Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 6/24/2005

Question
Hi,

I'm confused. The US is a Christian nation and believes firmly in “private property”. Yet the book of Acts in the Bible says over and over again that early Christians owned and shared everything in common. So which way is the correct Bible approach to property? Should Christians own their own property or share it with other Christians owning the property in common?  

Answer
Dear Brison,
   Thanks for writing.  Although the U.S. was founded on Christian principles, it isn't a Christian nation in the sense that Saudi Arabia is an Islamic nation that confiscates Bibles and doesn't allow Christian churches.  
   The book of Acts does mention that the first Christians in Jerusalem shared things in common, but private property was given voluntarily. (Acts 5:4 "While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own power?" so why lie about it? Peter asked Ananias.) Acts 4:34,37 Those who OWNED land or houses sold them and GAVE the proceeds to the Apostles.  It wasn't the socialistic take from the rich to give to the poor.
   They meant well, but the result of foolishly giving away private property was that the Jerusalem Christians ended up being on relief given by churches in other towns. (Acts 11:29, Romans 15:26 I Corinthians 16:1-3)
   The Israelite family land holdings were so important that God imposed the Year of Jubilee when ancestral possession were returned, so the price of real property was to vary according to the proximity of the Jubilee Year. Leviticus 25  
   God helps those who help themselves is not in the Bible, but II Thess.3:10 says if any would not work, neither should he eat.  II Thess.3:12 says they should work with quietness and eat THEIR OWN bread.  Genesis 3:19 says "in the sweat of your face shall you eat bread," so what we have should correspond to our work and patience of not going into debt because we covet things we haven't yet earned.
   Many Americans are owned by (a slave to) all their possessions.  We need to weigh each purchase and time spent in light of eternal value.  
   We need to read God's Word every day to better reflect His glory to the world, but make sure that you have first of all entrusted your life to Him because you believe the destructiveness of sin that Jesus died for.  
   Have a great day and a great forever through Jesus Christ our Lord!
   Priscilla Lyons