"THE BOOK OF ACTS"

Communal Christianity (4:32-37)

INTRODUCTION
  1. The first church in the local sense was the church at Jerusalem...
    1. Noted for its dedication to apostolic doctrine and brotherly love - cf. Ac 2:42-47
    2. Which continued to exist as described by Luke in our text - cf. Ac 4:32-37
  2. The example of the Jerusalem church has often led some to ask...
    1. Did the church practice communism as we know it today?
    2. Is having "all things in common" to be the norm for all churches?

[In an effort to answer such questions, let's begin by reviewing what is revealed about...]

  1. COMMUNAL CHRISTIANITY IN JERUSALEM
    1. THEY HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON...
      1. Mentioned twice by Luke - Ac 2:44; 4:32
      2. Involving the selling of possessions, goods, homes, lands - Ac 2:45; 4:34
      3. Dividing the proceeds among all, as any had need - Ac 2:45; 4:34-35
    2. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES, GOOD AND BAD...
      1. Joses (Barnabas) - Ac 4:36-37
        1. Sold a piece of land
        2. Brought the proceeds to the apostles
      2. Ananias and Sapphira - Ac 5:1-4
        1. Sold a possession
        2. Kept back part of the proceeds, lied about it
      3. Needy widows - Ac 6:1
        1. Recipients of a daily distribution
        2. But Hellenist widows were being neglected

        [Without question the early church in Jerusalem practiced what could be called a form of "communal" Christianity. But was it communism? Is it to be the norm for churches today? Consider some...]

  2. OBSERVATIONS ABOUT COMMUNAL CHRISTIANITY
    1. IT WAS NOT COMMUNISM...
      1. Communism: advocacy of a classless society in which private ownership has been abolished and the means of production and subsistence belong to the community
      2. Communism requires that people of a society sell their property and give the proceeds to the community (or state)
      3. In the Jerusalem church the selling and giving was done freely, not out of compulsion
      4. As was giving by Gentile churches later on - cf. 2Co 8:12; 9:7
    2. IT WAS NOT THE NORM FOR ALL...
      1. Ananias and Sapphira did not have to sell their possession, nor did they have give the full amount; their sin was lying about the actual amount - cf. Ac 5:1-4,7-8
      2. Some in Jerusalem kept their homes; e.g., Mary - Ac 12:12
      3. Christians elsewhere had their homes
        1. Aquila and Priscilla, in Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome - Ac 18:1-3; 1Co 16:19; Ro 16:3-5
        2. Nymphas, near Colosse - Col 4:15
        3. Philemon, near Colosse, with a guest room - Phm 1:2,22
      4. Rich Christians were commanded to do good, be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, but it had to be of their own free will - 1Ti 6:17-19
CONCLUSION
  1. The example of the church in Jerusalem is an inspiration to all...
    1. Of brotherly love
    2. Of free-will giving
  2. It may have occurred due to unique circumstances...
    1. Many new converts had been visiting from other nations on Pentecost - Ac 2:1-11
    2. Staying after conversion to learn more, their resources would soon be exhausted
    3. Those who lived in Jerusalem were willing to sell possessions to help them
  3. But the "communal Christianity" practiced there should not be viewed as...
    1. Communism or the approval of it
    2. Required (the norm) for all churches

Rather, "communal Christianity" as practiced in Jerusalem can be considered a viable option, should the need for benevolence arise, and where it can be practiced without any sort of compulsion...