All things common: Difference between revisions
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There is a lot of confusion created by the quote in Acts about believers having all "[[all things common|All things in common]]". | |||
Roman Montero wrote a book, "[[all things common|All things in common]]", suggesting that [[early Christians]] were communists because of his private interpretation of the "[[all things common]]" quote. Roman redefines [[communism]] as ''from each according to his ability and to each according to his need''. That of course is not the definition of [[Communism]] because you must answer how the distribution is made. Who has the ''authority'' to take from one and give to another which is the very function of [[charity]]. [[2 Thessalonians 3]]:10 makes it clear that if you do not work you should not eat | Roman Montero wrote a book, "[[all things common|All things in common]]", suggesting that [[early Christians]] were communists because of his private interpretation of the "[[all things common]]" quote. Roman redefines [[communism]] as ''from each according to his ability and to each according to his need''. That of course is not the definition of [[Communism]] because you must answer how the distribution is made. Who has the ''authority'' to take from one and give to another which is the very function of [[charity]]. [[2 Thessalonians 3]]:10 makes it clear that if you do not work you should not eat. | ||
Montero and | Yes [[Justin the Martyr]] and Tertulian talked about sharing bread and the apostles rightly divided bread from house to house, but this was within a system of charity and choice. [[Was Jesus a socialist|Jesus was not a socialist]] nor did the [[early Church]] practice [[communism]]. [[Communism]] is not a system of [[charity]] but a system of '''[[one purse]]''' which Bible says runs to evil and we are warned against. | ||
Montero does see the Church and the Christian community as a system of self supporting charity where people provided and cared for one another but they are misled in their final conclusion because they do not understand the nature of the relationship of the appointed Church and the people they were meant to serve. | |||
Those who misinterpret the "[[all things common]]" quote incorrectly fail to understand the ''separation of the Church and state'' or people from the general population of the people. Like the [[Levites]] of old, [[Moses]] and [[Jesus]] created a system of self-government where the ministers were ''separate'' and [[titular]]. They could not ''exercise authority one over the other'' like the [[Benefactors]] of the [[world]] in fact they were to be in the [[world]] but not of the [[world]] or depend upon its [[benefits]] as members. | |||
While they owned ''[[all things common|all things in common]]'' they did not ''exercise authority one over the other''. The people did not belong to the ''body of [[Levites]]'' but individually belonged to God<Ref>[[Numbers 3]]:12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the [[Levites]] shall be mine; | While they owned ''[[all things common|all things in common]]'' they did not ''exercise authority one over the other''. The people did not belong to the ''body of [[Levites]]'' but individually belonged to God<Ref>[[Numbers 3]]:12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the [[Levites]] shall be mine; | ||
: Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the [[Levites]] shall be mine: I am the LORD. | : Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the [[Levites]] shall be mine: I am the LORD. | ||
: Numbers 8:14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the [[Levites]] shall be mine.</Ref> Himself or so is the intention of God. The ministers of the [[Church in the wilderness]] and the [[early Church]] belonged to God as bones servants and therefore they owned ''[[all things common]]'' <Ref>[[Acts 2]]:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; | : Numbers 8:14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the [[Levites]] shall be mine.</Ref> Himself or so is the intention of God. The ministers of the [[Church in the wilderness]] and the [[early Church]] belonged to God as bones servants and therefore they owned ''[[all things common]]'' <Ref>[[Acts 2]]:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; | ||
[[Acts 4]]:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had [[all things common]].</Ref> but the people were ''returned to their possessions and their families''<Ref>Leviticus 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. | : [[Acts 4]]:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had [[all things common]].</Ref> but the people were ''returned to their possessions and their families''<Ref>Leviticus 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. | ||
: Leviticus 25:41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. | : Leviticus 25:41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. | ||
</Ref>. The same as the [[Church in the wilderness]] the [[early Church]] as a group of [[appoint]]ed ministers [[called out]] to minister to the ''[[Kingdom of God]] at hand'' was composed of men and women who belonged to God, were not of the "[[world]]" and were assigned to ''feed his sheep'' just as the [[Levites]] served the ''tents of the congregations'' by providing a [[Daily ministration]] through the [[Corban]] or [[sacrifice]] of the people given as [[Freewill offerings]] which the New Testament calls [[charity]]. They, the Church and its [[ordain]]ed [[ministers]], held things as [[joint heirs]] of a society with a mission of [[charity]] as ''unhewn'' but lively [[Stones]] from which the living [[Altars]] of God may be built. | </Ref>. The same as the [[Church in the wilderness]] the [[early Church]] as a group of [[appoint]]ed ministers [[called out]] to minister to the ''[[Kingdom of God]] at hand'' was composed of men and women who belonged to God, were not of the "[[world]]" and were assigned to ''feed his sheep'' just as the [[Levites]] served the ''tents of the congregations'' by providing a [[Daily ministration]] through the [[Corban]] or [[sacrifice]] of the people given as [[Freewill offerings]] which the New Testament calls [[charity]]. They, the Church and its [[ordain]]ed [[ministers]], held things as [[joint heirs]] of a society with a mission of [[charity]] as ''unhewn'' but lively [[Stones]] from which the living [[Altars]] of God may be built. | ||
Revision as of 09:14, 4 August 2017
There is a lot of confusion created by the quote in Acts about believers having all "All things in common".
Roman Montero wrote a book, "All things in common", suggesting that early Christians were communists because of his private interpretation of the "all things common" quote. Roman redefines communism as from each according to his ability and to each according to his need. That of course is not the definition of Communism because you must answer how the distribution is made. Who has the authority to take from one and give to another which is the very function of charity. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 makes it clear that if you do not work you should not eat.
Yes Justin the Martyr and Tertulian talked about sharing bread and the apostles rightly divided bread from house to house, but this was within a system of charity and choice. Jesus was not a socialist nor did the early Church practice communism. Communism is not a system of charity but a system of one purse which Bible says runs to evil and we are warned against.
Montero does see the Church and the Christian community as a system of self supporting charity where people provided and cared for one another but they are misled in their final conclusion because they do not understand the nature of the relationship of the appointed Church and the people they were meant to serve.
Those who misinterpret the "all things common" quote incorrectly fail to understand the separation of the Church and state or people from the general population of the people. Like the Levites of old, Moses and Jesus created a system of self-government where the ministers were separate and titular. They could not exercise authority one over the other like the Benefactors of the world in fact they were to be in the world but not of the world or depend upon its benefits as members.
While they owned all things in common they did not exercise authority one over the other. The people did not belong to the body of Levites but individually belonged to God[1] Himself or so is the intention of God. The ministers of the Church in the wilderness and the early Church belonged to God as bones servants and therefore they owned all things common [2] but the people were returned to their possessions and their families[3]. The same as the Church in the wilderness the early Church as a group of appointed ministers called out to minister to the Kingdom of God at hand was composed of men and women who belonged to God, were not of the "world" and were assigned to feed his sheep just as the Levites served the tents of the congregations by providing a Daily ministration through the Corban or sacrifice of the people given as Freewill offerings which the New Testament calls charity. They, the Church and its ordained ministers, held things as joint heirs of a society with a mission of charity as unhewn but lively Stones from which the living Altars of God may be built.
The sheep of Christ hear his voice and live by charity not by force, the appointed shepherds of Christ provide a network of charity and a daily ministration of righteousness according to The Way of Christ as one body in the world but not of it. Understanding the church in general and the Church specific will also help people understand why those rich men and the disciples who wanted to become appointed ministers of this unique form of free government as the called out of Christ had to give up "all their property" and hold all things in common.
John the Baptist was against the use of force in creating the altruistic society of Christianity. Christ forbid the use of force for all Christians in providing the benefits of society and warned against covetousness through the Ten Commandments in His directives about Eternal life and Corban of the Socialism of the Pharisees.
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Footnotes
- ↑ Numbers 3:12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
- Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.
- Numbers 8:14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
- ↑ Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
- Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
- ↑ Leviticus 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
- Leviticus 25:41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.