This reminds me of a study weekend held by East Kent Young Congregationalists back in the early sixties, led by our minister. He used three quotes, one to summarise socialism, one communism, and one Christianity.

Socialism would have been, I suppose, Lenin, (quoting St Paul, but neither he nor the minister seem to have mentioned this) "he who does not work, neither shall he eat". Seen as wrong because it may leave the weaker unprotected. (Seems a bit like the coalition, too.)

Communism would have been Marx, "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs". I did not grasp what was wrong with this, but there was some reason, apparently.

I cannot, unfortunately, remember what phrase summed up the Christian position. Possibly because I was still pondering what was wrong with Marx, possibly because of the minister's later behaviour to our family. If it was the bit about loving your neighbour, he didn't live up to it. (He wouldn't have done well by the other criteria either.)

He did issue handouts, but I've lost them.

As for people who think that monarchy is a model for divine rule, they should just study the history of monarchies. God wasn't, I recall, in favour of one for Israel, was He?

Penny