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7th June 2012, 08:48 PM
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In the Bible you can see that everyone shared everything. People had their homes opened to those in need, shared all of their income, food, and clothes, homes and sold their luxury items to help the poor. Why aren't Christians like that anymore. Wasn't one of the early Christians killed for keeping some personal item to himself for profit? How are we expecting to get to Heaven owning homes, cars, gold, and keeping all of the extra for ourselves and our children? Why aren't we united like the early church? Comments...
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8th June 2012, 02:06 AM
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Reps: 691,209,366,977,688,960 (power: 691,209,366,977,729) | | Originally Posted by chelsea89 In the Bible you can see that everyone shared everything. People had their homes opened to those in need, shared all of their income, food, and clothes, homes and sold their luxury items to help the poor. Why aren't Christians like that anymore. Wasn't one of the early Christians killed for keeping some personal item to himself for profit?
If you read carefully the issue wasnt that they kept something for themselves but lying about it.
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8th June 2012, 02:40 AM
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Reps: 5,534,604,611,375,293 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by chelsea89  In the Bible you can see that everyone shared everything. People had their homes opened to those in need, shared all of their income, food, and clothes, homes and sold their luxury items to help the poor. Why aren't Christians like that anymore. Wasn't one of the early Christians killed for keeping some personal item to himself for profit? How are we expecting to get to Heaven owning homes, cars, gold, and keeping all of the extra for ourselves and our children? Why aren't we united like the early church? Comments...
It sounds like you need to go and live in a 'Commune' for a while.
Communism has been tried, it might sound like a good idea but sadly it has been shown not to work very well.
No two people are alike (that's evolution for you) if they were we could all try and learn to get along. |
8th June 2012, 02:53 AM
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Reps: 691,209,366,977,688,960 (power: 691,209,366,977,729) | | Originally Posted by Canonade It sounds like you need to go and live in a 'Commune' for a while.
Communism has been tried, it might sound like a good idea but sadly it has been shown not to work very well.
No two people are alike (that's evolution for you) if they were we could all try and learn to get along.
Communism trys to force a certain approach on a macro scale.
The Christian community is one that freely chooses to live the Kingdom of God even though "it doesn't work in the real world".
Sadly you don't see much of it in the church any more.
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"Goodness is stronger than evil,
love is stronger than hate,
light is stronger than darkness,
life is stronger than death,
victory is ours through him who loved us."
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8th June 2012, 03:34 AM
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Reps: 5,534,604,611,375,293 (power: 0) | | Originally Posted by ebia Communism trys to force a certain approach on a macro scale.
Communism did not start out like that, it started as fair shares for all with everyone being equal, alas people changed it as time went on to something completely different, it ended up with some people being more equal than others. Originally Posted by ebia The Christian community is one that freely chooses to live the Kingdom of God even though "it doesn't work in the real world".
That's because most of the 'Kingdom of God' is made up of mans ideas not Gods. Originally Posted by ebia Sadly you don't see much of it in the church any more.
That's because as you say, just like Communism it doesn't work. |
8th June 2012, 04:03 AM
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Reps: 691,209,366,977,688,960 (power: 691,209,366,977,729) | | Originally Posted by Canonade Communism did not start out like that, it started as fair shares for all with everyone being equal, alas people changed it as time went on to something completely different, it ended up with some people being more equal than others.
That's because most of the 'Kingdom of God' is made up of mans ideas not Gods.
That's because as you say, just like Communism it doesn't work.
Sorry - I take the Gospels and Acts more seriously than that.
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"Goodness is stronger than evil,
love is stronger than hate,
light is stronger than darkness,
life is stronger than death,
victory is ours through him who loved us."
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8th June 2012, 05:49 AM
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Reps: 118,588,819,268,106,832 (power: 118,588,819,268,120) | | | I think it is misunderstood though a popular notion in some circles.
Widows, children and those in need were taken care of from the fruits of the LABOR of other Church members. Traveling Apostles/Priest similarly taken care of. A practice which still exists today in some parts of the world. The offering is collected with each giving what they could, then IMMEDIATELY redistributed to those who needed it. The offerings were not limited to coin and even today am told chickens at Mass can still be seen.
As mentioned that practice could not work in a "communal" system as it depends on some people having gained more than they need themselves from their own LABOR. The incentive to work to the point of being able to have more than one needs is absent in a true communal system, so there is much less or even nothing to give to others. |
8th June 2012, 05:51 AM
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Reps: 691,209,366,977,688,960 (power: 691,209,366,977,729) | | Originally Posted by DrBubbaLove As mentioned that practice could not work in a "communal" system as it depends on some people having gained more than they need themselves from their own LABOR. The incentive to work to the point of being able to have more than one needs is absent in a true communal system, so there is much less or even nothing to give to others.
You seem to assume that greed is the only motivator to do anything more than the minimal.
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"Goodness is stronger than evil,
love is stronger than hate,
light is stronger than darkness,
life is stronger than death,
victory is ours through him who loved us."
(+Desmond Tutu) |
8th June 2012, 07:57 AM
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Reps: 18,507,736,491,436,416 (power: 18,507,736,491,439) | | | I believe the accounts of communal life that the book of Acts recorded was not intended for a model for us to follow, but a shadow of the future glorious kingdom Christians will enter. There are actually two kingdoms Christians are in: the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God. These two kingdoms are distinct at present, but in future it will become one kingdom, where we will enjoy the perfections of morality and physicality with Triune God living among us. However, we aren't there yet. We Christians, though imputed with the righteousness of Christ and are given a new heart, are still sinners. How can we successfully build and live in an utopia on earth if we don't even heartily devote our lives to our neighbor, the Church, and God? A perfect kingdom requires perfect citizens, but we are not perfect. One key reason why communism failed miserably and made me one of its victims is it assumes people are so virtuous that they will be very productive if they are given a bigger goal to strive for. However, the fact is when people's labor is not directly linked to private gain, people will try their best to avoid labor. I am not being cynical by suggesting that we Christians will also be the same, after all the ideal communism promises is evil. What I am saying is you gotta be perfect to let this perfect plan come true, but we are not perfect. Christians are not completely holy after saved but they are in a life-long pilgrimage, and eventually God will make us perfect, and that is when we will enjoy the kingdom you desired.  |
8th June 2012, 08:41 AM
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Reps: 847,459,071,936,017,920 (power: 847,459,071,936,023) | | Originally Posted by chelsea89 In the Bible you can see that everyone shared everything. People had their homes opened to those in need, shared all of their income, food, and clothes, homes and sold their luxury items to help the poor. Why aren't Christians like that anymore. Wasn't one of the early Christians killed for keeping some personal item to himself for profit? How are we expecting to get to Heaven owning homes, cars, gold, and keeping all of the extra for ourselves and our children? Why aren't we united like the early church? Comments...
Because we don't trust each other with our stuff. Our own comfort and security is more important to us than that of our brothers and sisters.
Yes, I include myself in this assessment. God help us. | | |
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