I presume that everyone on PB would be in general agreement with Belgic Confession Art36:-
“Wherefore we detest the Anabaptists and other seditious people, and in general all those who reject the higher powers and magistrates, and would subvert justice, introduce community of goods, and confound that decency and good order, which God has established among men.”
If anyone is interested in the thought and actions of the radical Anabaptists try this article, which is an eye-opener :-
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2017/10...ic-communism-in-the-protestant-reformation-2/
But just focussing on the issue of community of goods, the Anabaptists and other communist groups usual appeal to Acts 2:44-47 and Acts 4:32-35 which says, “Neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of land or houses sold them, and brought the piece of the things that were sold, And laid them at the apostles feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had needed.”
There seems to a a measure of tension between the statement in the Confession and the example of the apostles in the Book of Acts, and I notice that most commentators
treat the sharing of goods as a kind of spontaneous one-off situation, almost as if they were overzealous.
I have thought of another possible explanation but I lack commentary backup. My explanation is that the apostles were well aware from Jesus warning in Matt 24 and Luke 21 that when Jerusalem was surrounded by armies that would have to leave in a hurry with no opportunity to dispose of assets. The only date indication they had for this was “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place”, which meant some time within the next 30 or 40 years at the most, but it could be next year. What would a prudent Christian who owned a farm, a house or a business do in the light of such a future? The logical thing to do would be to sell everything in order to realise its value while it was still worth something. It looks as if there was a period of rapid growth in converts during this period and a need for money, so to put the money in the hands of the elders and deacons made sense, particularly because the time of flight was uncertain and the need for money at that time could be considerable.
I would like to know if anyone can point to commentators who have considered these issues, or whether there is a problem with my reasoning.
“Wherefore we detest the Anabaptists and other seditious people, and in general all those who reject the higher powers and magistrates, and would subvert justice, introduce community of goods, and confound that decency and good order, which God has established among men.”
If anyone is interested in the thought and actions of the radical Anabaptists try this article, which is an eye-opener :-
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2017/10...ic-communism-in-the-protestant-reformation-2/
But just focussing on the issue of community of goods, the Anabaptists and other communist groups usual appeal to Acts 2:44-47 and Acts 4:32-35 which says, “Neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of land or houses sold them, and brought the piece of the things that were sold, And laid them at the apostles feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had needed.”
There seems to a a measure of tension between the statement in the Confession and the example of the apostles in the Book of Acts, and I notice that most commentators
treat the sharing of goods as a kind of spontaneous one-off situation, almost as if they were overzealous.
I have thought of another possible explanation but I lack commentary backup. My explanation is that the apostles were well aware from Jesus warning in Matt 24 and Luke 21 that when Jerusalem was surrounded by armies that would have to leave in a hurry with no opportunity to dispose of assets. The only date indication they had for this was “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place”, which meant some time within the next 30 or 40 years at the most, but it could be next year. What would a prudent Christian who owned a farm, a house or a business do in the light of such a future? The logical thing to do would be to sell everything in order to realise its value while it was still worth something. It looks as if there was a period of rapid growth in converts during this period and a need for money, so to put the money in the hands of the elders and deacons made sense, particularly because the time of flight was uncertain and the need for money at that time could be considerable.
I would like to know if anyone can point to commentators who have considered these issues, or whether there is a problem with my reasoning.