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 Chapter 2)
This is one of the most important verses in the Bible regarding the life of the church and although there are many messages and direct inferences for Christian ethics here, I just wanted to focus on one of them. In particular, the phrase, “All the believers had everything in common.”
Certainly there are those who level the accusation that this verse supports the Marx & Engels concept of Communism and although I agree that there are similarities, Communism in its 20th Century form carries socio-political implications that are entirely incompatible with Christianity both on a historical and cultural level. Some of these are the aspects of class warfare as well as atheism to name the obvious. What this passage represents is communalism and should not be confused with communism. (Here ends the socio-cultural-political caveat).
But more to the point, it is fundamentally about sharing. In their culture and society where material goods were limited (no Walmart in Jesus’ day) and the ability to acquire such goods were an issue of class, Christians simply shared everything; specifically, every material good they had. In our culture and society where everything is focused on individual personal property rights (even in the church), I had to learn what this means. That moment came to me when I was in university (yes, it took me a while).
Being a co-op student who moved around every four months or so to take on an internship between school terms, I had to move a lot. During one particular move, I thanked my friend John for driving me and all my earthly goods back and forth. This consumed a fair bit of energy and time. In reply, he shared with me that someone else had done this for him before and that God enabled him to be the steward of a vehicle and whenever he was able, he would share it with others. This simple comment taught me everything about this phrase in Acts chapter two. Frankly, it blew me away.
I know people who love their cars. Not just their cars – their mowers, their phones, their homes, their personal space, their time, their computers and would never ever let anyone touch these precious things. I understand that. It is their property rights at work. And yes, I believe in boundaries and know there are some who abuse the good graces of others et cetera. I get it. But such a philosophy of personal possessions feeds materialism and consumerism. These are counter to the Christian way of life.
So what do we do? Well, it’s pretty simple: learn to share. If you have a vehicle, offer rides – keep an eye out for people who walk or bus. Let people know about stuff you can and will lend out – power tools, baking pans and anything you don’t need to use all the time. If you have a home, be hospitable. Invite people over, open your home to host a group. Be creative. Give away clothes, bikes, toys you don’t need or use anymore. Find out if people can rebuild computers, need spare parts, books, DVDs to give or share.
There are however, some helpful rules of thumb I have learned over time specific to our culture:
1. No one is to share or give out of a sense of obligation (except to the conviction of the Holy Spirit). In other words, we are to share what we are comfortable and ready to. It is not for another person to demand another person share. I’m not a fan of the Communist revolutions! This is something to be practiced voluntarily.
2. If you need something, ask. A lot of times people are more than happy to share, but in the age of personal property this is not obvious. Give others a chance to be gracious. Just make sure you are not abusing this kindness or no one will ever lend you anything. I am certainly willing to open up church network communications for such aspects of giving and sharing. Do this with discernment and reason. Just check with pastoral staff if in doubt.
3. Take care of what you borrow or receive. At the very least, return something in the condition it came in. If you can, even better than. It isn’t meant to be an expectation but it certainly is a point of gratitude. Yes, some things are consumable and sometimes accidents happen, and if so fix or replace if you can. Treat what you are given with respect and don’t trash it just because it didn’t cost you anything. This is not always possible, but when you lend something, know there are risks involved. But we share because objects are less important than loving another person.
4. Give without expectation of reward. Sharing is not an economic transaction. It is a relational one.
5. Exercise discernment. Ultimately, this is a matter of trust. I don’t often lend my stuff to people I don’t know or others cannot vouch for. This is where the worldly wisdom of the proverb, “Neither a lender or borrower be” comes into play. Yes, I know it shows up in the Bible, but it is a part of a collection of proverbs culled from cultural realities and is not necessarily an injunction of faith. Be wise and when you give or share but do it openly.
6. Give and share as you can, not as you can’t. In other words, share only what you can and use reason. Saying, “no” is as important as saying, “yes.” If someone needs to get to across town but I have a meeting around the corner, I will not be able to give a ride in order to fulfill other promises I have already made. Perhaps my meeting is at Main Street. Well, then a ride to Main it is. Maybe a drop off at the bus station or skytrain along the way. Do what you can, not what you can’t.
7. Go the extra mile. This is a matter or personal ability and will. Beyond the doing what you can it is doing what you are willing. This brings us back to the first point. You are not obliged to go the extra distance, but you are encouraged to go as far as you can, even if it is inconvenient. If you choose to do more and can do so, that is for you to decide. To learn to do the extra mile requires more character and love than is expected. It involves discomfort and sometimes risk. Usually this is not merely in the form of objects but time and effort. It is love.
“And so, in those days, Faith Community Christian Church devoted themselves to Jesus’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”
Amen.
(Rev. Dr. Ted Ng – August 28, 2013)