Were the Pilgrims Socialists?

I've found that people are "for" socialism or some form of centralized planning, communalism, etc., when they think that they will be the ones that will gain something from that system.

Unfortunately, history has provided us many (MANY) great examples of how socialism never quite works out just that way. The "people" end up with the lowest common denominator, which means that almost everyone has to loose status not gain. Even in America, where our poor are authentically poor in contrast to middle and upper class people, would loose out once socialism gets put into play because even they would have to give up something to support their even lazier neighbor or the crack whore down the street, who racks up medical bills in the 6-figure range.

There is no joy in being equally poor. There is great joy in learning the value of work and raising oneself out of poor status and into the life once envied.

I've been there 3 times myself. I know how it works and how it feels.

 

Social-isms

The Mayflower Compact does not sound much like Marx and Lenin.
How all this plays out has a lot to do with one's world view.

The Mayflower passengers, aka: pilgrims, of A.D. 1620 were a mixed group-religiously and socially.

They had a late start from England and wound up driven by a storm several hundred miles north of their planned destination. One account says there was a new testament church, seeking religious freedom, with 37 members on board. Some say they had Geneva Bibles. The religious persuasion of the remainder was probably not modeled after Acts Ch. 2.

The ship and the passage thereby, was provided by merchants looking to make a long term investment in the "New World"--probably not preaching The Gospel. Such people were also dealing in slaves. Many of the founding fathers of this country were landed gentry with slave labor to work the land.

Many of the Mayflower's passengers did not survive the first winter. A commune sort of arrangement was probably needed for survival of anyone.
Everyone needed to work for the common good. Apparently some did not work. A complaint was made to the merchants--they were asked to not send any more individuals who would not work.

That God's people can thrive in a communal system is evident from the Amish and Mennonite groups.

How did the millions who died refusing to baptize their infants survive? Their progeny are still here--taking care of widows and orphans and anyone else who needs it. Most of us have no idea of what it is like to be cold, hungry and rejected.

If a hundred of us were run out of town for preaching the gospel, would we pool our resources? Probably. Would there be an Ananias and Saphira? Probably.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus,

That is the sermonette for today.

Peace,

Bro. James