This Thanksgiving, I want to give thanks … to all of my readers … and to those of you who are clients of mine … and to God for His many blessings … and to the opportunities created from America’s first Thanksgiving – the triumph of freedom over socialism.
When you think of this holiday, you might normally think of a big family get-together … turkey … a harvest season … and perhaps the story of the birth of our nation.
But did you know that when we give thanks for an amazing meal, friends and family and the history of America, we can also give thanks for not being shackled by socialism?
Here’s why:
When the pilgrims came to America to escape persecution from the English government, they arranged for a system of shared property and socialism…
Every person was given an equal share of food, property and compensation for their labor … regardless of how hard they had worked – or whether they had worked at all.
The result?
An anemic economy.
Poverty.
Famine.
Discontent.
Resentment and confusion.
The colony grew sick, weak, and hungry, as even able-bodied people were not given any incentive to work hard or to do their best.
Remember that this was in a community of people who had come to this country with a shared vision … and who cared for each other deeply.
After 3 years of turmoil, they abandoned socialism and adopted a new economic system…
Every family unit would plant and grow their own crops, producing for themselves.
Under the new system, the pilgrims thrived. They were happier, more industrious and much more productive.
On Thanksgiving, let’s celebrate and thank God for their industrious ingenuity … combined with the local knowledge of the Native Americans who helped them.
Let’s also celebrate the victory of free-market business over socialism – which history has proven over and over again never works.
What do you think? Email me at craig@craighuey.com.
Comments 2
The same thing can be seen in the Bible! The first century church in Jerusalem tried socialism, and were shortly thereafter reduced to poverty. Paul had to raise money to help them after their experiment went bad.
Acts 4:32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
1 Corinthians 16:1–4 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do…..And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
Socialism didn’t even work for God fearing, Spirit filled, Christians. That’s just how toxic Socialism is.
Bob V’s comment is greatly inaccurate. The first century believers in Jerusalem operated as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, not by the leadership of the Church (Acts 2:44-47). It was when those in the fellowship lied about being under control of the Spirit of God that they suffered the consequence of death — BY THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF (Acts 5:1-11). There was no socialism, even communism whatsoever in the organization of the early Church. They eventually disbursed into other areas because of 1) their missionary zeal to follow Christ’s command in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) and 2) the persecution against Christians as a whole due to their refusal to NOT proclaim the Gospel openly (Acts 4, Acts 8:3-4)). But all pooling of their resources was 100% individually volitional, and absolutely not at the whim of any human government (Acts 5:4). And it still should operate accordingly today, the rejection of which is one of the hallmarks of a non-Christian cult.