What Does the Bible Say About Socialism?

Is socialism driving young people away from faith? Or is it actually pushing them back toward it?

That's the provocative debate prompted by recent comments from evangelical leader Franklin Graham. The son of famed evangelist Billy Graham argues that younger Americans are rejecting what he calls "anti-God socialism" and rediscovering church, Scripture, and religious community in the process. 

Speaking in response to new attendance data, Graham suggested that disillusionment with political ideologies has sparked a deeper spiritual search among Gen Z and millennials.

It's a bold assertion. But it raises an even deeper question: What does the Bible actually say about the ideas commonly associated with socialism?

The Shifting Sands of Faith and Politics

First, it’s important to put these comments in context. 

Graham's comments followed reports from the Barna Group showing that younger churchgoers now attend services more frequently than older generations. But the data is not clear-cut – other studies show that overall church engagement among young adults remains uneven. Many report feeling disconnected from institutional religion.

Moreover, this tension exists alongside a broader political shift. Despite Graham's assertions, Democratic socialism has actually gained visibility in recent years, particularly among younger voters. 

Figures like Zohran Mamdani (a member of the Democratic Socialists of America) have gained national prominence. Policies often tied to socialism, including universal healthcare, debt forgiveness, and wealth redistribution have grown in popularity. 

Meanwhile, although religious affiliation continues to decline overall, the church is seeing a resurgence among men – and young men in particular. The overlap between these trends has fueled debate over whether faith and socialism are fundamentally incompatible or simply misunderstood.

So, what does Scripture say?

The Case For Socialism in Scripture

Those who alignment between biblical teachings and socialist principles often point to the Bible's strong emphasis on economic justice and communal responsibility.

In the Book of Acts, the earliest Christian community is described this way: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need." (Acts 2:44-45)

The prophets repeatedly condemn societies that enrich the powerful while neglecting the poor. Isaiah commands believers to "learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." (Isaiah 1:17) 

Proverbs puts it even more bluntly: "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." (Proverbs 14:31)

Jesus himself speaks more often about wealth than almost any other ethical issue. He warns that riches can obstruct compassion and spiritual clarity. Commands to care for widows, orphans, and strangers appear throughout Scripture.

Read this way, the Bible seems deeply concerned with systems that protect the vulnerable and direct wealth from the “haves” to the “have nots” – even though it never outlines an exact economic model.

The Case Against Socialism in Scripture

Others argue that while the Bible commands generosity, it never endorses forced redistribution or state-controlled economies.

Biblical giving is consistently framed as voluntary and moral, not coerced. That same passage in Acts emphasizes that believers chose to share. Their generosity flowed from faith, rather than following the law. 

Elsewhere, Scripture emphasizes values like individual labor and accountability. Paul writes to the Thessalonians: "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'" (2 Thessalonians 3:10) 

In defending Graham’s claims that socialism is inherently hostile to faith, some also point to historical examples of explicitly atheist socialist regimes, like the USSR, that heavily restricted religious practice.

So… Is the Bible Socialist?

The short answer is no. And also, yes?

The Bible does not map neatly onto modern political categories. It fiercely critiques greed and exploitation while affirming moral agency and personal responsibility. It calls believers to radical generosity, but not through the authority of a government. 

But it’s also true that within debates about socialism (or capitalism, or any ideology) lie deeper questions about morality, justice, and truth. These are questions religion has asked for millennia.

Whether socialism is pulling people away from faith or pushing them toward it may depend less on politics and more on something else: whether religious communities can speak credibly to the moral anxieties of the age.

And that, some readings of the Bible suggest, is a challenge every generation must face anew.

What are your thoughts?