Holding All Things In Common

This morning I have been reading out of Acts:


(NIV)Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. [43] Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. [44] All the believers were together and had everything in common. [45] They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. [46] Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, [47] praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.


(NIV)Acts 4:32-35
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. [33] With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all [34] that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales [35] and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.


When I think about these verses, parts of them scare me, as they confront my individualist mindet, and my sense of ownership and possessiveness. These verses seem to fly in the face of our American dream, working hard and enjoying all the benefits of the financial increase it brings. Our attitude is that we worked hard and have a right to that which we earned. We give much charitably, but generally from our excess, and here we see people selling their possessions, not just giving from their excess, and giving the money to the church to be distributed as there is need. This was diffrent, in that there was a complete change of mind about ownership, in that they now considered everything they owned to be part of the common pool.


To be fair, its possible that these people had very different ideas about living in a community. Some cultures have a sense of belonging, and communal ownership in a small village, or tribal environment that would resemble this model that the early church was living. Its also interesting that in the rest of the book of Acts, and in other books describing the first and second century church, that no more mention of this type of radical living was mentioned.


Regardless, its apparent that the early church really understood the body mentality (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12). They are no longer just individuals, but rather part of something larger, a body, with purpose. Their understanding of putting others before themselves, of not just saying the words, but loving in action, is clear. I see them living out a few verses.


(NIV)1 John 3:16-18
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. [17] If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? [18] Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.


(NIV)Matthew 25:44-45
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ [45] “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’


(NIV)James 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? [15] Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? [17] In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. [18] But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.


Its clear from the rest of scripture that we must not just pass off this style of living in the first few chapters of Acts, as early zealousness, but rather examine our lives and see if we are living our lives in ways that our love for one another is clear and demonstrated through actions, not just words and nice thoughts.