Posted on 08/21/2008 1:17:19 PM PDT by kellynla
the emotional defect is no respecter of creed.
There's a difference. They weren't forced to do this. They did it out of love for one another, just as Christians do today.
The difference between Christianity and communism is night and day, most certainly to God, who reads hearts. Christians share willingly. Communist states compel people to share.
You can believe what you want but the way Communism is understood in today’s terms, there is NO connection; none. None. What are you trying to prove anyway?
Were they atheists?
Paved Paradise: You can believe what you want but the way Communism is understood in today’s terms, there is NO connection; none. None. What are you trying to prove anyway?
Believe it or not, I'm trying to help you on this point. RobRoy made the valid observation that the Church in Acts 4 could be described as 'communist' in government:
Acts 4:32-35 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. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Thus sayeth Scripture. And Scripture is Truth.
So how do we react? Cross these verses out our Bibles?
No, acknowledge it was the case -- but understand the differences with today. As I pointed out in my earlier post - these people participated in this form of 'communism' by their own choice. Not at the end of gun. Their God was the only True God - the God of the Bible. Not the god of the State, or big government. The difference between the form of 'communism' in Acts 4:32-35 and the communism of the 20th Century - with over 100 million killed to the gods of Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Il, etc is spelled out in Acts 4:31:
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
These people were filled with the Holy Ghost.
Man-centric 'communism' is filled by that 'other' spirit (aka, "spiritual wickedness in high places")...
The fact is that we need to learn from history. Yes, it is true that in this ~34 AD timeframe - through the working of the Holy Spirit, and sold out convinced Believers (who also believed Christ's return was imminent) - communism actually worked...But consider the next two millenia. It has been an utter absolute failure. Even when we consider the very godly Puritans who settled at Plymouth Rock. They initially tried this communism gig, and they nearly starved to death. To their credit, they chucked this ill-advised experiment after one season and adopted the free-enterprise/private property system - and flourished. And then we had the very ungodly men of the 20th Century - who turned countries that were enslaved by communism into a living hell...
So learning from history we can say that unless the Holy Spirit is actively running the Government - Communism is a disaster. It doesn't work. Man, being naturally depraved, will abuse the system - setting up man as god (the leaders of the government), and also as 'beast' (the faceless and soulless worker bees)....
So to summarize - I'm not trying to 'prove' anything. Just acknowledging that , 'yes, communism was in effect in the New Testament church' -- but that the last 2000 years of various attempts at communism has always led to disasters. And a simple understanding and acknowledgment of man's nature will lead to an understanding why this is so. Communism will never work, and will always lead to enslavement - until the coming again of the King when the Holy Spirit will rule in all of our lives.
Speaking as the past co-chair of Catholics Against Kerry I predict that Obama will not break 40% with Catholics. This will be a new low and set the Democrats back for several cycles among true Catholics.
See post 16
See post 16. ;)
I agree, see post 16 though.
See post 16.
I cannot argue with your point. Your last paragraph, in particular, is not only well said, but very true. I believe it as well.
I have an issue with the word “communism” because in its modern sense, it is not understood in the way perhaps it was intended, and, so, like many words, it’s meaning has changed.
I consider communism a Godless, fruitless, and very evil thing. But, as you said, considering the spirit and nature of men (ourselves), it never will work.
It might be more accurate to say that the early Christians "practiced communism."
If you look at the definitions of communist you'll see that most of the definitions mention more than someone holding property in common.
That’s sewper! I was using the dictionary.com definition of what, outside the political theory, communism is at it’s core.
This is starting to look like the ole wonders vs oneders thing...
What a difference a "T"* makes. :-)
(*A "T" instead of an "M," that is.)
Yes, it is true that the Church described in Acts 4:32 is an example of a communist society. I am willing to acknowledge that there were two times in the history of mankind that communism actually worked:
1) Prior to the Fall.
2) The Church (the community of Believers) described in Acts 4:32.
Twice in the entire history of mankind it worked.
All other instances: A complete and utter disaster. There is no other form of government that deserves such disdain and rejection. Over one hundred million killed by malice, neglect, greed, incompetence (Mao's wonderful 'industrial revolution', and the Soviet Union's great ventures in economic planning starved tens of millions), and hatred of mankind. Anyone who tries to foist the Acts 4:24 Church as an example of Communism in action needs to have it drilled into their head that it was a unique perturbation - Not a possibility with the current state of man.
What was the difference in the two cases where communism 'worked'? - God HIMSELF was the Head of the Government. In one case (pre-Fall), the people themselves were perfect. In the second case (Acts 4:31), the people were all filled with the Holy Spirit...
But where sin is active, and where not all men are Believers -- we have ample evidence of what happens when this form of government is followed -- a descent into a man-made hell on earth.
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