True Christianity is so radical it puts die-hard Communists to shame. I’ve seen it in China, and it made me wonder, If that’s Christianity, what are we playing at?
There is a widely repeated view (even by those who claim to closely adhere to the New Testament pattern for the Church) that the spirit of sharing seen in New Testament days is not something to be practiced by us now. We like to quote Acts 2:42, but seldom read on to verse 44, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common.” But in case we missed it the first time, the Spirit of God feels it important enough to insert it again, “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” (4:32). Verse 33 begins with “And.” It links this practical fellowship of possessions in verse 32 with the “great power” and “great grace” evident among the believers. Hmmm!
Let’s get it straight. On one side of the issue, none of our money, time, energy or ability belongs to us. It is all a gift from God and a stewardship for God. But on the other hand, God recognizes the right to personal property. We see these two sides in Acts 5. Speaking of his land, Peter said to Ananias, “While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?” (5:4). Yes, it was.
They knew Christianity was costly. Communism says, “What’s yours is mine.” But Christianity says, “What’s mine is yours.” Communism is coerced; Christianity is voluntary. But the early believers (and those in the so-called early “Brethren movement,” too) happily relinquished their goods for the Great Cause. They expected Christianity to be costly because they saw its value. They “took joyfully the spoiling of [their] goods” knowing that they had “in heaven a better and an enduring substance” (Heb. 10:34).
They thought Christ was worth it. The Lord Jesus sold all that He had, too (Mt. 13:46). For our sakes He became poor. What has God withheld from sharing with us? The world may be generous; we are called to be sacrificial. Just like Jesus.