The early Christians were Socialists. Why aren’t we? Part2
I finished reading Jesus for President a couple of weeks ago and I’m about done with The Irresistible Revolution, and these two books have me really focused on the Kingdom of God and cultivating community. The seeker in me wonders what life would be like if we really lived out what Jesus preached and what the early followers of The Way were inspired to demonstrate with their very lives. When the early Believers lived the words of Jesus, something miraculous happened. Let’s read Acts 4: 32-34 with fresh eyes:
All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
This is such a radical, counter-cultural community! These followers of The Way eliminated private ownership, unified under the banner of Community, and were blessed greatly as a result. As Shane Claiborne points out in Jesus for President, this subset of society eliminated poverty within their ranks. There was no government program. No foundation grant. No nonprofit assistance. No politician pushing promises. Because they decided to live the words of Jesus poverty became extinct. Now here’s the relevant question:
How many of us want to bring an end to poverty? (I’m betting on everyone on the other side of this screen raising their hands.) Good!
Now, how many of us - Believers - Followers of The Way - Disciples of Jesus are ready to start siphoning off our personal possessions so that everyone’s needs are met? (uh…he-…helloooooooooooo out thereeeeee….”cricket” “cricket”)
You do know that living within the American Economic System that poverty will never leave us don’t you? This mixed capitalism that we live under supports the unjust distribution of resources, selfishness, material gluttony, oligopolies, and political oligarchies. It just doesn’t line up with the words of Jesus. (i.e. “Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me” Matt. 25:40)
Our culture offers many grand words about our responsibility to those in need, but if you match our words with our actions then you’ll find we are much like the rich ruler that Jesus encountered who was curious about immortality. Let’s read this together with fresh eyes:
As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.”
“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” [Mark 10:17-23 New Living Translation]
How many of us can say: No Murder? check. No Stealing? check. No adultery? check.
SELL ALL I HAVE AND GIVE IT TO THE POOR?! But GOD gave me this Benz!
Oh really. (Do you really mean this BENZ gave me my god?)
The Kingdom of God is obviously not of this world, but it is the only sermon that Jesus preached and when his earliest adherents lived it; they experienced remarkable miracles and blessings from God. There was joy, unity, food, and no lack among them. They were the Beloved Community.
I’m striving now to experience God’s Kingdom in my personal life and I’m starting with my stuff. I have too much. I’m not rich by the world’s determination, but in another sense I am. I had nearly 8 pairs of shoes, more clothes than I can wear, more “things” than I can classify and I drive past people in downtown Baltimore who are barefoot, half naked, and hungry. God created enough for everybody. Why are there people with nothing living alongside people with more than enough?
I took four pairs of my shoes out of my closet and to the Baltimore Free Store last Saturday. I watched with great joy as those who needed my brown loafers walked off with them without paying a dime. I thought I was going to tear up while giving up my Durango boots, but nope. I’m good. I have enough. And I have more that I’ll be turning over this Saturday.
This is the type of Christian communalism that my soul longs to see! I’ve had enough of Christian commercialism. I’m hungry now for the Kingdom of God.
Anybody up to searching for the Kingdom with me?
August 25th, 2008 at 10:47 am
‘Get rich or die trying’ The theme of that movie is the overarching theme in the lives of too many Americans today, including Christian ones. Christians have bought wholesale into capitalist principles, which are diametrically opposed to the principles of God. On the other hand too many Christians have set God’s principles completely aside when it comes to when is enough or when it is time to share the bounty.
Capitalism teaches one to get all you can in deference to the needs of others and leaving something for someone else. It provides the impetus for why we do what we do and are seemingly never satisfied no matter how we have been blessed. God has opened the windows of heaven already, I hear most churches quote those scriptures during the offertory service, yet the majority of the bureau drawers, closets, basements, attics, garages, outside utility and remote storage places in many Christian homes are already full to the brim. In other words God has already done it, and Christians are trying to figure out how to get more
Most Christians in this regard buy into conservative republican economics, i.e., ‘trickle-down’, ala some crumbs will eventually fall from the rich man’s table. Simply giving to the poor is not enough, reducing what you have and take in order to provide a permanent lift to ones fellow man is what God had in mind. Americans and the church by itself could eliminate poverty and help to provide employment for every American in one years time - if God’s people who are called by his name, would revert to Godly principles, as opposed to following worldly principles, or even Christians can continue in the pursuit of getting rich or to die trying. Godliness with contentment is great gain – God put enough here for every person, animal, insect or other organism!
Thank you Reverend Brown
August 26th, 2008 at 10:46 am
During the activist 60’s in America, the battlecry that was often heard at black-American rallies was, white power to white people, green power to green people and black power to black people, but n’ghs are afraid of revolution.
Your piece is brilliant, but we must also keep in mind that Jesus found only a limited number of true revolutionaries in his time who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to bring about dynamic social change!
On the other hand multitudes followed Jesus just to get what they could get for themselves, feeding, miracles and a promise of hope! Americans in the churches today prefer the status quo, they are afraid of the term social and its extension, socialism; they have been taught to be afraid of what Jesus and his followers embraced, socialism!
September 8th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
This is truth. I feel like we try to tie Christianity to Capitalism to achieve a political agenda and the Kingdom suffers because of it. I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who feels convicted of tremendous social injustice.
My only criticism is with this sentence: “Why are there people with nothing living alongside people with more than enough?” And I understand what you mean; however, I believe the problem lies in that we DON’T live alongside those with nothing. As Shane points out in The Irresistible Revolution, if we DID live alongside of them, we couldn’t help but give them our clothes and satisfy their needs. We wouldn’t be able to help seeing Jesus in them. As it is, our culture gravitates towards hiding the poor so we can forget about them and live out our ‘American Dream’, free of guilt.
As Dorothy Day put it (I believe she said this anyways): “If you have two coats and you meet someone with none, you have stolen his coat.” By giving to the poor, we are doing no favors–only that which by all acounts should flow naturally from us. It’s not good that we give other people what they need–we’re doing what we owe them.
September 10th, 2008 at 6:00 am
Great point, Craig! And I agree with you - we don’t live alongside “the least” and our culture does attempt to place them in marginal seclusion so as not to disturb the conscience of the comfortable.
Keep preaching the truth!
September 27th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I agree with what you’ve said about Christianity becoming a prop for Capitalism rather than a critical voice against competition and self-betterment.
My question, however, is what does our faith say to those on the margins? Those with their backs against the wall?
We still operate - even in our most “radical” thinking as the strong interceding on behalf of the week. We still promote a gospel that speaks only to the “haves” and their imperative to intercede on behalf of the “have nots.” In our most sensitive, compassionate, and radical moments we still advance our own worldview… a view from the top.
How then - do we allow for a faith that is of the perspective of those not on top… of the perspective of those whose diginity is trampled everyday?
September 28th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
The prosperity movement has blinded, misled, tricknolorized and fleece ALL people. True love for our brothers and neighbors have been obliterated by the false, hateful and most of all, selfish doctrine. I submit to you that if you get rid of T.D. Jakes, Creflo Dollar, Juanita Bynum, Frank Reid, Jamaal Bryant and all of those who preach the moneychanger gospel, and replace them with holy, bible-based teaching(not twisting bible words to support your trickeration), and leaders who actually love God and fear God, then we would have something. I truly belive more men would come to Christ. Say what you will about black men, the majority have a inner sense when someone is trying to pull the wool over their eyes as these charlatans do oh so well.