Hi Friend,

The term "utopia" was coined by the Catholic theologian Sir Thomas More to describe a mythical island where social, legal, and political systems are perfectly balanced. This vision echoes the world described by the Apostle Paul: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

What are the foundational values of the utopia God has prepared? Perhaps surprisingly, one such value is the individual’s right to private property. The 8^th Commandment—"Thou shalt not steal"—implies the right to own land, a home, a car, and countless other possessions. Ownership grants you the freedom to paint your house, add a room, maintain your car, or sell your belongings as you see fit. Over time, this principle, rooted in faith, became a cornerstone of American democracy and changed the world forever.

The concept is so important to God, and maybe so under appreciated by man, that God instituted a Year of Jubilee. During this time, family land that had been lost was to be restored to the next generation. The property was not transferred to the state or the church, nor was there an inheritance tax; it was returned directly to the rightful heir.

When a man named Zelophehad died, his land was to be divided among his brothers. His five daughters complained to Moses because their family inheritance would be lost. Moses went into the tent of meeting, and God said, "The daughters of Zelophehad speak right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers" (Numbers 27:7).

What are we to learn from these examples? Clearly, man’s, or woman’s, right to own property is important to God but why?

Part of the answer lies in our nation’s own history. The United States was established upon the unique concept that even the King could not take property from citizens without permission. It’s one of the principles for which our fathers fought a war. They called it "Taxation Without Representation," which meant that even though they were willing to pay King George his due, they thought he had no right to reach in their pockets and take whatever he wanted. God must have agreed with the colonists.

The 8th commandment is not the only one granting private property rights; so does the 10th. No person should "covet" your house, your means of work, or even your spouse. This leads to the commandment against adultery, which means men and women have the right to "have and to hold" another human being. In these three commandments, God strongly affirms the individual’s right to personal possessions. The same logic can be extended to include the right to possess life, children, and even access to God. Yes, when a person is baptized, he becomes part of the family of God. You pray, "My Father, in heaven…" He is your God, which means no man or organization can exclude you from access to Him.

This brings us back to Utopia. Karl Marx, an atheist, envisioned the ideal communist state—his own version of utopia. But where did Marx find inspiration? Interestingly, he drew his ideas for a utopian government from Sir Thomas More the Catholic saint. Today, many schools and colleges bear More’s name, including one here in Cincinnati. He was also the subject of the movie, "A Man for All Seasons."

It is ironic that Karl Marx, an atheist, was inspired to create a government that would later persecute Christians based on the writings of a Christian. So why did More’s work influence a man like Marx?

The simple answer is that Thomas More rejected the core values of God’s commandments. A man may talk about the Laws of God, but if he does not respect another man’s property rights, he is breaking several of the commandments.

Communism asserts that the government owns all property and that citizens’ rights are granted by the state. In contrast, America’s founders believed that rights come from God. Citizens can own property because God’s Law transcends state laws.

It is especially ironic when a church, that teaches the commandments, prohibits congregations from owning property. In Thomas More’s Utopia, individuals could only own property as long as the state or church permitted it. Peace was maintained by suppressing open discussion. In his book, Utopia, order and discipline took precedence, and private property was forbidden. Any attempt to discuss public policy outside of sanctioned forums was punishable by death. Karl Marx took God out of Mores’ Utopia, arriving at the ideal communist state.

The lesson of history is that Christian goals cannot be achieved without upholding core Christian values.

Until next time,

Jim O’Brien

July 24, 2026