One of Stalin of Russia's mandates was collectivism. The farmers and others sent to the farms were supposed to work together and even share equipment, food, etc. Smaller, family owned farms were to be put together into big operations (collected into one, so to speak). The farmers balked and resisted. By much violence and force and brutal enforcement the gears of collectivism ground into action, often with the laborers doing jobs not suited for that particular individual. It was NOT peaceful nor did the collective plan pan out very well.
In Israeli communal kibbutzim (plural for kibbutz), according to internet articles on the subject, members joined voluntarily and on approval of the kibbutz community. The members would work at jobs suited to their individual ability and talent. Of course this does not preclude someone learning something new.
Apparently there are now several different types of operating specs for kibbutzim such as: Integrated model, renewed kibbutz and privatized kibbutz. However the one I'm using for comparison here is the style more generally applied, communal kibbutz.
For the communal kibbutz there is no correlation between a person's job description and the amount of salary earned. Each individual receives equal portion remuneration.
There is "solidarity and mutual assistance". It is a "society dedicated to mutual aid and social justice; joint ownership" (as opposed to 'forced by the government' in collectivism); "of property, equality, cooperation of production, consumption and education".
I especially like this following quotation,
"...from each according to his ability, to each according to his need for those who have chosen it." [emphasis mine].
That is ideal kibbutz living.
I suppose one could visit Israel and check this out first hand and observe how well this works out. The news is there are many flourishing kibbutzim.
When you look at the book of Acts in the Bible you'll discover a very similar way of life. After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit indwelt each one.
The fire of the Holy Spirit sparked and galvanized the early Christian community into a communal way of living.
Acts 2:44-47 relates,
"all believers were together (>3000) and had everything in common."
They sold their possessions to give assistance to the needy people.
Acts 2:32-37 esp vs 32 tells us,
"all believers were one in heart and mind".
No one claimed his possessions were his own. They shared what they had and that willingly, of their own accord, and from the heart.
They sold land and houses and gave the money to the apostles for the needy of their time.
The result was that there were no needy persons among those believers.
Amazing.
There was an example of this in a man named Barnabas who sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money to the apostles (Acts 4:37). Given from the heart.
There was another example of a couple named Ananias and Sapphira. They too sold some property but their gift, although voluntary, was not from the heart. They grudgingly gave. They had donated as if they'd given all but had kept back part of the price.
They did not have to sell and/or give but they wanted to "look good" so they did what they did (Acts 5:1-10).
It was a lie to God and the Holy Spirit and it affected the whole community of believers.
Although the kibbutz style of living and the early Christian church community were/are voluntary and ideal, the human nature wrench can, and does, wreck havoc. We followers of Jesus Christ have the aid of the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, direct us even in this day and age. He convicts us to go and do what's right but we still have the leeway to chose. We are free to grow in our Jesus life, fruit of the Spirit, to live godly lives thinking and doing God's way and to bring help and aid to those within God's family and beyond, or not.
Take a look at what Galatians 6:10 encourages us to do.
"And let us not grow weary of doing good. for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
As you read more throughout the New Testament you'll discover just how well the Christian community, for the most part, did help each other.
Those of us who have life in Christ can remember to do this each Lord's Day as we gather together to remember our dear Savior's death and resurrection by passing the emblems of the bread and wine one to another. Remember too that He made it possible through His sacrificial death, bringing atonement for our souls, and bringing the Holy Spirit's indwelling and uniting.
He gave new birth into His family. He also gave us a worldwide family of God to nurture and help as the need arises. There is not exactly a common thread among the three "ideologies"; only to the point of the belief folks work together for the common good. What the "common good" was, needs to be examined specifically. However, I venture to say that voluntary community service, in the service of God our King and Heavenly Father, is the one with the furthermost reaching benefits that stretch across time and into eternity to come.
~ERC 27 December 2018~
Note:
I neglected to preserve the website addresses from where I got some of my quotations. Please forgive me. If anyone can supply the link I'd be grateful. However following are some sites that may be of help. They may be the same as where I gleaned my info.
The Kibbutz and Moshav
Kibbutz - Wikipedia
The Kibbutz - Commemorating 100 Years
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