Apostolic Christians Had All Things Common

[DaveC519]

I do believe that spiritual fellowship within the body of Christ is not complete unless there is a willingness to give and help your brother or sister in their time of need.

[KeptByTheWord]

I do believe house churches, or even cell group fellowships (which I know is fairly common in the UPC) are more closely associated with the NT church than just about any other kind of church there is. Simply because in home fellowship, there is a kindred spirit like a family bond that knits the group together in love. There is more open communication, ability to express one's self, and also the opportunity to reach out to to your brother or sister who has a need.

If you go to a big church, you may not have a clue that the person sitting next to you has a loved one facing cancer, or a car that is on its last leg, or a desperate need of any kind, because there is generally not a place to express those kinds of needs in a huge building with hundreds or even thousands of people.

Yet, when people meet together in homes, or small buildings, there is an element of fellowship, and communion where needs can be shared and expressed, and then believers can help one another out as needs are made known.

I think this is what Bro. MTD is trying to express - a desire for the body of Christ to truly respond to each other in love, mercy, kindness, and a willingness to help where there is a need.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

I do believe house churches, or even cell group fellowships (which I know is fairly common in the UPC) are more closely associated with the NT church than just about any other kind of church there is. Simply because in home fellowship, there is a kindred spirit like a family bond that knits the group together in love. There is more open communication, ability to express one's self, and also the opportunity to reach out to to your brother or sister who has a need.

If you go to a big church, you may not have a clue that the person sitting next to you has a loved one facing cancer, or a car that is on its last leg, or a desperate need of any kind, because there is generally not a place to express those kinds of needs in a huge building with hundreds or even thousands of people.

Yet, when people meet together in homes, or small buildings, there is an element of fellowship, and communion where needs can be shared and expressed, and then believers can help one another out as needs are made known.

I think this is what Bro. MTD is trying to express - a desire for the body of Christ to truly respond to each other in love, mercy, kindness, and a willingness to help where there is a need.

Sure. I think what you are describing is what they called "having all things common". No one among them any longer claimed EXCLUSIVE rights to what they owned. They were taking their excess and laying it at the feet of the Apostles where it was distributed to everyone according to their need.

Later this was taking so much time from the Apostles ministry they chose 7 men for the job. No doubt it was on a voluntary basis. People were giving as they were moved to do so.

This does not seem to relate to the tithing system of men today. They think you give in order to support a Pastor and pay his staff along with keeping up payments on the building and utilities.

And yes this is much easier to do in context of real New Testament fellowship which occurred basically in homes of the people. I started out in home fellowship early on in 1975. After knowing that kind of fellowship its been hard to relate to these building Churches.

I have basically been out of that system since I left the "Apostolic" Church in 1983. Its been practically all "home church" since then.

While I don't at all think that's the complete answer to the woes of modern Churches its part of it.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Sure. I think what you are describing is what they called "having all things common". No one among them any longer claimed EXCLUSIVE rights to what they owned. They were taking their excess and laying it at the feet of the Apostles where it was distributed to everyone according to their need.

Later this was taking so much time from the Apostles ministry they chose 7 men for the job. No doubt it was on a voluntary basis. People were giving as they were moved to do so.

Right. The emphasis was on the fellowship, and care for one another, and not for the building, or organization.

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

This does not seem to relate to the tithing system of men today. They think you give in order to support a Pastor and pay his staff along with keeping up payments on the building and utilities.

And yes this is much easier to do in context of real New Testament fellowship which occurred basically in homes of the people. I started out in home fellowship early on in 1975. After knowing that kind of fellowship its been hard to relate to these building Churches.

I have basically been out of that system since I left the "Apostolic" Church in 1983. Its been practically all "home church" since then.

We left the "church system" several years ago ourselves, and while at times it is a lonely journey, because the majority of people from all denominations think you are kind of crazy if you don't attend a church building, for the most part, this has been a wonderful experience for us.

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

While I don't at all think that's the complete answer to the woes of modern Churches its part of it.

No, most certainly it's not, but it would be a start.