Apostolic Christians Had All Things Common

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

MTD, Whatt would it look like today? No vacation? No new cars? No savings? No retirement?

Perhaps. It would depend on the needs of the assembly. It would certainly look different than what goes on in Churches today.

Look at it this way. If Yeshua looked upon the Churches sharing and having compassion he would pour our grace (favor) on the Assembly!

43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:43-47

Perhaps fear would come on every soul! Perhaps we would walk in gladness and singleness of heart! Perhaps the Lord would add to the Church daily!

I know in the 70's in the street ministry when the Spirit was flowing in rich ways a vacation was no big deal. I really hated to be away from what the Lord was doing. There was such love and such sensitivity to the Spirit its like we WERE ON VACATION when we would meet for street ministry or just fellowship!

Wouldnt it be a good trade off, our savings for the favor of God? Our retirement for the sense of belonging to a real New Covenant Church? Our vacation for fellowship and labor with the children of light?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

MTD, Whatt would it look like today? No vacation? No new cars? No savings? No retirement?

No. But if a sister's car broke down... the entire body would pull together to help her get it fixed. If a brother was about to get fined for high grass... someone who offer their lawn mower. If a family was struggling on unemployment, the body would periodically buy them groceries.

Essentially the body would operate like... a family. Hence why early Christians called one another "brother" and "sister". The church originally functioned like a family... not an incorporated non-profit organization determined to increase revenue for unending building programs.

[Esphes45]

We have to become a family first before we can act like one.

2 Corinth 1:10

[Truthseeker]

all you guys make good points.

[Reader]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Really? Perhaps at a certain point baptism in Jesus name ceased? After all we know a great majority never practiced it after a while. Same with baptism in the Spirit with tongues. It gets hard to find historically.

Does that mean its no longer in Gods design, because men dont do it?

Yes, really. We are not speaking of other issues, just what you brought up. Please don't divert the subject.

There is no directive that this was some rule given to them. They were free to do what they wanted as is seen in the case with Ananias & Saphira (sp?). Just as people were free to give or not give to the needy in Jerusalem who lived elsewhere.

Jesus never told them to do this and the apostles never told believers to do it. If people wish to do it, and some do, that is totally up to them.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Reader

Yes, really. We are not speaking of other issues, just what you brought up. Please don't divert the subject.

There is no directive that this was some rule given to them. They were free to do what they wanted as is seen in the case with Ananias & Saphira (sp?). Just as people were free to give or not give to the needy in Jerusalem who lived elsewhere.

Jesus never told them to do this and the apostles never told believers to do it. If people wish to do it, and some do, that is totally up to them.

Do we use the book of Acts as a guideline? Yea I agree it was voluntary. It was done from love. Paul said their helping the poor saints proved the sincerity of their love. Nonetheless they were doing it.

Any comment on Pauls statement to the Corinthians?

13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. 2 Cor. 8:13-15

Todays giving centers much around a Pastors salary. The offering Paul was taking was for the poor saints.

[Michael The Disciple]

Also just PERHAPS they knew what Jesus said about the day of judgment and they saw in this obedience to his word.

Matt 25:34-48

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

[Michael The Disciple]

So were the Apostles doing this "all things common" ministry of their selves? Or were they led by the Spirit?

Acts 6:1-7


1And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

God was certainly blessing this arrangment was he not?

[Reader]

Yea I agree it was voluntary.

That is what I was trying to show, as well as the fact that all believers everywhere did not hold everything in common.

Todays giving centers much around a Pastors salary. The offering Paul was taking was for the poor saints.

I would prefer to give to individual people as compared to giving most/all to a pastor.

Any comment on Pauls statement to the Corinthians?

He was explaining he was not attempting to take from them so that they would be poorer and the others richer, but rather that their giving would create an equality between them and those in Jerusalem. He never demanded any offering, nor that believers everywhere were to have all things common. When we consider a subject such as this, why not bring in all passages about giving? Paul also taught to give from your heart and not under compulsion. The Bible speaks of when we have the opportunity to do good to others. James spoke of seeing someone in need and telling them to be warmed and fed and yet do nothing about it.

It appeared at first you might be attempting to use the one situation in Jerusalem as a mandate for all believers everywhere throughout all time. If anyone makes an incident such as this into some type of mandate or rule we are all to follow, I believe it to be wrong and misguided. On the other hand, if you wish to speak of how believers should reach out and help others (both believers and non-believers), that is a different situation in my mind.

[Reader]

God was certainly blessing this arrangment was he not?

If you are saying the church grew because they held all things common, I would disagree. No matter how Christians act, God will always draw people to himself.