Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power, the glory, the splendour, and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours; yours, Lord, is the sovereignty, and you are exalted over all as head. Wealth and honour come from you; you rule over all; might and power are of your disposing; yours it is to give power and strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name. (1Chr 29:11-13 REB)
All the believers agreed to hold everything in common: they began to sell their property and possessions and distribute to everyone according to his need.... The whole company of believers was united in heart and soul. Not one of them claimed any of his possessions as his own; everything was held in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and all were held in high esteem. There was never a needy person among them, because those who had property in land or houses would sell it, bring the proceeds of the sale, and lay them at the feet of the apostles, to be distributed to any who were in need. For instance Joseph, surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means ‘Son of Encouragement’), a Levite and by birth a Cypriot, sold an estate which he owned; he brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.... But a man called Ananias sold a property, and with the connivance of his wife Sapphira kept back some of the proceeds, and brought part only to lay at the apostles’ feet. Peter said, ‘Ananias, how was it that Satan so possessed your mind that you lied to the Holy Spirit by keeping back part of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? Even after it was turned into money, was it not still at your own disposal? What made you think of doing this? You have lied not to men but to God. (Acts 2:44-45...4:32-37...5:1-4 REB)
#1 - This was restricted to believers by voluntary agreement: NOT A COMMAND FROM GOD!
#2 - This was under the guidance of the Apostles, and funds given to the CHURCH leadership
#3 - The right of private ownership is clearly stated by Peter
#4 - This church at Jerusalem is the one mentioned that was poor and needed help, 1 Cor. 16:3
#5 - The problem of man's depravity exposes the deceit of Communism by cheaters and thieves
A clever person conceals his knowledge, but a stupid one blurts out folly. Diligence brings people to power, but laziness to forced labour. (Prov 12:23-24 REB)
When you reap the harvest in your land, do not reap right up to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your crop. Leave them for the poor and for the alien. I am the Lord your God. (Lev 23:22 REB) *The poor and alien still had to work, it was not given as a freebie by the work of landowners.
If you advance money to any poor man amongst my people, you are not to act like a moneylender; you must not exact interest from him. If you take your neighbour’s cloak in pawn, return it to him by sunset, (Exod 22:25-26 REB)
You may exact interest on a loan to a foreigner but not on a loan to a fellow-countryman, and then the Lord your God will bless you in all you undertake in the land which you are entering to occupy. (Deut 23:20 REB)
Then you ought to have put my money on deposit, and on my return I should have got it back with interest. (Matt 25:27 REB)
Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?’ (Luke 19:23 RSV)
The labourer’s appetite impels him to work, hunger spurs him on. (Prov 16:26 REB)
The thief must give up stealing, and work hard with his hands to earn an honest living, so that he may have something to share with the needy. (Eph 4:28 REB)
Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away with a heavy heart; for he was a man of great wealth. (Matt 19:21-22 REB)
*This is spoken to a single individual, who had great wealth, and Jesus was demonstrating the lack in self-righteousness. This is not a command or an instruction to the body of Christ.
Then the righteous will reply, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and fed you, or thirsty and gave you drink, a stranger and took you home, or naked and clothed you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and come to visit you?” And the king will answer, “Truly I tell you: anything you did for one of my brothers here, however insignificant, you did for me.” (Matt 25:37-40 REB) *This describes conduct within the body of Christ
Woe betide him who builds his palace on unfairness and completes its roof-chambers with injustice, compelling his countrymen to work without payment, giving them no wage for their labour! (Jer 22:13 REB) *Capitalism is NOT condemned, CROOKS are condemned
The wages you never paid to the men who mowed your fields are crying aloud against you, and the outcry of the reapers has reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. (Jas 5:4 REB) *Capitalism is NOT condemned, CROOKS are condemned
You are not to falsify measures of length, weight, or quantity. You must use true scales and weights, true dry and liquid measures. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt. (Lev 19:35-36 REB) *Capitalism is NOT condemned, CROOKS are condemned
All the believers agreed to hold everything in common: they began to sell their property and possessions and distribute to everyone according to his need.... The whole company of believers was united in heart and soul. Not one of them claimed any of his possessions as his own; everything was held in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and all were held in high esteem. There was never a needy person among them, because those who had property in land or houses would sell it, bring the proceeds of the sale, and lay them at the feet of the apostles, to be distributed to any who were in need. For instance Joseph, surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means ‘Son of Encouragement’), a Levite and by birth a Cypriot, sold an estate which he owned; he brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.... But a man called Ananias sold a property, and with the connivance of his wife Sapphira kept back some of the proceeds, and brought part only to lay at the apostles’ feet. Peter said, ‘Ananias, how was it that Satan so possessed your mind that you lied to the Holy Spirit by keeping back part of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? Even after it was turned into money, was it not still at your own disposal? What made you think of doing this? You have lied not to men but to God. (Acts 2:44-45...4:32-37...5:1-4 REB)
#1 - This was restricted to believers by voluntary agreement: NOT A COMMAND FROM GOD!
#2 - This was under the guidance of the Apostles, and funds given to the CHURCH leadership
#3 - The right of private ownership is clearly stated by Peter
#4 - This church at Jerusalem is the one mentioned that was poor and needed help, 1 Cor. 16:3
#5 - The problem of man's depravity exposes the deceit of Communism by cheaters and thieves
A clever person conceals his knowledge, but a stupid one blurts out folly. Diligence brings people to power, but laziness to forced labour. (Prov 12:23-24 REB)
When you reap the harvest in your land, do not reap right up to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your crop. Leave them for the poor and for the alien. I am the Lord your God. (Lev 23:22 REB) *The poor and alien still had to work, it was not given as a freebie by the work of landowners.
If you advance money to any poor man amongst my people, you are not to act like a moneylender; you must not exact interest from him. If you take your neighbour’s cloak in pawn, return it to him by sunset, (Exod 22:25-26 REB)
You may exact interest on a loan to a foreigner but not on a loan to a fellow-countryman, and then the Lord your God will bless you in all you undertake in the land which you are entering to occupy. (Deut 23:20 REB)
Then you ought to have put my money on deposit, and on my return I should have got it back with interest. (Matt 25:27 REB)
Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?’ (Luke 19:23 RSV)
The labourer’s appetite impels him to work, hunger spurs him on. (Prov 16:26 REB)
The thief must give up stealing, and work hard with his hands to earn an honest living, so that he may have something to share with the needy. (Eph 4:28 REB)
Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away with a heavy heart; for he was a man of great wealth. (Matt 19:21-22 REB)
*This is spoken to a single individual, who had great wealth, and Jesus was demonstrating the lack in self-righteousness. This is not a command or an instruction to the body of Christ.
Then the righteous will reply, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and fed you, or thirsty and gave you drink, a stranger and took you home, or naked and clothed you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and come to visit you?” And the king will answer, “Truly I tell you: anything you did for one of my brothers here, however insignificant, you did for me.” (Matt 25:37-40 REB) *This describes conduct within the body of Christ
Woe betide him who builds his palace on unfairness and completes its roof-chambers with injustice, compelling his countrymen to work without payment, giving them no wage for their labour! (Jer 22:13 REB) *Capitalism is NOT condemned, CROOKS are condemned
The wages you never paid to the men who mowed your fields are crying aloud against you, and the outcry of the reapers has reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. (Jas 5:4 REB) *Capitalism is NOT condemned, CROOKS are condemned
You are not to falsify measures of length, weight, or quantity. You must use true scales and weights, true dry and liquid measures. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt. (Lev 19:35-36 REB) *Capitalism is NOT condemned, CROOKS are condemned
