to eternity. Marxist believes that communism will make its presence in all states of the world and will bring an end to the self-serving interest of the capitalist ruling class perpetuated through an order of class distinction.

Communism is based on secular humanistic theories. Its reason to deny man the right to worship God is the reason why it placed a nail in its own coffin during the demise of the Soviet Bloc. Communism, fights against God. Like any other system it is bound to bow to the truth.

On the contrary the ideology provide rich theoretical analysis critiquing the capitalist system. Its weaknesses, is in denying man the liberty to fellowship and worship His Creator. Its strength is in proposing second generation rights to all.

Capitalism

Capitalism or the free market economy is a system based on guaranteeing private property rights through domestic laws and international policy instruments and the promotion of free trade and investment in the economy. At the moment capitalism, has consolidated itself as the ultimate world system, with the fall of communism in 1989 and the disintegration of the Soviet Union after a bitter cold war between the west and the east. Some theorists claim that capitalism will take us to the end of history. Meaning, that capitalism is destined to lead from everlasting to everlasting.

Someone said, that capitalism responds to the basic instincts of man, such as greed, making it a difficult system to defeat.

Politically, it is difficult to divorce capitalism from Neo-Liberalism, in the sense that Neo-Liberalism advocates for Democracy, Human Rights and a Free Market Economy.

The advantages of the Neo-Liberal ideology a twin of capitalism, is its resolve to advocate pluralism. These systems promote harmony, individual freedoms and innovation. However, its weakness is in addressing poverty, social security in a world characterized by deprivation and socio-economic injustices in spite of the technological achievements made to date.

The world has more then enough wealth for everyone and can feed humanity 21 times over and over. It is said that 10% of the world riches are in the hands of 90% of the world citizens. While 90% of the world riches are in the hands of 10% of the world’s citizens. Has capitalism failed us? What precisely are the objectives of the capitalist system? Are its objectives to deprive the marginalized of basic needs? Is it to accumulate wealth for the few? Is humanity caught in a cash twenty two situation whereby we even compromise the attainment of the Millennium Challenge Goals. Is capitalism with a human face working? Can all states address the problem of inequality given the questions of indebtedness and high government deficits? To answer these questions I will state that capitalism is strictly a system to benefit a few. Capitalism has patronage internationally and nationally. The system continuous to assimilate and pacify even the most outspoken critique by offering him business opportunities and a high living standard. Capitalism, has done its homework in that laws and international instruments present it as the only sacrosanct system. While capitalism should address socio-economic challenges it ostracise and purge dissenting views.

The capitalist state system cannot be the sole system because it is based on survival of the fittest, the entitlement of a few, the law of artificial scarcity, socio-economic inequalities, and justified military crusades to secure wealth plundering programms abroad and at home. The problem of capitalism is structural and needs an overhaul. Capitalism has served its patrons. At the moment it is experiencing a crisis or is it judgment. Can one safely say that there will be a recovery after all the fiscal adjustments and cash bail outs to restore the systems functioning? I say no. This is the last straw of the Babylonian system (Revelation 18).

Christianity

Christianity is not a political, socio-economic system. However, it is the belief in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, by making Him Lord and Savior over one’s life in order for one to attain eternal salvation, deliverance from sin and its power and to be assured of everlasting life in God’s eternal kingdom. Christian teachings are expounded in the bible and explain God’s teachings to man on God, Salvation, Christ the Messiah, the Church and the End Time.

• Teaching on God
The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of the Universe. It teaches that there is non beside Him. God is said to have revealed His nature, through Jesus and His written word.

• Teaching on Salvation
Jesus teaches that for one to enter the Kingdom of God one has to be born again. Meaning, that one has to confess one’s sins and accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour over one’s life. Once a person has done this the Lord will freely give His Spirit unto the believer. The Spirit will strengthen, comfort, reveal, teach, reprove, edify the believer. Salvation is said to be an outcome of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

• Teaching on Christ the Messiah
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and that no one goes to the Father accept through Him. Jesus is the Messiah of the world. He took up the sins of the fallen world when Adam and Eve abdicated their dominion to Satan. Jesus died on the cross for fallen man. It is through faith in Him that one will be reconciled to God and receives the forgiveness of sins; receive power to overcome sin and to inherit eternal life. Jesus rose from death and has won himself the victory over Satan.

• Teaching on the Church
The church is the body of Christ and is made up of true believers or the followers of Christ. Christ died for all sinners but only those who believe in Him are going to inherit eternal life. Christ has left His church in the world to be a communion of believers who teach and practice his word without compromise. Upon Christ’s Second Coming, He will come and fetch His Church and it is with His Church that He is going to rule in eternity.

The Church is supposed to be a place where everyone does ministry, the Church is supposed to give hope to the hopeless; the Church is supposed to be a force and must preach salvation (Bilezikian 1993:176)

The Church is not a place of business, self-enrichment and self-exaltation. He who is greatest among you must serve. Since the church is a community made up of those who believe in God as revealed in the scriptures and who unite in worship and service to Him, it should guard against factions and false doctrine. The church did not come to substitute governments. However, it is Christ’s deputy and is meant to do the work of God in the world. The Church is the most effective force the Lord Jesus left for His followers. It illuminates the world on pious conduct and teachings. The Church was created for believers as the only body to fight Satan. It is not supposed to be an accomplice to the acts of the Prince of Darkness. The church is needed to speak God’s truth and to speak against socio-economic and political injustices faced by man in society and to promote Christian ethics. Noting that we are in the Last Days many false teachers and false prophets shall come on the scene to mislead the gullible. These false teachers and prophets shall not succeed, because they will be known by their fruits.

The finality of the Church in God’s purposes shows that the church is not just the most important thing that God is doing in History. The Church is the only thing that God is doing in this world that will last through time and eternity, because it is the only earthly reality that will survive time and last throughout eternity (Bilezikian 1993:194).

You have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the first born, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkle blood that promises much better promises than does the blood of Abel (Hebrew 12 vs. 22-24).

• Teaching on the End Time
The End Time refers to the beginning of the Day of the Lord. It also talks about when Jesus the lowly crucified Lamb becomes the supreme ruler and brings history, time, the nations, evil, and death under His dominion (Bilezikian 1993: 254). The End of Time signifies the period of Universal Renewal (Bilezikian 1993:264).

This implies that God will restore all things unto Himself in line with His purposes and plans.

The damage of the Fall caused at the beginning, the Resurrection will restore at the End. The Fall thwarted God’s purposes; the Cross will restore them to His original intent. The Fall drove humans away from God; the Cross will bring them close to Him. The Fall disrupted God’s image in human life; the Resurrection will make it perfect once more. The Fall gave Satan his greatest victory; the Cross will hand him his greatest defeat (Bilezikian 1993: 264).

The coming of the Lord is not far. The Bible gives us signs in Mathew 24 about the signs of the End. Revelation 18 accurately, speaks of the Fall of Babylon the Great, which is the apostasy religious, economic – political system based on humanistic philosophies. The global financial – economic crisis is God’s judgment on human driven institutions and systems.

According to bible scholars we are in the End of Times. Therefore, it is our duty to watch, for the Coming of the Lord is near. The Lord will come like a thief in the night to fetch His Elect and to deal with sinners. Judgment of sinners means that they will not share in the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God involves the setting up of God’s theocracy as it was in the beginning before the war in heaven and the fall of man. God will restore all power back unto Himself. Creation will be freed from the curse and be transformed into paradise. The elect shall co-reign with God in the new age.

Conclusion
This particular comparative analysis looked at the major ideologies/philosophies/teachings that influenced man. At the same time it looked at the relationship between development and philosophy on how it addresses societal problems.

It is clear that the in put on Christianity in this research stand out as a mountain in its reference to God, Salvation, the Messiah, the Church and the End Time. These teachings are based on God’s word and can only be discerned by those who are spiritual. Recently the subject of spirituality has begun to enjoy a lot of attention. Man is now looking on his holistic development as opposed to atomistic focus on the physical and the mental alone. The spiritual dimension answers questions to praise and worship, fellowship, spiritual growth, ministry, evangelism and restoration (Rick Warren).

The Christian teachings strive to mold man to become like Christ. Dispositions such as self-control, joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, gentleness and servant-hood leadership are prescribed. The transformation will not be by might but through the intervention of Christ’s spirit.

Christ require the Church to teach His word and portray kindness, goodness, love, care and hope to all and sundry. The Church is Christ’s representative on earth and ought to welcome all despite their past and present weaknesses. Christ is the one who changes hearts. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Christ will restore those who accept Him and give them a new life. Their sins will be forgiven and they will be justified meaning that God will declare them righteous. Christ is not only concern about the spiritual but He promise to provide for the elect in every way. The Psalmist puts this convincingly when he states, In all my life I have never seen the righteous lacking any bread. Jesus also made a promise by stating, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness then everything shall be given unto you” Mathew 6 vs. 33)

Christianity is about the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. It is about God restoring man unto Himself and the restoration of man’s dominion. Humanistic ideologies/philosophies/teachings are but timely. They are based on trial and error. They are not based on God’s teachings and therefore remain short sighted and fallible. They lack the wisdom of God.

God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and He chose what the world consider weak in order to shame the powerful. He chose what the world looks down on and despises, and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. This means that no one can boast in God’s presence. But God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be our wisdom. By Him we are put right with God; we become holy people and are set free. So then, as the scripture says, “Whoever wants to boast must boast of what the Lord has done (1 Corinthians 1 vs. 27 – 31).”

For what seems to be God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God’s weakness is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1 vs. 25).

God’s judgment on the world has come. Since God placed His Spirit in man as well as logic and intelligence, and being persuaded by the order of things, His creation and His word we are required to repent from our sins in order to qualify to reign with Him during the new age.

Bibliography
1. Good News Bible with Deuterocanonical Books/Apocrypha, Today’s English Version, New York, American Bible Society, 1976.
2. Bilezikian G., Christianity 101, Michigan, Zondervan Publishing House, 1993.
3. Du Preez P., A Science of Mind – The Quest for Psychological Reality, South Africa, Academic Press Limited, 1991.
4. Informante page 15:, Nambinga S. M., Servant leadership an answer to Africa’s problem, 20-26 May 2010.
5. Stamps D.C. and Adams W., The Full Life Study Bible, New International Version, Michigan, Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
6. Warren R., The Purpose Driven Life, Michigan, Zondervan Publishing House, 2002.