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DispatchFactbookMiscellaneous

by Commune of linnuis. . 82 reads.

An introduction to Christian Communism

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had."

The early Christians were the first communists. Ridiculous? Not as ridiculous as you might think. You might be surprised by what you find in the bible.

Acts 2:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

That's right. The early Christians were largely communist in nature. They virtually invented "from each according to their means to each according to their needs". Rather surprising when you see much of modern Christianity and its obsession with money. However, this obsession has nothing to do with biblical Christianity but originated when Christianity became intertwined with the state. This unification of state and religion led to the obsession with wealth and power. You might be surprised what the bible has to say about money.

James 5:
1Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

1 Timothy 6:
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Sort of dispels the money obsession doesn't it? Yet many Christians today are still obsessed with wealth and success in this life.

The holy communion initially began as a communal meal. We know this from 1st century descriptions of the communion, and because chides the Corinthians for stuffing themselves and getting drunk at the communion. One can hardly imagine anyone getting drunk on a sip of grape juice and a few crumbs. When did it stop being a meal then? Around some time in the 2nd century. Why? During the communal meal slaves, women, Jews and imperial officials all sat at the same table. A very shocking thing back then. But if course many people didn't want to sit with the slaves, so it evolved into the communion we know today where we have no communication with each other.

There is also a misconception that Christianity believes in coercive authority. This is untrue. God has little time for those who follow him out of fear alone. We follow God out of love. All men and women were made equal and remain equal.

2 Corinthians 8:
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

Christian leftism developed much earlier and separately from Marxism. They grew through the teachings of the early church fathers like John Chysostom, Aphrahat and early monasticism. Through the radical groups of the reformation, like the Hussites, the Levellers and the Diggers (widely regarded as the first anarchists). Chartists of Britain grew up in the chapels of Britain along with trade unions.
Christian communism thus rejects the atheist views of Marxism but often adopts many Marxist economic policies. Christian communists are often shunned by atheist communists, particularly by Leninists. Christian communists usually highly prize political, religious and personal freedom. Most Christian communists have no intention of forcing their beliefs on unbelievers. They usually have the view that everyone should be able to do as they please so long as they don't harm anyone.
To sum up; we must dispel the myth that the left and Christians don't belong together. Leftists and Christians share a common ancestry but have drifted apart. We must unite to stop the spread of hatred, capitalism (which is the doctrine of greed) and imperialism across the globe.

Commune of linnuis

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