True Communism has never been tried huh?
Can you identify an instance where Communism, as defined by Marx et al, has been put in total practice?
Engels spoke of a "withering away" of the state. A full implementation of Communism in a society involves the eradication and absence of the state and the coercion of law.
Has that ever been done?
Let me repeat myself, which I suspect I will have to do multiple times in this thread: I am not a Marxist. I am not a Communist. I do not believe that Marxism/Communism are possible, I consider it to be impossible. It is not possible for the eradication of the state and the total abolition of class distinction: As long as human beings exist in this present, fallen world there will be people who want power, who want more wealth. There can be no "withering away" of the state, because the cessation of the state will only result in the introduction of a new state--whether by a foreign power seeking conquest, or from within by ambitious, power-seeking individuals and groups.
I don't believe it's
possible to have a Communist society. Any implementation of Marxism will almost certainly result in the failed programs of Stalinism, Maoism, et al as we saw in the 20th century. Revolution will not give rise to utopia--utopia is not possible here.
Ours is not a world where justice reigns, which is why St. Peter writes that the present age will cease with the fires of God's judgment, and that we look forward to that good and future world where justice does dwell (2 Peter 3:11-13).
But, as Christians, we do not merely sit here idly watching until the End comes, our Lord gave us the Parable of the Talents, ours is to be living here as Christ's disciples, actively in the world. For this reason, as our Lord teaches in the same place (Matthew 25), when the Day of Judgment comes how we treated the least of these is what is going to matter.
Are we living out our faith, in the hope of the resurrection and the life of the Age to Come, as a people of peace, love, and mercy; devoted to Jesus, His Gospel, and His work in the world? That we should be advocates for justice, mercy, peace, and compassion for our neighbor? Because absolutely we should.
God has commanded that we "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly" before our God (Micah 6:8). We have the Beatitudes from the Lord's own mouth, that blessed are the poor, blessed are the hungry, blessed are the peacemakers.
What have Moses, the Prophets, our Lord Himself, and His Apostles all taught us? What have the Holy Fathers taught us?
That the Christian life is a life lived here in the world, in the midst of our neighbors. Called to love our enemies, to give freely, to hold no grudges, to return no one evil for evil, to love our neighbor, to live peaceably with all as much as it is up to us.
None of that is Communism. That's just Christianity.
-CryptoLutheran