Duane’s Blog:
Thoughts on things
Why do I teach? Because this is what God created me to do. First, He gave me the ability to understand and communicate complex ideas in language that most can understand, and second, because of love. I teach the good news of the Gospel because there is no better news available to mankind.
This is how I interpret the beginning of Acts, and what I believe we as believers should strive for.
“Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed for each person’s basic needs. Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement, sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
Acts 4:32–37
It would be difficult to not interpret the described actions of the gathered church as what we today identify as socialism. There is however, a tremendous difference between the behavior described in the New Testament and the political system of socialism. That difference is in the heart.
Many believers know that it is in the service of others that we are often most blessed. By way of example, when I was leading a Bible study from pre-printed literature, I spent many hours praying, reading, studying and generally just preparing. I learned that the journey of preparation led to so much spiritual growth and closeness to God that I almost felt guilty for getting such tremendous value out of my preparation.
My teaching is a form of service, though not the only means of service I am engaged in. It is a labor of love, and that is where what is described in Acts distinguishes itself from the political ideology. I make the time to study. It is not my vocation. I do this from love. Love for my creator and my Savior, and love for my neighbors.
Contrast this with what the world presents as socialism. In the world’s model, the giving away of ones labor is compulsory, and carries with it no implicit good intention, it requires no buy-in of the heart.
“If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:1–3
For further study: If actions are done out of requirement does it lead to the same outcome as the whitewashed tombs of the religious elite in the gospels? If so, the world’s socialism results in work that is useless, and cannot give life. Discuss
This compulsory action is in direct contrast to what the early church demanded, and the point of distinction is hammered home as the passage continues into chapter 5.
“But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field? Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God!” When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him. There was an interval of about three hours; then his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the field for this price?” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!” Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.”
Acts 5:1–11
The action is not the focus of our work. Our attitude is the focus. Our heart is the focus, love is the focus. It is all about the heart when following the Way.
So how did the early Christians do at interpreting the Acts of the apostles? Did they believe it be a model to follow? Is Acts 4 a unique situation where people lived in a voluntary socialist-style community?
No. It isn’t, consider the extra-biblical source Aristides, who penned the following.
The Apology of Aristides
“Now the Christians, O King, by going about and seeking, have found the truth. For they know and trust in God, the Maker of heaven and earth, who has no fellow. From him they received those commandments which they have engraved on their minds, and which they observe in the hope and expectation of the world to come.
For this reason they do not commit adultery or immorality; they do not bear false witness, or embezzle, nor do they covet what is not theirs.
They honor father and mother, and do good to those who are their neighbors. Whenever they are judges, they judge uprightly. They do not worship idols made in the image of man. Whatever they do not wish that others should do to them, they in turn do not do; and they do not eat the food sacrificed to idols.
Those who oppress them they exhort and make them their friends. They do good to their enemies. Their wives, O King, are pure as virgins, and their daughters are modest. Their men abstain from all unlawful sexual contact and from impurity, in the hope of recompense that is to come in another world.
As for their bondmen and bondwomen, and their children, if there are any, they persuade them to become Christians; and when they have done so, they call them brethren without distinction.
They refuse to worship strange gods; and they go their way in all humility and cheerfulness. Falsehood is not found among them. They love one another; the widow’s needs are not ignored, and they rescue the orphan from the person who does him violence.
He who has gives to him who has not, ungrudgingly and without boasting. When the Christians find a stranger, they bring him to their homes and rejoice over him as a true brother. They do not call brothers those who are bound by blood ties alone, but those who are brethren after the Spirit and in God.
When one of their poor passes away from the world, each provides for his burial according to his ability. If they hear of any of their number who are imprisoned or oppressed for the name of the Messiah, they all provide for his needs, and if it is possible to redeem him, they set him free. If they find poverty in their midst, and they do not have spare food, they fast two or three days in order that the needy might be supplied with the necessities. They observe scrupulously the commandments of their Messiah, living honestly and soberly as the Lord their God ordered them. Every morning and every hour they praise and thank God for his goodness to them; and for their food and drink they offer thanksgiving.
If any righteous person of their number passes away from the world, they rejoice and thank God, and escort his body as if he were setting out from one place to another nearby. When a child is born to one of them, they praise God. If it dies in infancy, they thank God the more, as for one who has passed through the world without sins. But if one of them dies in his iniquity or in his sins, they grieve bitterly and sorrow as over one who is about to meet his doom.
Such, O King, is the commandment given to the Christians, and such is their conduct.”
Translated by Rendel Harris [London: Cambridge, 1893]
Part two coming up later this week. After I write it.
~duane