Expert: Dr. Ronald E. Shultz - 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
Your answer is in the Book you mentioned. Actually, I think it is only mentioned twice not over and over.  Acts 5:1-4 is the answer to your question.

Acts 5:1-4
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (KJV)

Peter was telling them that it was their property to begin with and they could do what they wanted with it and even the selling price was theirs to do with as they please. They had the right to own or to sell.  Their sin was lying about their donation.  There may well have been folks that sold everything that they had in excess and kept only what they needed to live off of but not these two.  They wanted to appear that noble and loving and yet have a stash in case times got hard.  No one was forced to sell anything.  

Acts 2:44-45
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (KJV)

Acts 4:32 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. (KJV)

They chose to do this out of love for Christ and each other not because it was demanded or some sort of doctrine.  This was not Communism or a cult leader demanding that they share everything or give up possessions. This was people who loved the Lord and each other helping each other get through the nasty now and now.  Some may well have expected the Rapture to happen in the next year or so and may have regretted some of this later as they "overgave" thinking they wouldn't need their retirment savings since they would not be here anyway.  If that was so, I am sure that God provided for them but they may have suffered some disappointment and needed some instruction and comfort by the Lord over this.  We are not told that nor when they stopped practice.  

"parted them to all men, as every man had need."  

I believe that this is the key to this passage. Remember the manna?  If you had a large family you gathered a lot and if you had a small one you gathered a little but no one lacked and in that situation no one hoarded either for it stank if you tried.  There are many injunctions inScripture to provide for the poor and for the rich to be sure to communicate yet only one man was told to go and sell all that he had and that was because he professed to love God above all and Jesus proved that he either lied or was deceived by his inner lust.

If we see property as something that the Lord allows us to have as a steward rather than as an owner we will handle it properly.  I may invest and buy land and houses and amass great wealth. No problems there as long as I am open for God to tell me to sell some of my assets to give to the poor or missions or whatever.  I know folks that have plenty of more money then I will ever see but all you have to do is mention a need in prayer meeting or in passing and they are there to provide the need.  In man's eyes they own the stuff but they recognize that God owns it and they are just a warehouseman and delivery boy.

In that sense, what they have is really held in common as they don't hoard it only store it until it is needed and then they dispense it.  The folks in Acts still lived in their own homes.  They didn't move to a commune.  They made sure that the widows indeed were taken care of and such but nothing like the hippies, cults or Commies suggest.

If people were not so crazy we could do that again.  In fact, if people would submit to discipline you could institute a 10,10,10 program in the church and get the church and the people out of debt.  

How I perceive that working is that you find the person that is in the least debt in the church and pay off his debts.  He then commits to take whatever his monthly bill was for that debt and be sure to tithe 10%, put 10% in savings and put 10% in the fund for others to get their debts paid.  

An example would be if it was $250 a month of credit card debt.  He puts $25 in the tithe, $25 in savings and $25 in the others kitty.  That is only $75.  He still has $175 of free money that he would use to pay his normally monthly bills or put into an IRA, saving to pay cash for his next vehicle or whatever thus increasing his wealth, the wealth of the church and the welfare of a brother or sister.  Now they would have to vow before God to stay out of debt.  If they have a real need, medical, car or whatever they could bring it before the church and there would be a collection taken to raise the need.  By the time you get to someone that has $30,000 dollars in credit card or other debt besides housing or vehicles the church will be most likely out of debt and building. Only members could participate in the program and you would have to be a member in good standing for at least three years before you could get into it.  Now, if you have an emergent need that is another issue.

The problem is that there are very few mature Christians that would actually stick to their committment.  Most would run out the door as soon as their debt was paid and then get back into debt again.  One of the restrictions would be is that you can only get into the debt relief program once unless the death of a spouse or some calamity beyond your ability and responsibility got you into trouble.  Of course, if the Body was debt free they could provide for you in the calamity and you would not get into debt or trouble.

It would take a 1st Century revival to get a church into the level of love and maturity it would require to do this. It is possible, but I don't see it happening.

Currently, I am only in debt for my house and my debt is probably less than many people have just for their SUV and one credit card.  I do most of my ministry for free and give whatever I can when I see a need.  So my owning property is not a problem.  Indeed, my mortage and taxes are less than rent so I actually have more dispensible income by owning than renting. I still recognize that what I have belongs to God.  If he tells me to sell something I pray that I will be open to do so.  I am considered generous by my peers and non-church folks so I do trust that I will do the right thing but being human I will not boast until after I lay the armor down and not before I take it up.

Hopfully, this have been of some help to you on this issue.
May God richly bless you as you seek His will and His Word.

Bro. Ron
www.mavmin.org