Like what nations call themselves… Democratic Republic of North Korea. People’s Republic of China and so on.

AT least the commies got the REPUBLIC part right in their country titles.

My quandary with these titles came about with my in depth reading of the book of Acts. When they all came together for the common good, that was Democracy, but it wasn’t Socialism. No one was buying or selling to dominate the other, and this was by their own choice, not a mandate. Those who know, remember the story of Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5)

Peters defining statement that proves the way they lived was democratic… “Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?”

However the term socialism is the suspect term in your argument.

Until the common definitions of socialism exclude words like “collective” or “State-controlled” Then your argument will fall flat. Socialism as an economic policy still requires some form or hierarchy of control.

That is the one STARK difference for me and the “Acts Church.” Their was no “collectivism” just concern for your fellow man. There was no Government or Monetary mandate to sell what you had and care for others, people did it out of Love for their Fellow Co-worker in Union with Christ.

Your statement: “Socialism as an economic policy simply means that the fruits of any labor should be evenly divided up amongst the laborers” is the flaw. Unfortunately none of the common definitions of socialism agree. There is always some form of control. It isn’t a choice, it is a mandate. And again, I reiterate, that is where your argument regarding socialism falls flat.

We define words for reasons. When we change the definition to fit our position, we are no better than those who would change history into a lie.

A Chemistry professor in a large college had exchange students in the
class.
One day in class, the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student)
who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.

The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told
him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting
communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his
country’s government and install a new communist government.

In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange
question. He asked, ‘Do you know how to catch wild pigs?’

The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The
young man said this was no joke. ‘You catch wild pigs by finding a
suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pi gs find
it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to
coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they
are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the
corn again and you put up another side of the fence.

They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have
all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, who
are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam
the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly the wild pigs have
lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they
are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to
it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so
they accept their captivity.

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees
happening to America .
The government keeps pushing us toward socialism and keeps spreading the
free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax
credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments
not to plant crops , welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. while we continually
lose our freedoms – just a little at a time.

One should always remember: There is no such thing as a free Lunch! Also,
a politician will never provide a service for you cheaper than you can do
it yourself. Also, if you see that all of this wonderful government ‘help’
is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America , you might
want to send this on to your friends. If you think the free ride is
essential to your way of life then you will probably delete this email,
but God help you when t he gate slams shut!

In this ‘very important’ election year, listen closely to what the
candidates are promising you – just maybe you will be able to tell who is
about to slam the gate on America .

‘A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to
take away everything you have.’ – Thomas Jefferson

We are faced with exactly the same choice today that they faced. What will we do? Submit or resist? What’s it going to be? As Patrick Henry said in his speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1776, “What is it gentlemen wish? What will they have? Are we to purchase peace at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”