Acts 4:32-35

[HillsboroMom]

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

I'm curious what others here think about this.

Has anyone here ever lived in such a community, where nothing was owned privately, but everything was owned communally?

If given the chance or opportunity, would you? Why or why not?

Would you sell everything you owned and give it to a community like this? If not, why not?

 

[Dino246]

This happened spontaneously in Acts. I wouldn't be interested in anything of the sort that was not spontaneous and organized solely by the Holy Spirit.

 

[Adstar]

I would join such a community.. But i have never seen one in my time as a Christian.. Also it's not as if you own nothing when you join such a community.. You are a joint owner of what everyone has given.. It's not like you have sold all you have and given it away to the poor..

 

[DWR]

Will not work today because most are not willing to follow the leadership of those chosen by God to lead.

 

[Dino246]

Will not work today because most are not willing to follow the leadership of those chosen by God to lead.

... who would have absolutely no authority to mandate such an arrangement anyway.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Has anyone here ever lived in such a community, where nothing was owned privately, but everything was owned communally?

We need to bear in mind that the Jerusalem church was the first church ever, and the Holy Spirit was working mightily. All the apostles (other than Paul)were also present. And it was God who directed the wealthy Christians to sell their properties and possessions so that even the poor Christians (the majority) would all be taken care of. This was God's ideal church and it gave all other churches the blueprint for how a church should function materially and spiritually.

Over 2,000 years later, Christendom shows that it has generally departed from the New Testament pattern. So even those who are non-denominational may not be able to practice this. However we do see the Amish and Hutterites still holding to this concept, but they are all culturally uniform (having come from Europe and speaking the same language). People from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds may not be able to live like this.

The pope is falsely asserting that Christianity and Communism are identical. Nothing could be further from the truth. In Communism, the bosses steal everything from the people, and leave them destitute, while they live like fat cats. And Communism has failed everywhere, yet the stupid (or evil/stupid) American Leftists think it will work in America. What it is doing though is systematically destroying America on a daily basis.

 

[Dino246]

We need to bear in mind that the Jerusalem church was the first church ever, and the Holy Spirit was working mightily. All the apostles (other than Paul)were also present. And it was God who directed the wealthy Christians to sell their properties and possessions so that even the poor Christians (the majority) would all be taken care of. This was God's ideal church and it gave all other churches the blueprint for how a church should function materially and spiritually.

Really? Where is that in Scripture?

 

[Nehemiah6]

Really? Where is that in Scripture?

Just read Acts 2. It is right there is Scripture. Did God approve of this church? That too is right there in Acts 2. So when God presents a church and gives His approval, what do you think? Is that not a blueprint for every church? Or did you really expect God to say "This is a blueprint for all my churches"?

 

[Dino246]

Just read Acts 2. It is right there is Scripture. Did God approve of this church? That too is right there in Acts 2. So when God presents a church and gives His approval, what do you think? Is that not a blueprint for every church? Or did you really expect God to say "This is a blueprint for all my churches"?

You claimed that Acts 2 was God's ideal and the blueprint. Don't waffle; either that concept is clearly presented in the text or it is not. For the record, it is not.

Narrative is a record of what did happen, not a record of what should happen.

 

[HillsboroMom]

I would join such a community.. But i have never seen one in my time as a Christian.. Also it's not as if you own nothing when you join such a community.. You are a joint owner of what everyone has given.. It's not like you have sold all you have and given it away to the poor..

There are a handful of such communities. I lived in one for a short time. I sometimes regret leaving it (long story, we parted on good terms). And the community did give much of what it had to the poor -- around 20-30%.

 

[HillsboroMom]

Will not work today because most are not willing to follow the leadership of those chosen by God to lead.

It does work today. See above. But it does have to be voluntary. If it were mandatory it wouldn't work.

 

[HillsboroMom]

The pope is falsely asserting that Christianity and Communism are identical.

I have never heard any pope make this claim. Can you provide the reference that indicates which pope said this, and when or where?

In Communism, the bosses steal everything from the people, and leave them destitute, while they live like fat cats.

That is not communism. That is authoritarianism. Communism is an economic arrangement, and says nothing about governmental rule. I don't know of any country that has been communist without also being authoritarian in rule, so you're partially right: every country that has ever been communist has also been authoritarian, and this is exactly what happens. However, there are smaller communities that are able to be communist (economically) while maintaining non-authoritarian rule.

The Kibbutzim in Israel are one example. And there are intentional communities throughout the world. I know of several in the US. Not all of them are religious, but of course the above example is religious.

And Communism has failed everywhere,

Again, only when used on a national level. Yes, it has failed everywhere it has been tried on a national level.

yet the stupid (or evil/stupid) American Leftists think it will work in America.

Most American Leftists these days, whether they are stupid, smart, or of average intelligence, and whether they are evil or good, know that pure communism won't work in the US.

There are very few Communists in the US today. The current membership of the Communist Party USA has between 5k and 10k members. That means at BEST it's 0.003% of the population. Not even 1/1,000th of 1%. Pretty pathetic.

Socialists? Well, now we're up to about 92k. Still significantly under 1/10th of 1%. But if that's enough to scare you, then by all means, you may start another thread about it. Somewhere else. Not here. That's not what this thread is about. Feel free to rant on and on about how horrible Americans are if you like. I won't stop you. But that would be very much off-topic from this thread.

I'm talking about small, intentional communities -- no more than maybe 100 people at most, and preferably fewer -- who share everything they have in common, and work toward a common goal with God at their center.

This has nothing to do with any nation, including the US.

This has nothing to do with authoritarianism.

This has nothing to do with politics.

This is strictly Scriptural. In case you missed it, the OP includes a direct quote from Scripture. Not Lennin. Not Marx. Scripture.

If you'd like to talk about Lennin or Marx, please do so elsewhere.

 

[surfer14]

I'm curious what others here think about this.

Has anyone here ever lived in such a community, where nothing was owned privately, but everything was owned communally?

If given the chance or opportunity, would you? Why or why not?

Would you sell everything you owned and give it to a community like this? If not, why not?

Yes, I have lived this way. It's called a family. Outside of that I would have no desire.

In any organization there are always a few people that do most of the work while most of the people just do the minimum to get by. Then there are always the total lazy slugs who do nothing. Any community like you're talking about it going to attract lazy people just like a fresh cowpie will bring in flies. And as for your last question, I'd rather burn everything I own than give it to a community like that.

 

[HillsboroMom]

Yes, I have lived this way. It's called a family. Outside of that I would have no desire.

In any organization there are always a few people that do most of the work while most of the people just do the minimum to get by. Then there are always the total lazy slugs who do nothing. Any community like you're talking about it going to attract lazy people just like a fresh cowpie will bring in flies. And as for your last question, I'd rather burn everything I own than give it to a community like that.

The community I was in was very careful in who it allowed in. The individual had to apply, and there was a lengthy interview process. During that process, the expectations were spelled out explicitly. In the 30-40 years the community had been in operation at the point I was there, there was one person who didn't mesh well, and after about 6 months or a year, they had a meeting and everyone agreed it wasn't working, and the person left with roughly the same as what they came with. Other than that, what you describe didn't happen. I mean, sure, sometimes people didn't pull their weight, and then the rest of the community talked to them, and they stepped up.

The community didn't "attract" lazy people at all, because they didn't have anything of value. I mean, nothing tangible of value. The value of the love of 20 people was pretty amazing. But you can't "steal" that.

And I'm sorry to hear you'd rather burn what you own than give it to the Lord. But that is your choice.

 

[Nehemiah6]

That is not communism. That is authoritarianism. Communism is an economic arrangement, and says nothing about governmental rule.

And that is why it is PURE DECEPTION. It is at heart godless totalitarianism. Check it out for yourself. And it has now arrived in North America.

 

[surfer14]

The community I was in was very careful in who it allowed in. The individual had to apply, and there was a lengthy interview process. During that process, the expectations were spelled out explicitly. In the 30-40 years the community had been in operation at the point I was there, there was one person who didn't mesh well, and after about 6 months or a year, they had a meeting and everyone agreed it wasn't working, and the person left with roughly the same as what they came with. Other than that, what you describe didn't happen. I mean, sure, sometimes people didn't pull their weight, and then the rest of the community talked to them, and they stepped up.

Ya, you'd have to have a super strict control mechanism on who you allow into a system like that. Otherwise you'd be swamped with freeloaders. America itself is testimony to that - we've got a giant welfare system where we give $$$ to people who don't work. But we don't have any controls over who we let in. Therefore we just keep getting more and more welfare dregs coming in here. It'll collapse. It has to.

The community didn't "attract" lazy people at all, because they didn't have anything of value. I mean, nothing tangible of value. The value of the love of 20 people was pretty amazing. But you can't "steal" that.

Lazy people would love a community like that. Yours addressed that problem with strict immigration controls.

And I'm sorry to hear you'd rather burn what you own than give it to the Lord. But that is your choice.

That's the type of passive-aggresive, snarky comment that will make people hate both you and the Christianity you supposedly practice.

 

[kaylagrl]

The community I was in was very careful in who it allowed in. The individual had to apply, and there was a lengthy interview process. During that process, the expectations were spelled out explicitly. In the 30-40 years the community had been in operation at the point I was there, there was one person who didn't mesh well, and after about 6 months or a year, they had a meeting and everyone agreed it wasn't working, and the person left with roughly the same as what they came with. Other than that, what you describe didn't happen. I mean, sure, sometimes people didn't pull their weight, and then the rest of the community talked to them, and they stepped up.

The community didn't "attract" lazy people at all, because they didn't have anything of value. I mean, nothing tangible of value. The value of the love of 20 people was pretty amazing. But you can't "steal" that.

And I'm sorry to hear you'd rather burn what you own than give it to the Lord. But that is your choice.

This was a Christian community?

 

[HillsboroMom]

And that is why it is PURE DECEPTION. It is at heart godless totalitarianism. Check it out for yourself. And it has now arrived in North America.

Totalitarianism has lapped at American shores often in its 250-year history. Right now, we seem to have turned it back, but it certainly could come back, draped in a flag and wearing a cross at any time.

 

[p_rehbein]

Yes, I have lived this way. It's called a family. Outside of that I would have no desire.

 

[p_rehbein]

Ant Colonies are a near perfect example of "all for one, one for all." But, as far as I know, ants do not have souls that can ascend to the Kingdom of God when He comes again.