One of the most overlooked stories in America’s history is that our forefathers already experimented with communism—and it failed miserably.

In 1620, the Pilgrims at Plymouth attempted communal living. These were not secular radicals but Christians who knew the Scriptures well. They voluntarily placed everything in common, thinking it would create equality and harmony. Instead, it created laziness, resentment, and hunger. Families began to withhold their labor, waiting on the work of others. Human nature showed itself plainly: without individual responsibility, productivity collapsed.

But here’s the lesson. When the Pilgrims recognized the error of their ways, they returned to the order God established from the beginning: “Be fruitful and multiply, replenish the earth, and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). Stewardship, private responsibility, and reward for labor. Governor William Bradford noted that once land was allotted to each family, abundance returned. God blessed their obedience, and Plymouth thrived.

This is the key difference between the systems we debate today.

• Capitalism, while prone to corruption and greed because men are sinful, is not godless in its design. It aligns with biblical principles of stewardship, labor, and reward. Like money itself, it can be used righteously or wickedly.
• Communism, however, is godless by nature. Karl Marx himself called religion “the opium of the people” and sought to destroy faith. The ideology is rooted in the same lie from Eden: “ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Wherever communism has taken root, persecution of faith has followed.

That is why the Pilgrims’ short-lived experiment failed, and why every attempt since has ended in collapse or tyranny. Capitalism can be redeemed when guided by moral order and faith; communism cannot, because it begins with rebellion against God.

Today, when I hear communists and socialists promote their ideology as something noble, I remember Plymouth. We have already tried it. The results are clear. America flourished not by collectivism but by recognizing God’s design for human freedom, stewardship, and responsibility.

That is why this country should never flirt with communism. It is not just an economic mistake—it is a spiritual deception.

By Claston A. Bernard

Olympian • Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist • Author of In America, It’s More Than Race